When to go to the hospital for tooth pain

In addition to being uncomfortable, dealing with dental pain affects many aspects of your daily life: Being able to brush your teeth, speak, and eat meals. If the pain is significant, it may also affect your sleep. Thankfully, there are plenty of dentists who can help alleviate symptoms, but they’re not always available at a moment’s notice; especially overnight, during a weekend, or over holidays.

How can you tell when dental pain is something you can “tough out” with an Ibuprofen until you can see a dentist in a day or two, and when are your symptoms a sign of a medical emergency?

When to Schedule a Dentist’s Appointment

Emergency rooms are not usually staffed with dentists. Therefore, if you’ve noticed you may have a cavity or have minor pain that can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers, it’s fine to schedule a dentist’s appointment, even if they can’t see you right away.

You can also wait to see a dentist if you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity when eating or drinking hot or cold items, or if you have a cracked tooth… unless the crack is resulting in bleeding. If the crack is minor and it does not hurt, you can wait until a dental appointment.

Additionally, if you’ve lost a crown or filling, you can use over-the-counter dental cement to put it back in place until your dentist can see you.

When to go to the Emergency Room

Always visit the emergency room if you’ve experienced any of the following:

Trauma to the face
Cuts inside your mouth
Severe swelling
A broken jaw
A dislocated jaw
An abscess that’s affecting your ability to swallow
An untreated infection
Pain or swelling that radiates to the neck
If the condition is affecting your breathing
If you’re an adult and you have a loose tooth or teeth
Headache
High fever
Severe pain

Do not try to wait and see if the injury gets better on its own, as left untreated, all of the conditions listed above could lead to life-threatening complications, such as necrosis of the pulp, cellulitis, or septic shock.

24-Hour Emergency Room Services in Colorado Springs and Texas

If you or a loved one have a medical emergency, we can provide the care you need. If you have questions or need immediate treatment, your nearest Complete Care location is ready to help, no matter the time of day or night. We offer a variety of services to help you and your family in your time of need. No appointments are necessary.

Find the Complete Care location nearest you.

Dental problems can be costly and painful. And because over a third of all Americans don’t have dental insurance, many wait until dental problems become serious before seeking out medical attention. But what constitutes a dental emergency, and how do you know when you need urgent medical care for a dental problem? Keep reading to learn when to visit the emergency room for dental care.

Common Dental Emergencies

Knocked-out tooth
Infections
Extreme tooth sensitivity
Mouth sores
Abscessed gums
Bleeding
Swelling
Broken teeth

Can You Go to the Emergency Room for a Tooth?

You can absolutely visit the emergency room for dental care. Dental pain can be indicative of a more serious and potentially life-threatening condition, so it’s important to act quickly if you suspect that something is wrong.

What Will the ER Do for a Tooth Infection?

Depending on the source of your dental issues, an emergency room doctor might recommend various different courses of treatment. If there seems to be swelling or an infection, they might prescribe an anti-inflammatory medicine or an antibiotic. For a broken tooth or orofacial trauma, they might simply prescribe something for the pain.

Can the ER Help with Severe Tooth Pain?

If you are experiencing unbearable pain in your teeth, an emergency room visit can help you find relief. Whether you’ve had a tooth extracted, broken crown, or other dental procedure, sometimes over-the-counter medications simply don’t work. An emergency room doctor can help by administering a dose of stronger pain medication to manage the discomfort until you can set an appointment with your dentist to treat the problem.

What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?

Emergencies tend to happen outside of business hours for most dental offices, and you may find yourself unable to get in to see your dentist when something goes wrong. But when is it acceptable to visit an emergency room or urgent care for dental pain? Here are a list of Dos and Don’ts to consider before making the trip to the ER:

Do go to the emergency room if:

Your toothache pain has spread to other parts of your face, particularly the eye and jaw area
Your toothache is accompanied by a high fever
You are bleeding uncontrollably
You have trouble swallowing or bleeding
You are getting worse after 24 hours of antibiotics
You experienced a trauma or blow to the face that causes dental discomfort or irregularity

Don’t got to the ER if:

Minor pain is your only symptom
You had a tooth extraction or dental operation less than 24 hours prior to experiencing pain
You or your child have a broken or chipped tooth

Dental emergencies can be scary, but many aren’t as serious as they seem. A quick Google search or an after-hours call to your dentist can help you discern whether or not you actually need to see an emergency room doctor or if the issue can wait until the next day. If you can’t contact your dentist, call your local emergency room for advice on whether or not to come in.

How to Avoid Dental Emergencies

Dental issues are the main source of entirely avoidable trips to the emergency room. And while you should absolutely seek help if your teeth are causing you pain, the better solution to prevent dental emergencies altogether is to simply keep up with regular dental appointments. Yearly dental cleanings can help identify any issues you may be having, spare you a trip to hospital emergency rooms, and keep ER beds clear for more pressing emergencies.

Visit Village Emergency Centers

At Village Emergency Centers, no issue is too big or small. If you are experiencing dental pain that warrants emergency care, our qualified team of board-certified emergency doctors are ready and willing to help. Still wondering when to visit an emergency room for dental care? Don’t wait—visit a Village Emergency Center location near you!

Should I go to the hospital if my toothache is unbearable?

Do I Need to Go to the Emergency Room for Tooth Pain? The short answer is that you should go based on how you feel. If you have excruciating tooth pain that you can't take for a second longer or prolonged, excessive mouth bleeding that you can't get under control, you may need to head to the emergency room.

Can the ER do anything for tooth pain?

The ER staff can get patients stabilized, control bleeding, and give treatment for dental fractures. In the case of bacterial infections, they can provide antibiotics and will arrange for transfer to the hospital if necessary. They can also treat broken, dislodged, or fractured teeth and help to control severe pain.

When should you go to the ER for a tooth infection?

You SHOULD go to the emergency room if: You have swelling from a toothache that has spread to other parts of your face, especially your eye or below your jaw line. You have a toothache accompanied by a high fever (>101). You have bleeding that can't be controlled with pressure (more on this below).

What do you do when your tooth is unbearable?

If you find that your toothache is unbearable, you should consult a dentist. He will evaluate the condition of your teeth and suggest whether you require having the tooth removed or you need to undergo a root canal treatment.