Can urgent care give you antibiotics for tooth infection

Pain radiating from the teeth or jaws could be caused by a problem with the teeth or an inflammation of the sinus cavity. Tooth related pain indicates a cavity, cracked tooth, exposed root or disease of the gums. If the damage gets down to the root, infection can set in, along with serious, disabling pain.

Symptoms

  • Hot or cold sensitivity in the teeth
  • Pain associated with chewing
  • Blood or discharge from tooth or gums
  • Injury to the teeth
  • Receding gums, wrinkled feeling at the base of the gums

Who is at risk?

Anyone is at risk for injury to a tooth. Family history is a contributor to dental caries and gum disease. Follow a dentist’s instructions concerning tooth pain following dental work. Wisdom teeth can come out at any age – some people get them at 12 and others at 22.

Treatment

A dentist will want to evaluate any tooth pain to make sure the patient gets the correct treatment. Antibiotics might be necessary if an infection has set in. Sometimes teeth need to be pulled and in severe cases a root canal is required to seal off the offended root to quell the pain.

Emergency Warning Signs: When should I see a doctor?

Contact a physician or dentist for emergency treatment if a tooth is knocked out or severe swelling of an infected area is accompanied by fever. Any persistent symptoms should be diagnosed by a dentist/doctor, especially if over-the-counter aids don’t help. While the dentist will be the provider offering a final solution to the problem, an urgent care physician can help you with pain and infection control after hours.

Treatment for Tooth Pain is available now at Pulse-MD Urgent Care in Wappingers Falls, Mahopac, Mohegan Lake, Thornwood, and Poughkeepsie, NY.

For more information on Tooth Pain, see the following websites:

eMedicine on Toothaches

Cure Tooth Decay.com on Healing with Nutrition

American Dental Association on Sensitive Teeth

Disclaimer: The links above are to sites independent of pulsemdurgentcare.com. The pages will open in a new browser window. The information provided is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your doctor. Always follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding your specific medical questions, treatments, therapies, and other needs.

How do you know if you have a tooth infection or an abscess that requires treatment from a professional? Check out these three signs of a tooth infection including symptoms.

Infections From Tooth Decay

There are reasons dentists warn that brushing your teeth regularly and annual dental exams are essential. Brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits can prevent tooth decay before it becomes so bad that an abscess forms causing an infection. Abscesses are painful and can cause throbbing pain, swollen gums, and pain when chewing.

With Halloween so near and all the sugary treats your children (and you) will eat, it's especially important to brush your teeth after consuming candy. In addition, if you don't take care of your teeth or take your child to the dentist consistently, eating sugary candy can actually lead to increased tooth decay and pain from a developing abscess.

If you or your child immediately feels tooth pain when munching on Halloween candy, head to your dentist or an urgent care center immediately. Antibiotics can be prescribed to lessen the pain and start the healing process until you can get to a dentist. Doctors can also recommend the appropriate amount of OTC pain relievers to take.

Abscesses From Gum Disease

Gingivitis and periodontal disease are two conditions that can also bring on a tooth infection. With gingivitis, the gum is inflamed and with periodontal disease the gum is diseased.  So how does a tooth infection occur?

  • Gingivitis – Here, plaque builds up and the gums become inflamed. Bleeding gums is often present as well. Bacteria can form on the inflamed gums causing an abscess or a tooth infection. Left untreated, some people's inflamed gums may turn into periodontal disease, but not everyone progresses to the next stage.
  • Periodontal Disease – Here the gums actually have a disease, causing the inner layer of the gum and bone to pull away and form pockets says WebMD. It is in these pockets where bacteria can grow causing an abscess.

If you are experiencing mouth pain, fever, teeth sensitivity, especially when eating or teeth are sensitive to hot or cold liquids, you should contact your dentist immediately for treatment. There are options for treating both gingivitis and periodontal disease including medicated mouth washes all the way to inserting replacement bone in the jaw to stop the periodontal disease from spreading. If bone is too fragile, some dentists will refer you to oral surgeons for teeth implants.

Proper brushing, flossing, and dental visits can prevent and treat tooth decay and gum conditions, but are there sure-fire signs of a tooth infection? If you experience any or all of the following, call your dentist. If your dentist office is closed and pain is severe, find an emergency walk-in clinic so a physician can begin antibiotic treatment:

  • Sharp, throbbing, or shooting pain
  • Pain when chewing
  • Fever
  • Sensitive to hot or cold food or drink
  • Swollen neck glands
  • Foul smelling breath
  • Red and swollen gums
  • Swelling in the face, lower, or upper jaw

While antibiotics are the first course of treatment to get the tooth infection under control, once you do visit your dentist, they will probably X-ray the affected area to see if the infection is treatable or if it has progressed severely requiring a root canal or extraction.

Tooth aches and infections can be caused from decay from improper dental care and certain gum conditions. Take care of your teeth as directed by your dentist to avoid a tooth abscess.

Can urgent care give you antibiotics for tooth infection

Remi has nearly a decade of PR, brand, and communications experience working with consumer and B2B brands, from agency to in-house. She prides herself on weaving thoughtful and authentic brand stories for bold, purpose-driven companies making real change in antiquated industries, from finance to healthcare.

Can urgent care give you antibiotics for tooth infection

Dr. Rob Rohatsch currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for Solv Health. Dr. Rohatsch brings his extensive background in multi-site ambulatory medicine operations, on-demand healthcare, and consumerism to Solv, where he helps drive strategic initiatives in a cross functional executive role. He brings comprehensive healthcare expertise ranging from medical group operations to revenue cycle management and clinical expertise. 

Dr. Rohatsch completed his military service in the US Air Force and earned his MD from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Rohatsch served on the Yale School of Medicine faculty teaching at the medical school and is currently on faculty at the Haslam School of Business at the University of Tennessee teaching in the Executive MBA Program. He also serves on several boards and chairs The TJ Lobraico Foundation.

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  • wellness
  • halloween
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Will an urgent care give me antibiotics for a tooth infection?

If you or your child immediately feels tooth pain when munching on Halloween candy, head to your dentist or an urgent care center immediately. Antibiotics can be prescribed to lessen the pain and start the healing process until you can get to a dentist.

Who can give me antibiotics for a tooth infection?

Your dentist will likely prescribe an antibiotic to help kill the bacteria causing your tooth infection. Read on to learn more about the types of antibiotics used to treat tooth infections and over-the-counter options for pain relief.

How urgent is tooth infection?

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!

Where should I go if I have a tooth infection?

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.