What will the er do for a tooth infection

It’s 11pm on a Friday night. You can’t sleep because of unbearable pain in the back of your mouth. You think you have a tooth infection, but you’re not quite sure what’s going on. Your dentist’s office won’t open until Monday, and over-the-counter pain meds aren’t helping. What options do you have? Can you go to an emergency room for dental issues? Let’s take a look at some common questions we hear about dental emergencies.

Can I Go to an ER for Dental Issues?

Emergency rooms typically have the equipment and staff to handle minor dental emergencies like abscesses and traumatic loss of teeth. They can also prescribe medications to address infections or help manage the pain. Emergency rooms typically aren’t able to handle final repairs like fixing a chipped tooth or placing a filling for a cavity. 

Are Emergency Visits for Dental Pain Covered By Health Insurance?

Most health insurance plans will cover emergency room visits for dental pain. To be certain, call your health insurance company before you go to the ER. You will likely have to pay an emergency room copay. Many states also require health insurance plans to cover emergency visits for TMD and CMD disorders. These are conditions that involve the jaw, jaw joint, and the muscles controlling them.

Medical insurance may also cover other dental emergency services. These might include diagnostic procedures, treatment of inflammation, incisions and drainage of abscesses, curettage of periodontal abscesses, medically necessary tooth removal, soft and hard tissue biopsies and extractions, and surgical placement of dental implants.

Your dental insurance will not typically cover other types of dental emergencies. For instance, fillings for cavity treatment and cosmetic issues are not covered. When in doubt, always call your health and dental insurance companies to understand what services are covered.

Tyler Texas Emergency Room for Pain Management & Urgent Care Needs

Hospitality Health ER in Tyler, Texas is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to treat all types of medical emergencies and urgent care needs. Walk in to our concierge-style emergency room and be greeted by knowledgeable caring staff.

For more on dental health, read Hospitality Health ER’s blog 3 Reasons to Take Your 1-Year-Old to the Dentist and Can Cavities Spread?

About the author: Dr David Chen, DDS

Hello, I'm Dr Chen and I'm an actively practicing dentist in Long Island City, NY. I graduated from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in 2016 but prior to going to dental school I was already working in the dental field. It's been more than a decade since I first got to know dentistry and let me tell you, time flies by quickly. Since then I've developed a fondness for writing, which is how this all got started!

Association Memberships:

  • American Dental Association

  • New York State Dental Association

  • Queens Count Dental Society

Medical Disclaimer:

This blog is purely meant for information purposes and should not be used as medical advice. Each situation in your mouth is unique and complex. It is not possible to give advice nor diagnose any oral conditions based on text nor virtual consultations. The best thing to do is to go in person to see your dentist for an examination and consultation so that you can receive the best care possible.

The purpose of all of this oral health information is to encourage you to see your dentist and to inform you of what you may expect during your visit. Due to the unfortunate nature of dentistry, there isn't really any true home remedies that will get rid of dental problems. Roughly 99.99% of them require in-person intervention by a healthcare professional.

Hint: That is the reason why you can't eliminate seeing dentists in your life!

Dental problems can be costly and painful. And because over a third of all Americans don’t have dental insurance, many wait until dental problems become serious before seeking out medical attention. But what constitutes a dental emergency, and how do you know when you need urgent medical care for a dental problem? Keep reading to learn when to visit the emergency room for dental care.

What will the er do for a tooth infection

Common Dental Emergencies

  • Knocked-out tooth

  • Infections 

  • Extreme tooth sensitivity 

  • Mouth sores 

  • Abscessed gums 

  • Bleeding 

  • Swelling 

  • Broken teeth  

Can You Go to the Emergency Room for a Tooth? 

You can absolutely visit the emergency room for dental care. Dental pain can be indicative of a more serious and potentially life-threatening condition, so it’s important to act quickly if you suspect that something is wrong.

What will the er do for a tooth infection

What Will the ER Do for a Tooth Infection?

Depending on the source of your dental issues, an emergency room doctor might recommend various different courses of treatment. If there seems to be swelling or an infection, they might prescribe an anti-inflammatory medicine or an antibiotic. For a broken tooth or orofacial trauma, they might simply prescribe something for the pain.  

Can the ER Help with Severe Tooth Pain?

If you are experiencing unbearable pain in your teeth, an emergency room visit can help you find relief. Whether you’ve had a tooth extracted, broken crown, or other dental procedure, sometimes over-the-counter medications simply don’t work. An emergency room doctor can help by administering a dose of stronger pain medication to manage the discomfort until you can set an appointment with your dentist to treat the problem. 

What will the er do for a tooth infection

What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency? 

Emergencies tend to happen outside of business hours for most dental offices, and you may find yourself unable to get in to see your dentist when something goes wrong. But when is it acceptable to visit an emergency room or urgent care for dental pain? Here are a list of Dos and Don’ts to consider before making the trip to the ER: 

Do go to the emergency room if: 

  • Your toothache pain has spread to other parts of your face, particularly the eye and jaw area
  • Your toothache is accompanied by a high fever
  • You are bleeding uncontrollably 
  • You have trouble swallowing or bleeding
  • You are getting worse after 24 hours of antibiotics 
  • You experienced a trauma or blow to the face that causes dental discomfort or irregularity

Don’t got to the ER if: 

  • Minor pain is your only symptom
  • You had a tooth extraction or dental operation less than 24 hours prior to experiencing pain
  • You or your child have a broken or chipped tooth 

Dental emergencies can be scary, but many aren’t as serious as they seem. A quick Google search or an after-hours call to your dentist can help you discern whether or not you actually need to see an emergency room doctor or if the issue can wait until the next day. If you can’t contact your dentist, call your local emergency room for advice on whether or not to come in. 

How to Avoid Dental Emergencies

Dental issues are the main source of entirely avoidable trips to the emergency room. And while you should absolutely seek help if your teeth are causing you pain, the better solution to prevent dental emergencies altogether is to simply keep up with regular dental appointments. Yearly dental cleanings can help identify any issues you may be having, spare you a trip to hospital emergency rooms, and keep ER beds clear for more pressing emergencies.

Visit Village Emergency Centers

At Village Emergency Centers, no issue is too big or small. If you are experiencing dental pain that warrants emergency care, our qualified team of board-certified emergency doctors are ready and willing to help. Still wondering when to visit an emergency room for dental care? Don’t wait—visit a Village Emergency Center location near you!

Should I go to ER for tooth infection?

The patient should seek emergency help if the infection has become so painful and cannot be managed with over-the-counter medication. If the patient has developed a fever, has chills, is vomiting, or exhibiting other symptoms of having a dental abscess.

Should I go to the ER for unbearable tooth pain?

Do I Need to Go to the Emergency Room for Tooth Pain? The short answer is that you should go based on how you feel. If you have excruciating tooth pain that you can't take for a second longer or prolonged, excessive mouth bleeding that you can't get under control, you may need to head to the emergency room.

Can a tooth infection put you in the hospital?

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.

Can the ER help with extreme tooth pain?

Can the ER Help with Severe Tooth Pain? If you are experiencing unbearable pain in your teeth, an emergency room visit can help you find relief. Whether you've had a tooth extracted, broken crown, or other dental procedure, sometimes over-the-counter medications simply don't work.