Should You Call an Emergency Dentist if You Have Tooth Pain?

When it comes to dental issues, it’s easy to put them off and assume they will get better on their own. Unfortunately, it’s this mentality that often leads to dental problems worsening, making them more difficult to treat once they turn into dental emergencies. For example, while tooth pain may not seem like something you need to treat immediately, it can quickly escalate without professional attention. So, if you’re wondering if you should call an emergency dentist when you experience tooth pain, you’ll want to keep reading.

Why Tooth Pain is a Dental Emergency

The fact of the matter is no amount of tooth pain is normal. The moment you start to notice something wrong with your tooth, it has the potential to develop into something worse. In fact, tooth pain almost never improves on its own. Even then, it’s more likely the pain was stemming from something other than your tooth if your pain does get better.

Additionally, there are simply too many potential causes for your tooth pain to ignore it. While some could be relatively minor in nature, it’s also possible that a more serious issue could be present. The only way to know for sure, though, is to visit an emergency dentist for an exam.

The Most Common Causes of Tooth Pain

With so many potential causes for your tooth pain, it’s not worth leaving it to chance. For example, some of the most common causes include the following:

• Cavities
• Infection of the tooth root
• Impacted wisdom tooth
• Facial trauma
• Teeth grinding and clenching
• Sinus infection
• Arthritis of the jaw

While not all of these issues are necessarily handled by a dentist, most of them are. In either case, a dentist can help you determine the exact cause of your toothache and create a treatment plan from there to ensure it gets better and does not come back. Regardless of the cause of your tooth pain, there are steps you can take to get relief ahead of your emergency appointment.

How to Address a Toothache

If you notice tooth pain, take the following steps:

• Use dental floss to confirm no food debris is stuck in between your teeth. You can also try brushing and rinsing your mouth out with warm water.
• If this does not help, take an over-the-counter painkiller like ibuprofen to reduce discomfort.
• If swelling develops, apply a cold compress to your cheek to bring it down.
• Call an emergency dentist to schedule an appointment. See if you can get seen the same day.

Is a toothache a dental emergency? The answer may depend on your symptoms, but it’s never a good idea to leave it up to chance. Call an emergency dental office today if you experience any amount of tooth pain.

About Wayland Dental

The dentists of Wayland Dental are prepared to handle just about any dental emergency you are experiencing, including tooth pain. Not only does their office provide same-day emergency care, but they accept walk-in visits and offer availability during the evening four days a week for added convenience. To set up an emergency visit, you can contact them through their website.