Can the Hospital Help With a Tooth Infection?
Tooth infections are not something to be taken lightly. They can cause other problems that will be much more difficult to deal with.
So what is causing you to have a tooth infection? Having a weakened immune system, poor dental hygiene or even just food lodged in your gums can cause a tooth infection.
A tooth infection can definitely be a dental emergency. If the infection is not stopped soon enough it will likely develop into a dental abscess.
Dental abscesses can be very dangerous
If a tooth infection remains constantly painful, is stubborn to heal and is releasing pus this can be considered a dental emergency.
The NHS defines a dental emergency as;
- Uncontrollable dental haemorrhage following extractions.
- Rapidly increasing swelling around the throat or eye.
- Trauma confined to the dental arches.
The NHS defines urgent dental issues as;
- Severe dental and facial pain not controlled by over-the-counter preparations.
- Dental and soft tissue acute infection.
It is important not to get these mixed up with each other. The NHS is already underfunded and overcrowded. It is up to us patients to do our best to get ourselves to the right medical professional.
Remember though, even if you do end up in the wrong place, you will be helped and sent in the right direction. Hopefully though with our help, you will know where to go for any and all dental problems.
Should I Go to the Hospital for a Tooth Infection?
There are very few instances where you should go to the hospital with any kind of dental issue. It is important to know what they are though. You should go straight to A&E if:
- You are struggling with breathing.
- You have swelling or pain in your eye and/or you suddenly begin to have problems with your vision.
- You have a lot of swelling in your mouth.
Where Should I Go if I Have a Tooth Infection?
If you have a tooth infection you do not need to go to the hospital. You do not necessarily need to book an emergency dentist appointment. You should definitely book an appointment with your dentist though.
There is nothing a hospital can do for a tooth infection.
Doctors do not have the equipment they would need to treat dental issues.
Doctors usually do not have any dental training.
Doctors and dentists do not have the same training. One knows about everything other than your teeth and one specialises in your teeth.
Although it may feel like instinct to go to the hospital with emergency pain, this is an important time to remember emergency dentists. You definitely do not want to wait hours to be seen in Accident & Emergency just to be told there is nothing anybody there can do for you.
How Long Can an Infected Tooth Go Untreated?
If you leave a tooth infection too long and it develops into a dental abscess, this is the time to book an emergency dental appointment.
Problems other than a tooth infection can cause a dental abscess. These include; having tooth decay or gum disease, injured teeth or gums or even if you’re having radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
If the problem is with your tooth the dentist will then drain away the pus from the abscess and they may need to perform a root canal or potentially remove the tooth.
The dentist will give you a local anaesthetic if you need either of these treatments so that you will not feel any pain. There is, however, likely to be some pain after and therefore the dentist may offer you painkillers to take for the next few days.
If you had a tooth infection, among some other problems that could have caused the abscess, you may be given antibiotics as well depending on the treatment you received.
How to Ease the Pain Caused by a Tooth Infection?
Tooth pain can be really difficult to deal with and almost impossible to ignore so make sure to use these tips to ease your discomfort as much as possible.
- You should make sure you use a soft toothbrush when cleaning your teeth
- You should try to stay away from any particularly hot, cold or sugary food and drinks.
- You should make sure to eat softer foods that won’t make your pain worse. Try, scrambled eggs, soup or yoghurt.
- You should take painkillers. Ibuprofen or paracetamol are fine (please note that children under 16 should not take aspirin).
How are Tooth Infections Treated?
There are multiple different problems that could be causing your tooth pain. We aim to make understanding what will happen and how much it will cost easy. We understand that some people can feel very real anxiety about visiting the dentist and we want to take as much of that away as possible.
So what can emergency dentists do?
Hygiene treatment
The aim of a hygiene treatment is to ease your pain, stop whatever problem is happening in its tracks and prevent it from coming back. This treatment includes plaque removal, descaling, gum health checks, and removal of calculus above the gums. The hygiene treatment is likely to accompany whatever treatment is getting to the root of your problem.
Our hygiene treatments start at £15.
Dental surgery
There are different types of dental surgery that you may need to have. More standard procedures include basic tooth extractions that do not include removing bone. This is the treatment option you are most likely to be offered if you have an infected or broken tooth. The prices of dental surgery start at £89 and can go up to as much as £150 depending on how complicated the surgery is.
Fillings
One of the treatments you may need with an infected tooth is a filling. If you have a toothache it was likely caused by either an infected tooth or a damaged tooth. Emergency fillings cost £50, these can be used before a longer appointment is available for you or when another treatment is also needed.
We offer high-quality filling for NHS dentists as a private practice. In addition to the silver fillings, if you choose we can also provide white filling and glass ionomers. This means that we can restore your smile to its former glory promptly.
Silver fillings – £75
White fillings – £95
Glass ionomers – £65
Root canal
Over one million root canals are performed every year in the UK, making it a very widespread procedure. It is an emergency procedure but nothing to worry about.
Emergency removal of infected nerve tissue with temporary pain relief costs £280. You will not always be able to have your root canal straight away so this is the best way to keep the pain at bay whilst you wait.
There are then three different types of root canals which are a treatment for incisors and canines (£350), premolars (£450) and molars (£650).
Our other dental fees also highlight any aftercare treatment that may be needed, such as implants (from £800) or orthodontic treatment (from £1500).
How to Book an Emergency Dental Appointment
Luckily, you do not need to waste your time waiting at your local Accident and Emergency, you can book an emergency dental appointment without having to go anywhere.
Firstly, you need to identify what your problem is, this way the dental care professionals can help you to determine whether urgent care is needed. If you are told that should attend an emergency dental appointment you should try and make it your priority to avoid your issue becoming worse or even causing more problems.
Contact us! Didsbury Dental Practice offers appointments from 9 am to 12 am, 7 days a week. Our phone lines are open 24/7. Whenever a dental disaster strikes you can call us and we’ll book you in as soon as possible and give any advice we can.
You do not need to be an existing patient at our practice. It does not matter if you live in Didsbury or are just in the area temporarily we are here to help you with your dental needs. Just contact us by booking a consultation online or calling us at 0161 445 0005.
Usually, you should be able to get an emergency dental appointment within a few days or even hours. Then finally, attend your appointment and let us look after you.
Your initial appointment will be for the initial treatment of your dental problem and should stop it from worsening. This will usually be followed by more appointments over the next few days and weeks to make sure you are on making good progress and healing properly.
Please note this process is not the same at all practices, so please be sure to double-check how to contact your practice if we are too far away for you.
9:00am – 12:00am – Monday – Sunday
Call us on:
0161 504 7425
Visit our practice:
Didsbury Dental Practice
90 Barlow Moor Road
Manchester
M20 2PN
