When to Go to the Emergency Room

Many Americans are unsure whether a dental infection should be treated by a dentist or whether it requires immediate hospital care. While a typical toothache can often wait until the next available dental appointment, facial swelling caused by a tooth infection is very different.

Once swelling spreads beyond the tooth and into the face, jaw, neck, or mouth, the infection may no longer be just a dental problem. It can quickly become a serious medical emergency.

A toothache may seem like a minor problem at first, but when it is accompanied by facial swelling, it should never be ignored. Facial swelling caused by a tooth infection is often a sign that bacteria have escaped the infected tooth and are spreading into the surrounding tissues. This condition, known as a dental abscess with facial cellulitis, can become a serious medical emergency if left untreated.

On a warm Friday evening in Houston, Texas, 62-year-old Michael Carter believed the hardest part of his dental appointment was already over.

Earlier that afternoon, his dentist had removed a severely decayed lower molar. The extraction had been difficult because the tooth had fractured below the gumline, but after several stitches and nearly an hour in the dental chair, Michael was sent home with standard instructions.

"Keep pressure on the gauze, avoid drinking through a straw, don't spit, and call us if the bleeding doesn't stop."

Tennis Tooth Injury Emergency: A USA Dentist Explains What to Do After a Sports Accident, How to Save a Knocked-Out or Broken Tooth, and When It Could Become Life-Threatening

There are few moments in sports more frightening than taking a direct hit to the face. Whether you're playing a competitive tennis match, practicing with friends, or participating in another recreational sport, a split-second accident can leave you with a chipped tooth, a completely knocked-out tooth, bleeding gums, or severe facial pain.