When is a Toothache an Emergency?

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When is a Toothache an Emergency?
Isabelle Farmer
October 7, 2009

Dr. Isabelle Farmer is a practicing dentist at Houston SmileDocs in Texas. A graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas Dental School, she went on to start her dental practice in 1984. Here she explains how to tell the difference between a simple toothache and a major dental emergency.

As a general rule of thumb, I usually tell patients that any type of pain in the mouth that lasts longer than two weeks needs to be looked at by a dentist. Toothaches and a general sensitivity of the teeth are issues that may or may not be a sign of something bigger, but whether or not you need to see a dentist right away about the problem is something that can almost always be answered based on how long the immediate pain lasts.

If a patient has some tooth sensitivity or pain when he drinks something cold, but that pain goes away almost instantly—or as soon as the cold temperature has dissipated—then I would advise that person to wait a while before making an appointment, because that is not a true dental emergency. It is, however, something that to discuss with the dentist at the next visit.

On the other hand, if a patient has sensitivity when they eat cold or hot foods, and that sensitivity lasts for an extended period—like a minute or two—then that is definitely something you would want to get checked by a dentist. What it means if you have a lingering pain is that there is most likely a problem with the nerve of the tooth—an issue that needs to be checked out by a professional.

So that is the main difference that patients should watch out for when deciding whether or not they need to make an appointment immediately with a dentist. It has to do with how long the sensitivity lasts—whether it comes and goes within a matter of seconds (like if you are drinking something cold and your teeth instantly hurt, but the pain is soon gone) or if it lasts for one or two minutes (like if you eat something cold or hot and the pain in your mouth stays even after that food or drink has been swallowed). Any type of lingering pain like that really does need to be checked by a dentist to determine what is causing it.

Although we have desensitizing treatments available in the office, I usually advise patients who come in with tooth sensitivity to try an over-the-counter product like Sensodyne. With a product like that, you can avoid having to get a prescription and also numb the pain, so long as what you are experiencing is temporary. Obviously, that does not apply to anyone with more major toothache issues or anyone who is experiencing swelling in the mouth.

People who have swelling in their mouth need to be checked out by a dentist immediately. To do that, they can go ahead and call whichever dentist they frequent. There isn’t usually a need for any type of emergency dentistry—your general dentist has been trained for those types of emergencies, and he has experience handling whatever issue you are facing.

So, by and large, the general rule of thumb is that if you are having any kind of sensitivity or pain in the mouth that is lasting longer than two weeks, it needs to be checked out by a dentist. This is advised as a way to ensure that nothing bigger is going on that needs to be treated separately.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

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