A toothache can be extremely unpleasant and frightening. People who face severe tooth pain often ask: Can I go to the ER for a tooth infection? In this article, we discuss when you should go to the ER and when emergency dental services will be more helpful.
Can I Go to the ER for a Tooth Infection?
Whether you should go to the ER or an emergency dental office depends on the severity of the tooth infection and on the symptoms it causes. Going to the ER is a reasonable choice when the following symptoms accompany your tooth infection:
- Severe unmanageable toothache with fever, chills, and dizziness
- Extensive swelling in the face and neck
- Enlarged and sore lymph nodes close to the head
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
These symptoms likely indicate that the infection has spread beyond the tooth and require immediate antibiotic treatment to prevent an abscess. ER specialists can provide these medications and abscess drainage to prevent the infection from becoming life-threatening.
However, ERs can not provide dental services. Thus, if you require tooth extraction or other dental procedures, you will have to go to an emergency dentist after you receive emergency infection treatment at an ER.
When Should I Go to an Emergency Dentist Instead of an ER?
If you notice any signs of tooth infection, even if not severe, we recommend seeing a dentist as soon as possible before the infection turns into a tooth abscess, becomes life-threatening, or requires emergency services. That said, you may go to an emergency dentist instead of an ER in the following cases:
- Severe toothache with mild fever
- Moderate swelling only in the area of the infected tooth
- Cysts on the gums surrounding the infected tooth
Other signs of tooth infection that require prompt treatment include:
- Persistent dull toothache
- Changes in the color of the tooth (typically, the tooth becomes darker gray, black, or brown)
- Persistent bad breath and unpleasant taste in the mouth
What Treatments Can I Receive at an Emergency Dental Office?
Typically, tooth infection is treated in two ways, depending on its severity:
- Root canal therapy
- Tooth extraction
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is used when the tooth structure is not severely damaged by infection, allowing the tooth to be saved and function properly. During this procedure, your dentist accesses the inner chamber of the tooth through the crown and removes the infected pulp from the canals. Then, the tooth is filled with special dental material and hermetically sealed.
In the majority of cases, this procedure is followed by a dental crown, which reinforces the weakened tooth and protects it from further damage. Root canal recovery typically takes 7 to 10 days.
Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is performed when the infection has spread beyond the tooth (abscess) or the tooth’s structure is significantly weakened, and the tooth will not be able to function even with a dental crown.
Tooth extraction is a surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia, which blocks pain. In most cases, extraction takes only a couple of minutes. However, the procedure might take longer if additional treatments are required.
Patients tend to feel significant pain relief after the extraction compared to the pain they experienced before the procedure. Tooth extraction recovery can take up to 14 days.
Make an Emergency Appointment at Shodhan Yucaipa
If you notice any signs of tooth infection, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced emergency dentist at Shodhan Yucaipa. Remember that a tooth infection always requires prompt treatment to prevent the infection from spreading and becoming life-threatening. We look forward to helping you restore and maintain your oral health.