What is considered a "dental emergency"?

Friday night while at dinner, I noticed that my lower, far-right molar was sensitive to the heat of my soup and actually quite painful. This situation progressed on Saturday and I was having severe pain to pressure on that tooth as well. Naturally, my dentist facility was closed, so I left a message. More severe and increasing pain was the situation on Sunday and by Monday morning I now have swelling and pain under the right side of my jaw. I called this morning to get into the dentist and was told that he was booked and couldn't see me until tomorrow. In my opinion, an infection such as this is an emergency and should be treated immediately, but it seems my dentist's office sees it otherwise. Am I wrong to insist on an immediate consultation? What if the infection spreads to the jaw or ear? I have had hearing loss in the past due to an infection that wasn't treated promptly and worried that a similar situation exists here.

[rosaline]

I think that you should insists that they see you. The amount if pain you in shows a red flag. But also you can have abad tooth that needs to come out or get a root canal. But I think you need to see a dentist. Excessive pain is a good enouhg reason for me.

[lynn117]

he should have called you in a prescription for antibiotics and a painkiller. if there is an infection odds are he would have to have you on them first before there were any dental procedures done. among other things infection tends to make it much harder to numb the area up and sometime can obscure the problem. if there is a broken tooth or pain without obvious infection you should be able to see the dentist the same day.