Signs That Your Toothache Is Actually a Dental Emergency

You should always see your dentist when you have a toothache, but there are times when a toothache may send you to the emergency dentist in San Jose. The sooner you can have a toothache healed—whether by a root canal procedure or other treatment—the sooner you can get back to a pain-free life.

The Pain Is Constant and Extreme

When a toothache has become so bad that the pain is extreme and constant—and it is not controlled by over-the-counter pain relievers—then it is time to see your emergency dentist. This pain may be an indication of several potential problems. You may have a tooth abscess, a missing or broken crown, or an infection. These possible reasons are just a few different diagnoses your emergency dentist will try to determine. Other possibilities may include nerve damage caused by damage to the tooth pulp. This could be from an infection or encroachment from a growing wisdom tooth.

The Gum Around the Tooth Is Bleeding

If the gum tissue around the tooth is bleeding, then you may have an infection in your tooth or gums. Infections are caused by bacteria getting under the gum line, creating potential abscesses and pockets in the gums that compromise the integrity of the natural teeth. You may have developed an infection due to improper or infrequent dental care that resulted in periodontitis. Another possible infection source could be from a foreign object getting under the gum line; the bleeding and inflammation is the body’s way of trying to expel the foreign object.

There Is Something Lodged in or Around the Tooth

Whether you have a toothache or not, you should always see an emergency dentist if you have something lodged in or around your tooth. If you cannot safely remove the object, then a dentist needs to use professional tools to remove it. Foreign objects should be removed as soon as possible before they cause potential infections or permanent damage to your tooth or gums.