Wisdom tooth pain is a fairly common complaint and is often the result of these third molars coming in during a person’s late teens or early adulthood. However, it is also common for wisdom teeth to become impacted, meaning there isn’t enough room for them in the mouth so they start coming in crooked and get trapped under the gum or against the neighboring teeth. Impacted teeth don’t always cause pain, but if pain does occur, it may be the sign of a problem that needs a dentist‘s attention.

If you have wisdom tooth pain, the first thing you should do is call the dentist. Pain in your wisdom teeth may be caused by infection. This is especially true with partially erupted wisdom teeth, i.e. wisdom teeth that are poking out of your gums part of the way but haven’t actually come in. Because they are exposed to the environment of your mouth, bacteria can get in and around your wisdom teeth, including under the gums where you can’t brush or floss away debris and plaque. The result can be an abscess, which is swelling and pain caused by infection. If this happens, your wisdom teeth need to be extracted as soon as possible.

We happily see emergency patients, but in case you can’t get in to see us right away, there are a few things you can do to reduce discomfort at home. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can relieve minor or moderate pain temporarily, in addition to reducing swelling and inflammation. You can make a pain relieving rinse by dissolving salt in warm water and swishing in your mouth for 30 seconds. You can also find topical pain relievers at the drug store that can provide temporary relief, such as gels that contain the numbing agent benzocaine.

Ultimately, if you’re experiencing wisdom tooth pain, you probably need to have your wisdom tooth extracted. At the first sign of a problem, be sure to contact us as soon as possible so we can start a treatment plan to make sure we keep your smile healthy.

Even if you take excellent care of your teeth & mouth, sometimes an unforeseen incident could put you in need of emergency dental care. Whether the culprit for your emergency is an injury, a rogue popcorn kernel, or just a mystery toothache, our dental clinic is here for you in an emergency.

First of all, if you are experiencing a dental-related emergency that is potentially life-threatening, you should contact emergency medical services immediately (by calling 911 in the U.S. & Canada; 999 in the United Kingdom; or 000 in Australia).

If you have a dental emergency during our regular clinic hours, we should be able to accommodate you & get you in as soon as possible. When you call us, be clear that you are in pain & are having an emergency & we will make sure the dentist is available for you.

If you are in need of emergency dental care when our practice is closed, our phone answering service will receive your call & contact the dentist. The dentist will be able to provide advice or arrange to see you at our office as soon as possible if your situation is urgent.

The most common cause of a dental emergency is an injury, whether from sports, a fall, or another kind of accident. As mentioned above, if the injury may be life-threatening, contact emergency services before contacting the dentist. If the injury is not life-threatening, you should call us as soon as possible so we can provide advice & arrange to see you.

Another common reason for emergency dental care is a toothache. Toothaches can be caused by infections resulting from poor oral hygiene, but they can also result from a dental injury that has turned into an abscess. For example, if you took a tumble off your skateboard & bumped your face but didn’t see any damage at the time, it’s possible for pain to appear later on.

Toothaches can also be caused by a cracked tooth or a cracked filling that has become infected. Chances are when you crack a tooth you’ll feel it happen at the time, whether you’re biting down on a hard candy (naughty!) or a stray bone in your chicken dinner. If you think you may have cracked a tooth, crown, or filling, even if you don’t have a toothache, it’s a good idea to contact us as soon as possible for emergency dental care, just so we can take a quick look & make sure you don’t need further treatment.