{"id":135,"date":"2024-08-05T20:12:27","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T20:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/blog\/?p=135"},"modified":"2024-08-26T20:14:27","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T20:14:27","slug":"to-wait-or-not-to-wait-toothache-dental-emergency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/05\/to-wait-or-not-to-wait-toothache-dental-emergency\/","title":{"rendered":"To Wait or Not to Wait: Is a Toothache a Dental Emergency?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-1-300x200.png\" alt=\"Woman holding a hand to her toothache on blue background\" class=\"wp-image-136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-1.png 649w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When does a common problem become an uncommon emergency situation? You might be asking yourself that very question if you\u2019re experiencing a toothache. For one reason or another, most people get the sense that everyone has a toothache at some point in their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not this is objectively true, most dentists consider a toothache to be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/emergency-dentistry.html\">dental emergency<\/a>. So if you\u2019re wondering \u201cto wait, or not to wait?\u201d here\u2019s the short answer: don\u2019t wait! Here\u2019s why you should contact your emergency dentist promptly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What A Toothache Could Mean<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Toothaches aren\u2019t always a simple indication of a sinus infection. If you don\u2019t have the sniffles, then the issue could very well be something more serious, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Gum disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An abscess<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A dental infection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cavities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Impacted wisdom tooth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/restorative-dentistry.html#tmjtmd\">Teeth grinding or clenching<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When you call your emergency dentist and give them more details about your discomfort, they\u2019ll have a better idea of how urgent your situation is. That means even if you\u2019re unsure what\u2019s causing your aches or \u201chow bad\u201d it is, it\u2019s still a good idea to contact them. At the very least you\u2019ll get some peace of mind!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dental Complications Can Progress Quickly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The tricky thing about dental emergencies is that waiting can make them worse and more difficult to treat. For example, early-stage gum disease is called gingivitis and can be removed with dedicated oral hygiene. In advanced stages, it\u2019s called periodontitis, and needs more involved treatment. Some cases even require extracting a tooth to prevent the infection from spreading. The sooner you address dental emergencies, the better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Financial Snowballing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>That means the monetary cost of treating dental emergencies can progress quickly as well. However, Dentists don\u2019t want <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/for-patients.html#insurance\">finances<\/a> to come between their patients and getting the care they need. Dental insurance is just one way to help make treatment affordable \u2013 there\u2019s also low-interest financing through programs like CareCredit and in-house membership plans. Basically, it\u2019s better for your wallet to check on your toothache and ask for financial assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s true that not every dental emergency is as dramatic as gum disease. Maybe you simply need an oral appliance to give your jaw a break from excessive teeth grinding. Whatever the case may be, your toothache is still considered an emergency that\u2019s worth getting checked. No one will call you silly for being concerned about your oral health, so don\u2019t be afraid to call up your emergency dentist any time you notice a suspicious dental issue!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/meet-the-dentist.html\">Dr. Mark Gaches<\/a> and his team at Infinite Smiles Dentistry are compassionate caregivers. They know how stressful a toothache can be, which is why they maintain a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and prioritize patient comfort. If you\u2019re experiencing a dental emergency, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infinitesmilesok.com\/contact.html\">contact<\/a> Dr. Gaches at 918-928-2383 for timely treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When does a common problem become an uncommon emergency situation? You might be asking yourself that very question if you\u2019re experiencing a toothache. For one reason or another, most people get the sense that everyone has a toothache at some point in their lives. Whether or not this is objectively true, most dentists consider a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Is a Toothache a Dental Emergency? | Infinite Smiles Dentistry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Toothaches are fairly common problems, aren\u2019t they? So how long can you wait until it\u2019s considered an emergency? 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