(410) 939-5800
Knowing Where to Go With a Toothache Shouldn’t Be Guesswork
A toothache has a way of starting at the worst moment: late Friday afternoon, on a Sunday, or the night before a trip. You search “toothache, dentist or ER,” and the answers range from “go to the ER right now” to “just take some ibuprofen and wait.”
The honest answer is that it depends on your symptoms. Emergency rooms are the right place for dangerous situations, such as swelling that’s spreading or trouble breathing. But an ER usually isn’t set up to fix the tooth itself, and it often can only manage pain and refer you to a dentist. For most toothaches, the dentist is where the problem actually gets solved.
At Family Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry in Havre de Grace, MD, Dr. Richard Grubb has cared for patients for more than 35 years, with residency training in surgery and anesthesia at Sinai Hospital. If you’re looking for an emergency dentist in Havre de Grace, we provide same-day emergency appointments.
Call us at (410) 939-5800 to describe your symptoms, and we’ll help you decide what to do next. We welcome patients from Aberdeen, Perryville, and Bel Air.
Dentist or ER? The Quick Answer
Go to the ER if you have:
- Swelling that is spreading to your face, jaw, neck, or toward your eye
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Facial swelling together with a fever
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- A suspected broken or dislocated jaw, or a head injury
- Jaw or tooth pain along with chest pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, or sweating, which can be a sign of a heart problem
Call a dentist today if you have:
- A toothache or throbbing pain that doesn’t ease
- A cracked, chipped, or broken tooth
- A tooth knocked out (time matters, so call right away)
- A lost filling or crown
- Pain when you bite or chew
- A bump or pimple-like spot on your gums
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers
If you’re unsure which list you fall into, call us. If it’s after hours and you’re worried, it’s always safer to be seen than to wait.
What Could Be Causing Your Toothache?
Tooth pain has several common causes, and the right treatment depends on which one you have:
- A Cavity: Decay that has reached the inner part of the tooth
- A Cracked Tooth: A crack can cause sharp pain when you bite or release
- A Lost or Damaged Filling or Crown: This can expose the sensitive tooth underneath
- An Infection or Abscess: A pocket of infection at the root or in the gums
- Gum Problems: Inflamed or infected gums can cause aching around a tooth
- Teeth Grinding or Clenching: This can wear teeth down and leave them sore
- Sinus Pressure: Sinus problems can cause aching in the upper teeth
An exam, and sometimes an X-ray, can help determine what’s causing the pain.
What to Do Until You Can Be Seen
Rinse Gently
Swish warm salt water around your mouth to clean the area. Floss gently around the tooth in case food is stuck.
Use a Cold Compress
Hold a cold compress against your cheek, over the sore area, for short periods to ease swelling and pain.
Take Pain Relief Carefully
Over-the-counter pain relievers can help if they’re safe for you. Follow the label directions, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure, especially if you take other medications or have health conditions. Don’t place aspirin directly on the gum or tooth.
Avoid Triggers
Skip very hot, very cold, hard, or sugary foods and drinks while the tooth is sore, and chew on the other side.
Don’t Rely on Leftover Antibiotics
Old antibiotics won’t fix the cause of the pain and can hide symptoms. See a dentist for a proper diagnosis.
Treatment Options for a Toothache
Depending on the cause, your dentist may recommend:
- Tooth-colored fillings to repair decay
- A dental crown to protect a cracked or weakened tooth
- Treatment for gum disease when the gums are the source of the pain
- An extraction when a tooth can’t be saved, and a plan to replace it, such as a dental implant
Dr. Grubb is a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology and a Fellow and Master of the Academy of General Dentistry. If your case would be better handled by a specialist, we’ll tell you.
Does Insurance Cover Emergency Dental Care?
We accept most major insurance companies and work with you and your provider to help you get the maximum benefits. Coverage depends on your plan and the treatment, so call us with questions. For care your plan doesn’t cover, we offer CareCredit, LendingClub, and Cherry financing. See our insurance and payment options for details.
Questions to Ask When You Call About a Toothache
1. Can I Be Seen Today?
When you’re in pain, timing matters, and the first thing to find out is how fast an office can see you. We provide same-day emergency appointments, so the best move is to call as early in the day as you can instead of waiting to see if the pain settles down. Our regular hours run Monday through Friday (Tuesday until 6 p.m., Friday until 3 p.m.), with Saturday mornings set aside for hygiene appointments. If your pain starts after hours, call (410) 939-5800 anyway, because you can reach us for emergencies that can’t wait.
2. What Should I Do Until My Appointment?
A good office will tell you what to do in the meantime, and the advice differs depending on your symptoms. For a throbbing or sore tooth, the usual steps are to rinse gently with warm salt water, hold a cold compress against your cheek for short periods, and chew on the other side. Skip very hot, very cold, hard, or sugary foods and drinks. Sleeping with your head slightly raised can ease throbbing at night.
3. Could This Get Worse or Spread if I Wait?
This is the question that separates a toothache that can wait until morning from one that can’t. A tooth infection that isn’t treated can spread beyond the tooth into the jaw, face, or neck. That’s uncommon, but it’s serious, which is why we take swelling, fever, and difficulty swallowing seriously. If you have any of those, go to the nearest emergency room.
4. What Will Happen at the Visit?
We start by listening to your symptoms and your history, then examining the tooth, the gums around it, and your bite. We examine the tooth, the surrounding gums, and your bite and may use an X-ray and other simple tests, such as tapping on the tooth or checking how it responds to temperature, to pinpoint the source of the pain.
5. What are My Options for Treating the Tooth, Including Saving It?
Saving the natural tooth is the goal whenever it’s possible, and the right treatment depends on the cause. A cavity may call for a tooth-colored filling. A cracked or weakened tooth often needs a dental crown. If gum disease is behind the pain, treating the gums comes first. When a tooth can’t be saved, we talk through extraction and how to replace it, whether with a dental implant, a bridge, or a denture.
6. Do You Offer Sedation if I’m Nervous?
Many people put off the dentist because they’re afraid, and a painful tooth only makes the fear worse. If that’s you, say so when you call. You don’t need to apologize, and it helps us plan your visit around you.
Our sedation dentistry options are designed for patients who need help relaxing, and we’ll talk through which one fits your treatment, your health history, and the medications you take.
Don’t Wait Out a Toothache in Havre de Grace
If your tooth hurts, you don’t have to guess or put up with it. Dr. Richard Grubb, Dr. Noor Giad, and our team will help you figure out what’s going on.
Call our Havre de Grace office at (410) 939-5800 or contact us online to schedule your visit. We proudly serve patients from Aberdeen, Perryville, Bel Air, and surrounding communities.
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