{"id":36,"date":"2023-09-15T23:07:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T23:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/?p=36"},"modified":"2025-10-31T17:12:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T17:12:14","slug":"is-facial-swelling-a-dental-emergency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/is-facial-swelling-a-dental-emergency\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You See an Emergency Dentist for Facial Swelling?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WomanIf your face or mouth is swollen, it\u2019s nothing to ignore. Inflammation is a sign of an infection. Although a toothache may not seem alarming at first, it can lead to a life-threatening situation very quickly. Don\u2019t wait until swelling impedes your breathing, or the infection spreads to other areas of your body. Here\u2019s why you should call your emergency dentist<\/a> right away.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

Common Causes of Facial Swelling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Facial swelling can result from many issues, including injuries, allergic reactions, and infections. Although it\u2019s rare, it can also be a sign of anaphylaxis, a potentially deadly allergic reaction. If inflammation has resulted from an allergic reaction and you haven\u2019t experienced an injury, it might be caused by an oral infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An abscessed tooth occurs when bacteria reach the pulp, the innermost layer of the tooth. It can trigger a throbbing toothache from an infection deep within the tooth. However, facial swelling can also be caused by a salivary gland infection. The glands are located in your cheeks, which can trigger severe pain if they become infected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Wait to Contact Your Dentist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Oral infections should be treated by an emergency dentist. If swelling begins to affect your breathing, don\u2019t wait to call 911. Otherwise, contact your dentist. They\u2019ll get you into the dental office<\/a> quickly to examine your mouth to determine the source of the swelling and create a personalized treatment plan, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Root Canal Therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If an infected tooth is the culprit, they\u2019ll probably recommend a root canal<\/a>. The procedure removes the inner layer of the tooth to rid the infection. After your tooth has been cleaned out, it is sterilized and sealed using a special material, gutta-percha.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not uncommon to require a dental crown<\/a> after root canal therapy. The customized cap is placed over the entire surface of your tooth to provide an added layer of protection. A root canal will stop your toothache and resolve any swelling. It will also prevent you from needing an extraction later.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antibiotics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Inflammation caused by a salivary gland infection can be treated using antibiotics if it is bacterial. Your dentist will also determine what caused the infection, like a blocked gland duct, virus, dehydration, or malnutrition. They\u2019ll create a plan to ensure the infection doesn\u2019t reoccur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t wait until it\u2019s too late to see a dentist or a minor issue can turn into a life-threatening problem. If you\u2019re unsure what to do, contact your emergency dentist for instructions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Dr. Jordan Hardin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Hardin<\/a> achieved his dental degree at the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry and has regularly continued his education to provide up-to-date services. He maintains the highest standard of care to help each patient achieve optimal oral health. Request an appointment<\/a> through his website or call (972) 701-3344.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If your face or mouth is swollen, it\u2019s nothing to ignore. Inflammation is a sign of an infection. Although a toothache may not seem alarming at first, it can lead to a life-threatening situation very quickly. Don\u2019t wait until swelling impedes your breathing, or the infection spreads to other areas of your body. Here\u2019s why […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":233,"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36\/revisions\/233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westparkvillagedental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}