What Counts as a Dental Emergency? A Guide for Auburn, GA Families

A dental emergency is any problem that causes severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding, swelling or the loss or breakage of a tooth. A knocked-out tooth, a cracked tooth with sharp pain, facial swelling or a painful abscess all need care right away. A small chip, a lost filling with no pain or mild sensitivity can usually wait a few days for a regular appointment.

Emergency or Can It Wait?

The hardest part of a dental problem is often deciding how fast you need help. Use these two lists as a quick guide, and when in doubt, call our office so our team can help you decide.

Call us right away

• A knocked-out permanent tooth
• Severe or throbbing tooth pain that keeps you up at night or does not ease with over-the-counter pain relievers
• Swelling in your gums, face or jaw, especially with a fever or a bad taste in your mouth
• A cracked or broken tooth that hurts or has a sharp edge cutting your cheek or tongue
• Bleeding that will not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure
• A tooth that has been pushed out of position after an injury

Call to schedule within a few days

• A small chip with no pain
• A lost filling or crown that is not causing pain
• Mild, occasional sensitivity to hot or cold
• A dull ache that comes and goes

Problems in the second group are not emergencies today, but they can turn into one. A lost filling leaves the tooth open to new decay, and a dull ache is often an early sign of infection. Book a visit soon rather than waiting for it to get worse.

What to Do if a Tooth Gets Knocked Out

A knocked-out adult tooth has the best chance of being saved if it is back in place within about 30 to 60 minutes. Act quickly:

1. Pick the tooth up by the crown (the chewing surface), not the root.
2. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or water for a few seconds. Do not scrub it or wrap it in a tissue.
3. If you can, gently place it back in the socket and bite down on a clean cloth to hold it.
4. If it will not go back in, keep it moist in a small container of milk.
5. Call our office right away and head in.

Baby teeth are different. Do not try to put a knocked-out baby tooth back in, since that can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Call us so we can check your child's mouth, and learn more about our children's dentistry services.

Toothaches, Cracks and Swelling: What Each Can Mean

Severe tooth pain is often a sign that decay or a crack has reached the nerve inside the tooth. Swelling or a pimple-like bump on the gum usually points to an abscess, a bacterial infection that will not go away on its own. In many cases, a root canal can remove the infection and save the tooth. When a tooth is too damaged to repair, a tooth extraction may be the best way to stop the pain and protect the teeth around it.

A cracked or broken tooth can often be rebuilt with a filling or a crown, depending on how much of the tooth is affected. Our guide on whether a tooth needs a filling or a crown explains how that decision is made.

Until you can be seen, rinse with warm salt water, take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label and hold a cold compress on the outside of your cheek. Do not place aspirin directly on your gums, since it can burn the tissue.

What If It Happens on a Weekend?

Auburn Dental Center is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If a dental problem starts on a Friday or over the weekend, here is how to handle it:

• Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, a high fever with facial swelling, bleeding that will not stop or an injury to your jaw.
• For pain without those warning signs, manage it at home with the steps above and call our office as soon as we open.
• For a knocked-out tooth, keep it moist in milk and get care as quickly as possible. Time matters most with this injury.

An emergency room can help with pain, infection and serious injuries, but it usually cannot repair a tooth. Plan to follow up with a dentist for the actual treatment.

Can I Get a Same-Day Emergency Appointment in Auburn?

Yes. We prioritize emergency cases and offer same-day appointments when available. Call us right away and let us know what is going on. If you feel nervous about treatment, ask about sedation dentistry. Our guide to nitrous oxide, oral and IV sedation explains how each option works.

What to Expect at Your Emergency Visit

1. A quick review of your symptoms and medical history.
2. An exam and digital X-rays to find the source of the problem. For complex cases, 3D CT scanning gives a detailed view of the tooth, roots and surrounding bone.
3. Pain relief first, so you are comfortable.
4. A clear explanation of your treatment options, so you can choose what is right for you.
5. Treatment the same day when possible, or a temporary fix and a scheduled follow-up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?

Usually not, as long as it does not hurt and has no sharp edge. Call to schedule a visit within a few days. If the chip is large, painful or exposes the inside of the tooth, call us right away.

Should I go to the ER or the dentist for a toothache?

For most toothaches, a dentist is the right choice, since we can treat the cause. Go to the ER if you have swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, a high fever or a serious jaw injury.

What should I do if I lose a crown?

Keep the crown somewhere safe and bring it with you. Avoid chewing on that side. Many crowns can be cleaned and recemented if the tooth underneath is healthy. If the crown cannot be reused, same-day crowns can often replace it in a single visit.

Can a toothache go away on its own?

The pain might fade, but the problem usually does not. When an infected nerve dies, the pain can stop while the infection keeps spreading. Have any severe toothache checked, even if it improves.