IS A SEVERE TOOTHACHE A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
October 1, 2021

If you experience a severe toothache causing excruciating pain and leaving you with a sleepless night, you might need to visit an emergency dental office in Mississauga, ON. Simply having a toothache doesn’t mean you must visit emergency dentists because home cures or over-the-counter pain relievers efficiently endure trivial toothaches. However, if the toothache doesn’t subside, calling an emergency dentist is always better than dealing with the discomfort yourself.

Determining Whether You Need Emergency Dental Treatment

Trying to determine whether you need emergency dental treatment depends on the underlying causes and symptoms of the toothache. Toothaches are a feeling of discomfort originating from or around a tooth. The pain of toothaches can vary in severity depending on how significant the issue causing it is.

A toothache causing sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures will also leave you experiencing sensitivity to sugary foods. Mentioned below are some of the symptoms of a severe toothache needing assistance from an emergency dental clinic.

  • Tenacious Piercing Pain:

    a toothache refusing to subside and increasing in sharpness is a sign of a severe oral issue like a dental abscess. If the severity of the pain doesn’t decrease even after taking over-the-counter painkillers, you benefit from a visit to an emergency dentist.

  • Discomfort When Pressure Is Applied on the Tooth:

    Experiencing pain when touching the tooth or using it to bite on foods indicates a sign of a severe cavity or inappropriate restoration. Both issues require prompt treatment.

  • Inflammation and Bleeding from the Gums:

    Bleeding from the gums accompanied by swelling indicates symptoms of periodontal disease or infections.

  • Lousy Taste in the Mouth:

    Having an awful taste in the mouth accompanied by lousy breath lingering all day can signify an infected or severely decayed tooth. The infection or decay releases toxins causing the unpleasant taste and bad breath.

  • Swollen Jaw:

    Swelling around the neck and jaw indicates infections spreading in other parts of your body. Conditions like these are severe issues because infections in crucial areas like the brain are life-threatening.

Standard Reasons for Toothaches Requiring Emergency Dental Care

Here are some of the standard oral issues that cause severe toothaches:

Tooth decay

Tooth decay is a reason for the development of cavities on tooth surfaces. The holes continue spreading until they reach the pulp chamber to expose their contents to bacteria and acids in the mouth. Micro-cavities merely cause minor toothaches. However, if you have severe decay, it can lead to persistent toothaches to leave the tooth infected if left untreated eventually.

Chipped, Fractured, or Broken Teeth

A cracked tooth requires emergency treatment if the damage is accompanied by plenty of bleeding with intense pain. It is an indication that the pulp chamber has also incurred damages. Emergency dentists treat the tooth by performing root canal treatments and restoring it with a dental crown. A minor chipped tooth may not concern you but is a breeding ground for bacteria to accumulate and begin infecting your tooth. Getting the minor chips restored by dentists will help you prevent unnecessary problems requiring expensive emergency dental treatments when you least expect it.

Minor fractures in your teeth also need attention from dentists. However, if you have a significant fracture, the dentist may extract the tooth to prevent further issues.

Infected Teeth

Infected teeth are often accompanied by severe toothaches that are challenging to ignore. Fortunately, emergency dentists can provide relief from the discomfort by performing appropriate treatments and, in rare cases, even extracting the tooth to prevent the infection from spreading.

If you are frequently experiencing toothaches, whether minor or severe, the better option for you is to visit your regular dentist near you to have the tooth evaluated. After evaluating the tooth by taking a dental exam and cleaning and determining the underlying cause of the toothache, your dentist can recommend a personalized treatment plan to help you overcome the discomfort.

Severe toothaches, especially in the late evenings or holidays, are undoubtedly an emergency and require assistance from emergency dentists. However, suppose you are proactive with your dental hygiene and visit your dentist for regular exams and cleanings. In that case, they can help you manage any dental emergency appropriately by providing preventive measures and treatments to ensure you don’t need emergency dental treatments.

Severe toothaches don’t appear out of the blue but result from untreated infections lingering in your teeth. Remaining proactive with your dental hygiene is the optimal method to stay over your dental health and prevent severe toothaches from occurring to leave you needing emergency dental care.

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