Common Dental Problems

A dental emergency is defined as a dental problem that results in:

• facial swelling

• severe pain

• uncontrolled oral bleeding

• airway compromise

• damage to facial bones

• or potential loss of an adult tooth

• tooth fracture to the nerve/blood vessel (typically see blood emerging from within the tooth)

Dental emergencies should be addressed either in the office or at a hospital, depending on the situation. 

An urgent dental problem can typically be managed until a scheduled appointment during office hours and include problems such as:

• a cracked or chipped tooth (no bleeding from within the tooth)

• Discolored tooth

• dental pain that can be managed with analgesics

• infection that causes only localized swelling

• a lesion that requires biopsy of abnormal tissues

Other problems common to children may be triaged over the phone to determine severity, or may be related to normal growth and development or other issues such as:

• a wiggly baby tooth

• crowded teeth

• discomfort associated with teething

• gum redness (gingivitis) due to lack of regular brushing and/or flossing