What To Do When You Have a Dental Emergency

Emergencies happen—but knowing what to do when you have a dental emergency can quickly turn a stressful situation into a moment of relief. Dr. Erik, a trusted Randolph dentist, breaks down the most common dental emergencies patients face with expert advice on who to see when dental pain strikes: the emergency dentist or an emergency room.

What Causes Tooth Pain?

Tooth pain isn’t one-size-fits-all. It can be caused by a new filling or crown disrupting your normal bite, which, in most cases, is a simple, pain-free fix. But it can also be caused by an abscessed tooth, which requires immediate attention from either an emergency dentist or emergency room doctor. Not to mention, a number of reasons between those two examples.

Whether your tooth pain is emergency room-worthy or not depends highly on your symptoms.

Symptoms Checklist

When to visit the emergency room:

• No emergency dentist is available.
• Tooth pain is accompanied by a fever.
• Large abscess (or swelling) present and warm to touch.
• Other life-threatening symptoms.

When to visit an emergency dentist:

• During normal business hours.
• Experiencing tooth pain without life-threatening symptoms.
• General tooth pain that disrupts your normal routine.

Keep in mind that emergency rooms rarely have a dentist on staff 24 hours a day, and in most cases, a dentist will be on call for the hospital. If your tooth pain is not a true, life-threatening emergency, waiting to see an emergency dentist will likely be more effective and less costly. If you are experiencing severe, potentially life-threatening symptoms, do not postpone treatment—go to the emergency room immediately.

Common Toothache Causes

Toothaches can be caused by a variety of factors, from recent dental treatment to fractured tooth roots. While it is nearly impossible to determine what is going on without a dental exam and X-ray, Dr. Erik reveals that the majority of toothaches stem from:

• Dental cavities (decay)
• Worn enamel or dentin exposure
• Gum disease (periodontitis)
• Cracked or fractured teeth
• Erupting wisdom teeth
• Bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding)
• Dental abscesses
• Malocclusion (bite issues)

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Erik at Dickerson Dental Group today to relieve tooth pain fast.

Tooth Pain FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):

Is a toothache a dental emergency?

A toothache caused by an infection can be a true dental emergency. If you experience significant swelling, especially if the site of swelling is warm to touch, it is often best to consider emergency treatment.

What does tooth pain feel like?

Tooth pain can vary from a slight ache to severe, throbbing pain, but neither should be ignored. Slight discomfort can quickly advance to significant swelling; in some cases, this can occur overnight.

Can antibiotics fix tooth pain?

Antibiotics can reduce swelling and minimize tooth pain, but it is crucial to treat the underlying issue. Oftentimes, antibiotics act as a band-aid, masking these symptoms while the root cause remains.

Meet Dr. Erik, Emergency Dentist at Dickerson Dental Group

Dr. Erik Dickerson graduated from Montclair State University with a M.S. in Biochemistry and received his doctorate of dental surgery (DDS) from State University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2014. After dental school, Dr. Erik completed a General Practice Residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Bethlehem, PA. Dr. Erik started Dickerson Dental Group in 2018, with the vision of having all the dental specialties under one roof with the importance of maintaining a family orientated environment.

Dickerson Dental Group
714 NJ-10 Suite 200 Randolph, NJ 07869
(973) 366-8338