Did you know that cavities, severe gum disease, and tooth loss are all major oral conditions that can affect a person’s overall health? Despite that, they’re all common problems that people may face. This is especially true if a person ignores the signs that something is going wrong with their oral hygiene.
A person should never ignore the various tooth extraction warning signs unless they want to create a dental emergency. Instead, schedule a visit with your dentist to get to the root of the problem.
Here are seven signs you need an emergency tooth removal as soon as possible.
1. Severe Tooth Pain
The first, and most obvious, sign that a person needs urgent dental care is if they have severe and unrelenting tooth pain. Persistent tooth pain is a common sign that something is wrong with your dental health.
You can often manage mild discomfort with over-the-counter painkillers. Severe and constant pain that painkillers don’t work on signals a bigger problem.
Unfortunately, hospitals won’t do much to alleviate your pain. They can only step in if the tooth pain has resulted in a more serious risk to your health. That’s where the emergency dentist comes into play.
Possible causes of severe tooth pain include:
- Advanced tooth decay
- Infection or abscess
- Impacted wisdom teeth
If a cavity progresses deep into the tooth, it can reach the nerve and cause unbearable pain. That pus-filled abscess can cause sharp, throbbing pain.
Antibiotics can stymie the pain, but they won’t do anything to kill the infection. The only solution is to either get a root canal or remove the tooth entirely.
Alternatively, you may suffer tooth pain from impacted wisdom teeth. This is when they are unable to fully erupt through the gum line, such as if they’re growing at an awkward angle. In some cases, they may dig into the teeth beside them and cause damage to both.
Keep in mind that severe tooth pain is different from tooth sensitivity. More sensitivity in your teeth is often caused by dental erosion, which is when the enamel wears away. You can treat this with certain toothpastes and by avoiding acidic foods and liquids.
2. Swelling In the Face or Jaw
Swelling around a tooth or in the surrounding areas is a major red flag of a possible dental infection. Left untreated, it could spread beyond the mouth and lead to serious health issues such as sepsis or an infection of your jawbone. Both are life-threatening and easily avoided with the removal of the infected tooth.
Some key warning signs include:
- Swollen gums around a tooth
- A puffy and swollen jawline or cheeks
- Tender or painful lumps inside your mouth
Severe swelling is usually linked to an abscess or an advanced gum infection. In a worst-case scenario, you may experience fever or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Make sure the swelling is related to tooth pain. Without the associated tooth pain, the cause of facial swelling could be allergy-related or a result of a sinus infection.
3. Loose or Shifting Teeth
Permanent teeth are meant to stay in place for life. They’re anchored in place by connective tissue that attaches the root of the tooth to the surrounding jawbone. This ligament also acts as a shock absorber.
If you suddenly notice that your teeth feel loose, wobbly, or like they’re shifting, then that may suggest they’ve become unattached. Some causes of loose teeth include:
- Advanced gum disease
- Tooth decay reaching the bone
- Injury or trauma
A bacterial infection in the gums can destroy the bone supporting the teeth. They can then loosen and even fall out on their own if left unattended.
Damaged teeth that have started to decay can spread deep into your mouth. That decay can weaken the tooth’s root, causing movement.
An easy diagnosis of loose teeth is if you’ve recently had an injury or trauma. Accidents, falls, and sports injuries can all damage the tooth’s structure and affect its stability. You’ll also want to look for chips or cracks that can open your tooth up for future infection.
If a tooth becomes too loose to save, an emergency extraction may be required to protect your oral health and prevent more damage.
4. A Dental Abscess
In addition to tooth pain, have you noticed a bad taste developing in your mouth? Maybe that pain comes with visible pus?
If so, you’ve most likely developed a dental abscess. These are pockets of pus in the tooth or gum tissue caused by a serious infection.
Symptoms of a dental abscess are quite severe.
First, there’s intense pain that can radiate to your jaw, ear, and neck. You may notice a visible pus-filled bump on the gums.
As it progresses, you’ll likely have a persistent bad taste and develop foul-smelling breath. Once it spreads to the rest of your body, you may experience fever, chills, or general fatigue.
Treating a dental abscess will require an emergency dentist visit. Antibiotics alone will not treat the infection, though they will reduce the pain and prevent it from spreading. Similarly, an abscess will not heal on its own.
If the infection is severe, your dentist may need to perform a tooth extraction to eliminate the source of the infection. Alternatively, they may deem it possible to save the tooth through a root canal and placement of a crown.
5. Cracked or Severely Damaged Teeth
A cracked or broken tooth isn’t always a lost cause. In some cases, your dentist can repair the tooth with either a crown or filling. That way, the root of the tooth is preserved.
Severe fractures do not always leave room for correction. A broken tooth must be extracted if:
- The crack extends below the gum line
- The tooth is split into multiple fragments
- Severe decay or infection has weakened the tooth beyond repair
The problem with the crack extending below the gum line is that crowns are placed above that line. Some dentists may use gum lengthening to expose more of the tooth to allow for crown placement. However, that doesn’t always work.
If the tooth breaks into multiple fragments, then there may not be enough of the original structure to restore. The same goes for severe decay or infection. At that point, removal of the tooth is necessary and unavoidable.
6. Uncontrollable Bleeding From a Tooth or Gums
Excessive bleeding that won’t stop is a sign that you may need immediate dental intervention. Minor gum bleeding can be caused by brushing too hard or mild gum disease. Heavy or persistent bleeding may indicate more serious problems, such as:
- Advanced gum disease causing weakened tissues
- Trauma or injury leading to severe damage
- An infection or deep cavity affecting surrounding tissues
It’s crucial to see an emergency dentist as soon as possible if you’ve noticed excessive bleeding. Don’t wait more than three or four days before visiting your dentist. They can help rule out gum disease and see if you have dental trauma causing your symptoms.
7. Fever and Fatigue Following a Toothache
The most dangerous stage is when a toothache affects the rest of your body. If you have a high fever, chills, or extreme fatigue along with tooth pain, then the infection may have spread beyond the mouth. Avoiding this stage is one of the most important reasons to get a tooth removed sooner rather than later.
Signs of a spreading infection include:
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or jaw
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- A persistent feeling of being unwell
An untreated infection can enter the bloodstream and lead to sepsis. This is a life-threatening condition that causes the body’s immune system to overreact to an infection. It can damage vital organs and even cause inflammation in the brain.
Aside from sepsis, you’re also at risk of the tooth infection spreading to the jaw bone. If either condition occurs, then your tooth pain has now become a serious medical problem.
Your dentist should be able to figure out the cause of your tooth pain and treat the abscess. That may involve a root canal, if possible. Otherwise, removal of the tooth is the safest and quickest option.
You should also expect to receive a round of antibiotics to help stave off the infection and stop it from returning. If it has already spread to the rest of your body, then you’ll need a much higher dose of antibiotics. The presence of sepsis will require a stay in the hospital.
Prioritize Emergency Tooth Removal
A person with severe tooth pain or face swelling should never put off emergency tooth removal. In most cases, a dentist will only recommend it if the tooth is unsalvageable or causing much more trouble than it is worth. It’s often quicker and cheaper than getting a root canal and a crown.
Pinnacle Dentistry provides general and preventative dental care as well as specialized dental services for the Colorado Springs area. Our dentists have extensive education and certification so their patients receive the best possible care. Reach out today with any questions and to request an appointment.
