Tooth pain can range from a mild sensitivity that comes and goes to severe pain that makes it difficult to sleep, eat or concentrate.
The difficult part is knowing when you can wait for a routine appointment and when you should seek urgent dental care.
There is no need to panic every time a tooth hurts. At the same time, severe or persistent dental pain should not be ignored.
It is advised to seek urgent or emergency dental care for situations including severe tooth or mouth pain, persistent pain, increasing swelling, knocked-out teeth, and broken or loose dental restorations such as fillings, crowns, bridges or veneers.
What types of tooth pain can be urgent?
The severity and pattern of the pain can provide useful clues. You should seek prompt dental advice if you experience:
- Severe tooth or mouth pain
- Pain that affects sleep or normal daily activities
- Pain that continues despite pain relief
- Pain that keeps returning or does not settle
- Swelling in the mouth or face
- A broken or loose tooth
- A broken filling, crown, bridge or veneer
- A dental injury or knocked-out tooth
Is every toothache a dental emergency?
No.
A toothache can have many causes, including tooth decay, gum problems, cracked fillings, inflammation around wisdom teeth or other dental conditions. Walton Dental Surgery notes that toothache can have several possible causes and uses clinical assessment and X-rays where appropriate to identify the source of pain.
A mild ache that settles quickly may not require an emergency appointment.
However, persistent pain should still be checked because pain can be a sign of an underlying problem that will not resolve by itself.
What if the pain comes and goes?
Intermittent pain is easy to dismiss.
You may feel discomfort when eating something cold, notice pain when biting, or experience an ache for a few minutes before it disappears.
That does not necessarily mean the tooth is healthy.
Some dental problems can produce symptoms that are temporary in the early stages. A dentist can assess whether the tooth requires monitoring or treatment.
What if your face is swollen?
Swelling should be taken seriously.
An increasing swelling, particularly when associated with dental pain, can require urgent dental assessment. Swelling or a growing lump in the mouth is listed as a reason to seek urgent care.
If you also have difficulty breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth, seek urgent medical help.
What if you break a tooth but there is no pain?
You should still arrange a dental assessment.
It is recommended to see a dentist for chipped, cracked or broken teeth even where the problem does not initially appear severe. Treatment may involve smoothing the tooth, a filling, a crown or root canal treatment depending on the extent of the damage.
A lack of pain does not tell you how strong the remaining tooth structure is.
What if a crown or filling falls out?
A lost or broken restoration can expose the underlying tooth and may cause sensitivity or further damage.
A broken or loose filling, crown, bridge or veneer is included among situations where urgent dental advice may be needed.
Contact your dentist for advice rather than trying to permanently repair the restoration yourself.
What if you knock out a tooth?
A knocked-out permanent tooth is an urgent dental situation. A badly broken or knocked-out adult tooth should be treated as soon as possible. If the tooth remains whole, there are specific steps that can help protect it while you seek professional care.
This is one situation where you should not wait for a routine appointment.
What happens during an emergency dental appointment?
The first priority is to identify the cause of the problem and manage pain or immediate risk.
At Walton Dental Surgery, the emergency dental page explains that the practice can assess the source of toothache and may use diagnostic tests such as X-rays to determine what is causing the problem. Patients with emergency dental concerns can call on 01932 225748.
The treatment may be simple, such as repairing a damaged filling, or it may involve more complex treatment depending on what the dentist finds.
An emergency appointment does not always mean you will receive all definitive treatment on that same visit. The priority is often to diagnose the problem, relieve pain and establish the most appropriate next step.
What should you do while waiting to see a dentist?
If you have dental pain, avoid chewing on the affected side and try to keep the area clean.
You can follow appropriate pain relief advice from a pharmacist or healthcare professional, taking into account any medicines or health conditions that may affect what you can safely use.
Do not place aspirin directly against the tooth or gum.
If there is significant swelling, severe pain, trauma or another urgent concern, contact a dentist promptly.
When should you call an emergency dentist?
A useful rule is this:
If pain is severe, persistent, worsening, affecting your daily life, or accompanied by swelling or injury, do not wait and hope it disappears.
The same applies to a knocked-out tooth or a broken dental restoration.
Getting an assessment early can help identify the cause and may prevent the problem from becoming more complicated.
Emergency dental care in Walton-on-Thames
Walton Dental Surgery provides emergency dental appointments for patients experiencing urgent dental problems. The practice is located at 71A Hersham Road, Walton-on-Thames, and lists 01932 225748 for emergency dental enquiries.