Dr. Madsen: If you're at a point where it's not just tooth pain but you've got a lot of swelling on the side of your face, if it's extending down into your neck, certainly if it's causing any trouble breathing, absolutely go to the ER. That's a situation where we need to see you emergently.
It may be surprising, but your dentist is the best person to see for facial discomfort as it could signal worrisome oral health issues. If your mouth or face is swollen, that's a strong indication that you should seek immediate dental attention.
Dental Treatment in the Emergency Room
In the case of bacterial infections, they can provide antibiotics and will arrange for transfer to the hospital if necessary. They can also treat broken, dislodged, or fractured teeth and help to control severe pain.
You SHOULD go to the emergency room if: You have swelling from a toothache that has spread to other parts of your face, especially your eye or below your jaw line. You have a toothache accompanied by a high fever (>101). You have bleeding that can't be controlled with pressure (more on this below).
See your dentist promptly if you have any signs or symptoms of a tooth abscess. If you have a fever and swelling in your face and you can't reach your dentist, go to an emergency room. Also go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
Your GP may prescribe antibiotics, which will most likely provide some relief within 48 hours of the first dose. You can also try cold compresses on the outside of the cheek to help reduce swelling.
If your antibiotics are working, the symptoms of your tooth infection will begin to subside. Your fever, fatigue, pain, and/or swelling will decrease.
Hospitals and urgent care centers don't have dentists on staff to handle a dental emergency. Unless you have a life-threatening condition, schedule an appointment with our office. The only thing a physician can do is prescribe pain relievers and antibiotics.
Facial swelling is not always a cause for concern; however, if you experience facial swelling with difficult breathing, it might be a symptom of severe medical conditions such as anaphylaxis which requires immediate medical attention. Common symptoms of facial swelling include redness, facial pain, and wheezing.
Facial swelling doesn't just include the face, but it can also involve the neck or throat. If there are no injuries to the face, facial swelling can indicate a medical emergency. In most cases, a medical professional should treat facial swelling.
You may feel fatigued and dizzy. You may develop a fever. Fever is your body's response to an infection in the body. While a fever is a natural and normal response that can help you heal, if your temperature stays consistently over 101F, this could be a sign of sepsis developing.
Tooth abscess is absolutely a dental emergency. If you have a tooth abscess, you need to seek treatment immediately. Left untreated, abscess can lead to infection that spreads through the body causing serious and even life-threatening effects. The sooner these issues are treated the better!
See a doctor if your jaw swells following an injury or if the swelling persists for more than a few days or is accompanied by signs of an infection, such as fever, headache, and fatigue. Get emergency care if you: are unable to eat or open your mouth.
Acute oral infections take between three and seven days to resolve, but you may take antibiotics for longer. You may get a deep cleaning to open the tooth and remove the infected contents. If needed, your doctor will make an incision or drainage point on the soft tissue to relieve pressure and remove pus.
Contact a local practice as soon as possible if you have: Swelling of your gum, cheek or face which is spreading. If the swelling is spreading down your neck, up to your eye or along the floor of your mouth YOU MUST ENSURE YOU MENTION THIS when you contact the practice.
Tooth Abscess Symptoms
This pocket of pus is caused by a bacterial infection. It can happen due to an injury, untreated cavity, or previous dental work. Symptoms of an abscessed tooth include: Swelling in your face or cheek.
Ideally you should seek treatment from a dentist in an emergency, however if unable to see a dentist, a hospital emergency department may be able to provide the treatment needed to save the tooth.
As the Mayo Clinic notes, your dentist may prescribe an antibiotic such as amoxicillin for abscessed tooth treatment to keep the infection from spreading to nearby teeth, your jaw or other facial structures. They may also recommend an antibiotic for abscessed tooth if you have a weakened immune system.
If the infection is limited to the abscessed area, you may not need antibiotics. But if the infection has spread to nearby teeth, your jaw or other areas, your dentist will likely prescribe antibiotics to stop it from spreading further. Your dentist may also recommend antibiotics if you have a weakened immune system.
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin provide the most effective pain relief for a tooth abscess. They will both relieve the pain and reduce the swelling caused by the infection.
An NSAID, such as ibuprofen, may also help with the pain and swelling if not contraindicated. If the swelling doesn't improve or is associated with a more serious injury such as a broken bone, a traumatic head injury or concussion, you should contact your health care provider or go to the emergency department.
Definitive treatment for a dental abscess can only be given by a dentist, not your GP.
If the infection spreads, you may also develop a high temperature (fever) and feel generally unwell. In severe cases, you may find it hard to fully open your mouth and have difficulty swallowing or breathing.
throbbing tooth pain. throbbing pain in the jawbone, ear or neck (typically on the same side as the tooth pain) pain that worsens when you lie down.