Nothing hurts quite like a blow to the face. Maybe a sports accident or some other unfortunate mishap occurred and you’re unsure where to turn for help. Should you visit your doctor? An emergency room? Your dentist?
Learn more about the following scenarios to know when it’s time to seek urgent dental care.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is an infection that can develop around the root of a tooth or in the surrounding gum tissue. It may cause intense, throbbing tooth pain that radiates into the jaw or face.
Other symptoms can include facial or gum swelling, fever, a bad taste in the mouth, and sensitivity to pressure. A dental abscess requires prompt treatment from your dentist because an untreated infection can spread to surrounding tissues.
In other cases, if facial swelling gets to the point that you can hardly breathe or swallow, call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Cracked Teeth
A tooth that has been cracked or fractured can cause sharp pain when you bite down or eat. Depending on the location and severity of the crack, discomfort may spread into the jaw or surrounding facial areas.
If you’ve suffered a large fracture that’s causing pain, it should be treated as a dental emergency. A smaller crack that doesn’t especially hurt isn’t considered “urgent” per se, but you should see your dentist within a few days.
Severe Tooth Decay
A deep cavity can eventually reach the sensitive inner portion of a tooth, causing significant pain. You may experience sensitivity to hot or cold foods, spontaneous toothaches, or pain when chewing.
If decay has reached the pulp, you may need root canal treatment or, if the tooth cannot be saved, an extraction. Prompt treatment may help prevent the problem from developing into a more serious infection.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth lack the room to erupt properly through the gums, they’re what’s called impacted, and they can cause a lot of pain and swelling that can easily make their way from the back of your mouth to your face. Partially erupted wisdom teeth can also trap food and bacteria, increasing the risk of infection.
This is a bit of a gray area when it comes to emergency status. If you’re hurting badly enough that it disrupts your daily routine, or if your gums or face are noticeably swollen, get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Otherwise, it’s not exactly an emergency, but still, a timely dentist appointment should be made.
Getting the right diagnosis quickly can relieve discomfort, prevent complications, and help protect your oral health. When you’re unsure whether facial pain is a dental emergency, it’s better to contact your dental office and ask for guidance.
About the Author
Dr. Farshad Bakhtyari (“Dr. B” to his patients) graduated Magna Cum Laude with his dental degree from Boston University and learned comprehensive dental care during a one-year advanced residency. Dental emergencies can strike at any time, and if it happens to you, Dr. Bakhtyari and his team in Herndon are ready to give you prompt attention with a same-day appointment as well as calming dental sedation to ease your nerves. Please call us promptly if you need urgent care at (703) 860-8860 or reach out through our website.