Can the Emergency Room Fix Tooth Pain?

In the UK, there is currently a shortage of dentists, which means millions of patients are missing out on dental care and treatment that they urgently need.

In the last 30 days alone, the online search for the phrase ‘how to ease toothache’ increased to over 5,000%, showing the large number of people who are living with untreated tooth problems.

If you are someone who is suffering from toothache, but are not registered with a dental practice, then you may believe a trip to the emergency room is the solution.

But can the emergency room fix tooth pain?

Keep reading to find out what you should do if you experience severe tooth pain.

How do you know if your tooth pain is an emergency?

When your symptoms don’t go away with painkillers, and they prevent you from going about your daily activities, that is when tooth pain becomes an emergency.

If your toothache does not go away within 24 hours, we urge you not to wait a few days to see if your symptoms worsen. You should make an emergency dentist appointment as soon as you can, so that you can be examined as early as possible.

The earlier you get seen by a dental professional, the faster they will be able to help you overcome your problem, prevent further damage, and instruct you on the correct aftercare.

Can the emergency room fix tooth pain?

If you experience severe tooth pain, then you may be tempted to visit your local emergency room, to see what the doctors or nurses can do for you.

But can the emergency room fix tooth pain?

Well, if you have severe tooth pain, then we recommend making an emergency dentist appointment, rather than visiting an emergency room.

Dentists are specially trained to deal with any type of tooth emergency. They have the necessary knowledge, equipment and lighting to thoroughly examine your teeth and gums, diagnose the problem, and resolve the issue.

The emergency room may be able to fix your tooth pain by stopping any bleeding and giving you antibiotics. However, you may need more specific treatment to treat the problem (e.g. tooth extraction or root canal).

The emergency room staff do not have the knowledge or resources to carry out these procedures: only a dentist can offer these treatments.

What’s more, in the emergency room, there will be countless other patients who are waiting to be seen for various emergencies, so you will have a vastly longer waiting time. Hence, it is far better if you book an emergency dental appointment, rather than go to the emergency room.

When should you visit the emergency room with a dental problem?

You should visit the emergency room if your toothache is accompanied by serious symptoms that are affecting other parts of your body.

For instance, if you have a tooth infection, which spreads to other areas of your body, then, this can be dangerous. You should visit A&E as soon as possible if your tooth infection also brings additional symptoms such as:

Fever
Chills
Nausea or vomiting
Swollen neck glands
Trouble breathing or swallowing, or chest pain
Blurry vision

How do I know if my toothache is serious?

You should book an emergency dentist appointment as soon as possible if you experience any of these dental emergencies:

Uncontrollable dental haemorrhage following extractions.
Rapidly increasing swelling around the throat or eye.
Excessive bleeding after tooth extraction which persists even after biting into gauze.
Excruciating tooth pain.
Severe dental and facial pain which does not go away with over-the-counter medications.
Trauma to the face, mouth or jaw.
A knocked-out or broken tooth.
Dental and soft tissue acute infection.
Swelling of the gums, cheek, or face.
Partially dislodged tooth.
Abscess (build-up of pus that forms in the teeth or gums, caused by an infection).
Mouth ulcers that have not healed after 2 weeks.

What antibiotics treat tooth infections?

Antibiotics which are used to treat tooth and gum infections include Amoxicillin, Metronidazole and Clarithromycin. These can be prescribed by a dentist or doctor.

How to ease toothache while waiting for a dental appointment

While you are waiting to be examined by a dentist, your tooth pain may worsen, especially if you have an infection. Follow these tips below to cope with the toothache:

Pain Management

In terms of managing your pain, your best choice is simple over-the-counter medications. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are both easily accessible and will do the best job of keeping your pain at bay whilst you wait for treatment.

You can also try applying pain relief gel in the affected area- you can buy these at supermarkets and pharmacies. Never apply more than the recommended dose.

To ease swelling in your face, apply a cold compress to your cheek or jaw.

Diet

You should do your best to eat soft food like scrambled eggs and yoghurt.

Try not to use the affected tooth whilst chewing, even if the food is soft, so as not to irritate it.

Avoid eating hard, crunchy foods, as well as sugary snacks and drinks.

Cleaning

You can try rinsing your mouth with salt water, but make sure you don’t swallow. Saltwater is a natural antibacterial agent, so it can reduce inflammation in the mouth. However, children should never do this.

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your teeth, using gentle movements.

Home Remedies

There are a few home remedies that may offer you relief from bleeding, swelling, pain and discomfort.

For example, try dipping a cotton ball or cotton bud in clove oil, tea tree oil, or lavender oil, and gently apply it to the affected area in your mouth; these essential oils can help alleviate pain and promote healing.

What’s more, try chewing on an onion. The vegetable is a natural antiseptic which can effectively eliminate germs in the mouth.

Where can I get an emergency dental appointment?

Emergency Dental Care at Didsbury Dental Practice

At Didsbury Dental Practice, our emergency dental care is second to none. Our emergency dental care service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including on Bank Holidays and Christmas Day.

Our team of dental professionals can provide treatment for any type of dental emergency: from severe toothache and tooth infections to broken teeth, lost fillings or gum inflammation.

Didsbury Dental Practice has got you covered, at any time of day or night. Dental emergencies can be very painful, so we offer out-of-hours treatment because we know that dental problems don’t always stick to 9.00 am to 12.00 am.

To book an emergency appointment with us, it is not necessary for you to be an existing patient at our practice.

If you experience a dental emergency, simply call our dental emergency helpline on 0161 413 2509, or walk into our dental practice, and we will aim to see you as soon as possible.

Your first appointment will be for the initial treatment to address your dental problem and stop it from worsening. This will usually be followed by more appointments over the next few days or weeks, to make sure you are on making good progress and healing properly.

Services for Nervous Patients at Didsbury Dental Practice

We understand the anxiety that patients may feel about attending dental appointments.

That is why we offer services for nervous patients, including pain-free dental laser treatment and conscious sedation. We are proud to offer the most compassionate dental care, in tranquil surroundings, so every patient is in safe hands with us.

Click here to learn more about the emergency dental care offered at Didsbury Dental Practice.

About Didsbury Dental Practice

We are a 24-hour emergency dentist in South Manchester. Our team is highly experienced, and we deliver a level of patient comfort like no other dental practice. Every patient is treated with the most sophisticated care in a truly relaxed atmosphere.

In addition, all our staff are multi-lingual. Languages spoken at our dental practice include German, French, Polish, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.

If you need an emergency appointment, call our dental emergency helpline on 0161 413 2835, or walk into our practice and we will aim to see you as soon as possible.

We offer a wide range of dental services and treatments, including teeth whitening, Invisalign, Alias lingual braces, Six Month Smiles Braces and Damon Clear Braces.

To learn more about Didsbury Dental Practice, visit our website here.

Check out our blog to read more articles on all things dental health.

We hope this article has provided the answer to the question, ‘can the emergency room fix tooth pain?’