If you or a loved one is in a lot of pain because of a severe toothache or dental injury, the last thing you want to hear is that your dentist can’t see you for a few days. Thankfully, at the Dent-Care Dental, we don’t make emergencies wait! We’re happy to offer same-day appointments for emergency dentistry in Sunnyside, NY, so we can get patients out of pain and put them on the road to recovery as soon as possible. And, thanks to our in-house dental lab, we’re able to complete many restorative services in a single appointment.
It can be tough to know whether or not your situation is a dental emergency that requires immediate care, but we’ll make things nice and simple for you: if you even think you’re experiencing a dental emergency, go ahead and call our dental office. Once you’ve explained your symptoms, our team will schedule you for an appointment as soon as possible if necessary and walk you through some first-aid tips. In the meantime, here are a few things you can do to take control during common dental emergencies:
After you have rinsed and flossed around the tooth, if the pain continues, go ahead and take an over-the-counter medication. A cold compress or rinsing with warm salt water can provide some temporary relief as well, but do NOT place an aspirin directly on the gums, as this can cause a chemical burn.
Can you find any pieces of the tooth? If so, pick them up, put them in a safe container, and remember to bring them to our dental office. Some slight pressure and a clean rag or gauze can help stop any bleeding, and use a cold compress to control swelling. Cover the tooth with some sugarless gum to smooth out a rough edge.
Pick up the tooth while only touching the crown (upper portion), rinse it gently with some water, and place it under the tongue. This will help keep the tooth alive until you can see us, which ideally, should be within an hour or so of the incident. This will give us the best possible chance of replanting it.
After cleaning off the restoration, attempt to place it back onto the tooth, securing it with a dab of toothpaste or dental cement (which you’ll find at your local pharmacy). This is just a quick fix, and you should still come see us for a full repair, otherwise, the tooth could develop additional damage or decay.
As with any dental problem, prevention is always the best approach, especially when it comes to emergencies! Be sure to follow these simple tips to avoid a surprise trip to the dentist:
Just like medical emergencies, the cost of treating a dental emergency will be based entirely on the type and severity of a patient’s injury. One thing that applies universally, however, is that acting fast is always best for both your smile and your wallet. Having an emergency treated quickly will reduce the associated pain, prevent a problem from becoming worse, and likely allow for more conservative treatment, leading to a lower cost and better outcome.
If you’re worried about a dental issue and you’re already thinking of calling our office for professional guidance, don’t hesitate to do so. Of course, we also understand if you have other questions about your situation or you’re unsure of what you should do next. Our team at DentCare Dental Center is always happy to answer your questions, either over the phone or during your appointment. In the meantime, you can read our responses to the most frequently asked questions below!
In most cases, emergency rooms don’t have the tools or the expertise that’s legally required to treat dental emergencies. Instead, they’ll only give you over-the-counter painkillers and tell you to go to the dentist. This makes visiting the dentist the better option in almost all urgent dental situations. However, you should go to the ER if you have serious cuts to the face or mouth, a jaw fracture or dislocation, or an abscess/infection that is so swollen it’s affecting your ability to breathe.
The good news is that emergency exams are generally not that expensive, so getting seen by our office is relatively affordable. With that said, there are some treatments needed to address dental emergencies, such as emergency root canal therapy and tooth removal, both of which are more expensive than preventive procedures and most other services. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should put off visiting if you’re dealing with a dental emergency. While we accept many insurance plans, there are other financing options available to you if you need them.
If a tooth becomes chipped, it will not grow back. This is because enamel lacks the ability to heal itself and can only be addressed with a dedicated restorative treatment from a dentist. The more severe the break is within the tooth, the more involved the restorative procedure needs to be to prevent it from breaking further. While minor chips with no discomfort should be handled carefully, you can generally wait during normal business hours to get them taken care of. However, if the tooth is sharp, jagged, or causing pain, call our office.
In the majority of cases, a toothache is a sign that you need to visit the dentist, not simply wait it out. Many problems can cause a toothache. While it could be due to a cavity, it could also be an infection that can easily spread to other parts of the mouth. By visiting our office, you can have peace of mind knowing you’ve ruled them out and caught underlying problems before they turned worse.
Dental infections generally cause a host of symptoms, not solely tooth pain. For example, if you notice a throbbing sensation in your tooth, a bitter taste in your mouth, red or swollen gums, or a draining sore on the gums where the tooth is located, there’s a reasonable chance an infection is present. You may also notice feverish symptoms. An infection inside the tooth is considered a dental emergency, so don’t wait to call even if you’re not sure.