Persistent Tooth Pain: Is It a Dental Emergency?

If you’re experiencing persistent tooth pain, finding the reason behind your discomfort should be a top priority. But whether it’s a dental emergency depends on a few key factors.

At Bayside Dental Arts in Queens, New York, Dr. Andrey Ilyabayev and our team provide emergency dental care in case you need immediate help. Here’s how to know when you need to take advantage of this service.

Reasons for persistent tooth pain

You can have a temporary pain in one or more teeth for many reasons, such as biting down on something hard, taking a blow to the mouth, or having recent dental work that leaves your tooth or the gum around it throbbing or sensitive.

But persistent tooth pain that lasts more than a day can mean there’s something more going on. A persistent and extremely painful toothache can indicate an issue deep inside the root of your tooth, a tooth abscess, or another type of tooth infection. 

Root canal infections 

If your tooth has a cavity or crack that allows bacteria to get inside the root canal of your tooth, the pulp inside the canal may be infected and inflamed. This causes pressure on the nerve running into the root, which in turn leads to severe pain that throbs in time with your heartbeat.

Tooth abscesses starting under the gum line

A tooth abscess is often the result of a gum infection that invades your tooth starting at the tip of the root. Again, bacteria gains access and starts to cause tissue inside your tooth to swell. This can leave you with a lot of pain and swelling around the tooth under the gum line.

Tooth infections above the gum line

Bacteria can also gain entry through a cavity between teeth, causing a periodontal abscess infection that makes your tooth ache severely. There may also be bleeding or even pus coming from around the infected tooth. 

Determining if you’re having a dental emergency

If your pain is persistent but not extreme, and there’s minimal swelling and no blood or pus, you can call us and make a regular appointment. Mention your tooth pain so we book you as soon as possible. You can take over-the-counter painkillers to manage your pain, but avoid aspirin.

If you see an abscess, notice pus or blood, or the swelling is so bad that you find it hard to talk or chew, you need to call us for an emergency dental appointment. These are signs of a badly infected tooth, and you need care as soon as possible to avoid further damage to your tooth, the surrounding gum tissue, and the underlying jawbone.

If swelling is so bad you’re having trouble breathing, you’ve suffered trauma to your mouth, you’re dizzy, and/or you’re running a high fever, it’s time to go to the emergency room for your toothache. 

Even if they don’t have a dentist on site, they can help you deal with dangerous symptoms, ensure you’re stable, and stop the infection from spreading.

Are you having ongoing tooth pain? Schedule an appointment at our Bayside, New York, office. To get in touch, call us at 315-908-0804 or book an appointment online today.