Is My Severe Toothache a Dental Emergency?

A toothache can start out as a mild annoyance, but when pain becomes severe, your usual routine may come to a screaming halt. Intense tooth pain is often a sign that something more serious is going on, and ignoring it can make the situation worse.

Park Dental NYC offers comprehensive, compassionate emergency dental care, so you can receive the treatment you need without delays.

Yookungy Park, DDS, and Pat Ng-A-Fook, DDS, provide advanced treatments in-office to protect your natural teeth and minimize risk factors for additional complications.

Reasons why you may have a severe toothache

A severe toothache can develop for many reasons. Some of the common causes we can diagnose and treat that are considered a dental emergency include:

Cavities

Bacteria on your teeth can break down enamel, exposing underlying tissue and nerves and causing inflammation and infection.

Abscess

A dental abscess describes a pocket of infection that sits near the root of a tooth or in your gums. Abscesses typically cause intense pain and swelling.

Broken teeth

Damage to the structure of your teeth can expose the sensitive inner layers, resulting in persistent pain.

Impacted wisdom teeth

Impacted molars can press against the other teeth or become infected, leading to pain and swelling.

Gum infection or disease

Inflamed or infected gums can cause pain that radiates into nearby teeth and the jawbone.

When to schedule an emergency dental visit

Mild toothaches related to temperature sensitivity or a small cavity may not require emergency dental treatment, unless pain becomes unmanageable with cold therapy and over-the-counter medications.

Our dedicated team of dentists recommends emergency dental visits for those who experience:

• A knocked-out or broken tooth
• Severe, persistent tooth, gum, or jaw pain
• Swelling in the jaw, face, or gums
• Tooth pain accompanied by fever
• Foul taste in your mouth or pus discharge

We also encourage you to seek immediate medical attention if you have any issues swallowing or breathing that occur with tooth pain.

The consequences of ignoring tooth pain

Waiting out a toothache can lead to more serious dental problems that are harder to treat. This is especially true in the case of an abscess, as the infection can travel to other areas of your body.

Another consequence of ignoring tooth pain is the potential loss of your natural tooth. Our dental team can repair cavities and broken teeth in the office, helping you avoid the need for extensive procedures like a root canal or tooth extraction.

What to do before your emergency dental appointment

Park Dental NYC offers flexible scheduling for emergency dental appointments. While you wait to come into the office for treatment, there are steps you can take to protect against additional tooth complications or loss:

Rinse your mouth well

A warm saltwater rinse helps reduce bacteria in the mouth and can relieve some inflammation in the gum tissues.

Apply a cold compress

Wrap ice cubes or an ice pack in a washcloth and place it on your cheek to reduce facial swelling and pain.

Avoid certain foods and drinks

Until you can get to your appointment, avoid sugary foods and items that are very hot or cold. Sugar and extreme temperature changes can worsen the pain and potentially injure swollen tissue.

Our providers assess your oral health to determine the appropriate treatment. We can also prescribe antibiotics, pain relievers, and other medications to help you feel better quickly.

Call Park Dental NYC today to learn more about our emergency dentistry services, or book a consultation online.