Updated 7/22/26
You have a toothache and want to be seen in your dentist’s office as soon as possible, but you have an appointment in two days. Do you wait it out until then or contact your dentist immediately?
Knowing the difference between a dental problem that can wait a few days and an issue that requires immediate emergency dentistry is vital. Deciding to wait could mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth and could even compromise your health. Here’s how to identify real dental emergencies.
What to Watch for and When to Call
Toothaches are common, but severe infections and agonizing pain are emergencies. An untreated abscess or other dental infection can be life-threatening. Symptoms include face and gum swelling, excruciating pain, and sometimes a fever.
A lost or loose tooth also means you should be seen immediately. The tooth can often be saved with timely intervention.
Dental emergencies may also include:
- Toothache
- Jaw pain
- Jaw swelling
- Blister on the gum
- Lost tooth
- Broken tooth or restoration
If you have bleeding, pain, a lost restoration, swelling, or trauma to a tooth, you should call us right away. We can ask you a few questions about your dental emergency to determine if an emergency appointment is necessary. Being specific about your dental emergency allows us to prepare for your arrival in our Tysons Corner dental office and provide you with the best care possible.
How to Know When Dental Issues Can Wait a Few Days
When there’s no swelling and the pain is moderate, dental issues can usually wait a day or two. After an accidental elbow to the jaw, when bleeding is limited to a few smears on a Kleenex and not accompanied by severe pain or swelling, this is generally not an emergency. Use the short checklist below to help you decide whether it’s okay to wait a day or two.
If the following information applies, it’s probably okay to wait:
- A chipped or cracked tooth without pain
- A mild toothache without swelling or fever
- A broken crown or filling without pain or swelling
How to Avoid Dental Emergencies
The easiest way to avoid dental emergencies is to practice good oral hygiene, wear mouth guards when you play sports, and visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings. Prevention is key.
At Tyson Dentistry, we can create a custom treatment and prevention plan to keep your teeth healthy and help you avoid dental emergencies in the future.
If you think you have a dental emergency, contact Tyson’s Dentistry immediately at (703) 442-0770 and let us know what’s going on. Our skilled and caring emergency dentist in Vienna will have you feeling better in no time.