Prevention matters, but some symptoms are not for a planned checkup and not for “waiting until a convenient day.”
Reasons to get care promptly
- severe toothache or bite pain;
- swelling of the gum, face, or jaw;
- pus, a bad taste, a high fever;
- trauma, a chip, a knocked-out or badly loosened tooth;
- bleeding that will not stop;
- trouble opening the mouth, swallowing, speaking, or breathing.
What to do
Contact your dental office or urgent dental care. Trouble breathing or swallowing, rapidly growing swelling, or feeling very unwell needs emergency medical care.
AIOral’s role
AIOral shows red flags and helps you prepare information for a clinician. It does not judge how severe an infection is at a distance and does not replace an urgent exam.
Sources: NHS dental abscess, NHS England urgent dental care, ADA acute dental pain.