{"id":49,"date":"2023-11-10T22:56:46","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T22:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theelegantdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=49"},"modified":"2023-12-06T22:58:55","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T22:58:55","slug":"facial-swelling-emergency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theelegantdentistry.com\/blog\/facial-swelling-emergency\/","title":{"rendered":"I Have Facial Swelling; Should I See an Emergency Dentist?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Facial swelling can be an emergency situation, but is treating it a job for the emergency dentist or another doctor? Facial swelling can arise from a variety of causes such as injury or infection, but the root cause of the issue will determine which emergency healthcare provider you should see. Here\u2019s how to tell if your facial swelling should be treated at the dentist\u2019s office<\/a> or at another medical facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Can Cause Facial Swelling?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Facial swelling can be a very painful condition, and it has many different causes. A few include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tooth abscess<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A tooth becomes abscessed when bacteria infect the gums around its root. This usually results in a swollen pocket of pus, resulting in the rapid onset of severe pain in the area. If left untreated, these bacteria can spread through the circulatory system to other parts of the body where they can cause dangerous secondary infections like sepsis. This sort of infection will not get better on its own, so it\u2019s important to seek the attention of an emergency dentist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salivary gland infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The cheeks host the salivary glands, and they can become swollen and severely painful if they are infected. This is usually caused when bacteria infect a gland that is not producing as much saliva as it used to. This can happen due to things like dehydration, malnutrition, excess mucus, inflammation of the gland duct, or health conditions such as Influenza, HIV, herpes, mumps, and others. In this case, you may need the attention of an ear, nose, and throat doctor or another medical professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinusitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sinusitis is a common health issue that happens when the nasal passages and sinuses become inflamed. This is usually due to allergies or an infection caused by a virus or bacteria. Sinusitis can have symptoms such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n