Is My Toothache Considered a Dental Emergency?

People usually know they should contact an expert when something breaks, whether it’s a bone or a tooth. Yet, for some reason, people often try to ignore another serious symptom: pain.

Pain has an important job — it lets you know there’s something wrong. While every single twinge of pain may not be an emergency, it’s crucial to pay attention to this important cue, especially when it involves your teeth. 

Dr. Daniel Park can provide tooth-saving treatments when you have a dental emergency in Beaumont, California. The first step in dental emergencies? Contact Beaumont Cherry Valley Dental for guidance rather than guessing what to do instead.

Types of toothaches

It’s easy to associate a toothache with a dull, persistent throb or aching sensation. In reality, they can cause a variety of sensations, such as:

• Sharp, jabbing, or throbbing pain
• Sensitivity
• Gum swelling
• Headaches
• Fever and chills

Some toothaches can even trigger foul breath or a bad taste in the mouth. 

All of these symptoms can offer additional clues into the source of your toothache and why it’s important to contact an expert for answers.

Why you shouldn’t ignore a toothache

When you stub your toe, the source of your pain is usually obvious — you stubbed your toe. You may even have visual signs of a problem, like bruising, bleeding, or disfigurement. 

However, if you develop pain in a tooth, the cause is often due to more than meets the eye.

Common causes of toothaches include:

• Gum disease
• Cracks, decay, or cavities
• Abscesses from bacterial infections
• Damaged fillings, crowns, or other restorations
• Teeth clenching or grinding

Clenching your teeth may not be a dental emergency, but most other causes of toothaches such as untreated infections and tooth decay can put you at risk of complications, including tooth loss. 

As a result, Dr. Park recommends contacting Beaumont Cherry Dental when you have a toothache to discuss your symptoms and determine the best course of action. 

Treating a toothache

Dr. Park offers emergency dental services for adults and children. 

If you have a toothache, Dr. Park performs an exam to identify the source of your toothache. Depending on what he finds, he could also order X-rays to look for underlying issues beneath your gums.

After diagnosing your condition, Dr. Park can outline the most effective treatment strategy. This varies, depending on the cause, but might include:

• Antibiotics to clear up infections
• Treating cavities with fillings, inlays, onlays, or dental crowns
• Replacing deteriorating restorations
• Root canal therapy to remove inflamed tissue from inside the tooth
• Oral devices for teeth-grinding

If your tooth sustained significant damage, Dr. Park may need to remove it entirely, but this can be avoided with early intervention.

Don’t wait to contact Beaumont Cherry Valley Dental when you have tooth pain. Dr. Park can provide personalized guidance on whether your symptoms require emergency care or attention at your next appointment.

Do you have a toothache? Call Beaumont Cherry Valley Dental at 951-845-2661 or through their website today.