Emergency Dentist NYC

There are certain situations involving your teeth where the assistance of a dentist becomes an emergency. We’re here to help you recover with ease. Continue reading to learn more about when it becomes a good idea to see a dentist immediately, and how to deal with the emergency before coming in.

Examples of Dental Emergencies

Any type of dental issue that causes you physical pain is considered to be emergent. Even something as seemingly minor as a toothache can be a cause for concern. If your toothache has gotten to the point where there is pain in your mouth or jaw, whatever is causing it has likely escalated and should be cared for immediately. We discuss some of the most common dental emergencies below.

Missing or Broken Teeth

Having a tooth become loose or knocked out can become an emergent situation. You should try to insert the tooth back into its socket, if possible, after it has been cleaned with warm water. Be careful to not scrub away any of the roots, as we may be able to reattach them. If you are able to get to our New York City office within an hour, we will have the highest chance of saving your knocked-out tooth.

Broken Teeth and Jaws

If you are involved in an accident and suffer a broken tooth or jaw, you should see a dentist right away. In the case of a broken or chipped tooth, if you can find the piece of tooth that has been chipped away, wrap it in a wet towel and bring it with you to your appointment. When you’ve broken your jaw, apply a cold compress and head to the emergency room or dentist office quickly.

Issues with Braces

When you have loose or broken wires on your braces, you should get in to see your orthodontist as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can wrap wires that are poking your gums, teeth, or cheek with orthodontic wax if pushing the wires into a more comfortable position is impossible. If you don’t have access to orthodontic wax, try using a small cotton ball or gauze to wrap the exposed wires.

Here’s what you shouldn’t do: You should never cut the wires off. Not only will this result in a more expensive fix, but you could end up swallowing the wire or inhaling it into your lungs, which could have adverse effects on your body.

Lost Crowns or Fillings

If your crown falls off and you are able to find it, you can slip the crown right over the tooth again by coating the inner surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, denture adhesive, or even toothpaste.

When you lose a filling, you should fill the cavity with an over-the-counter dental cement or a piece of sugarless gum. It’s important that the gum be sugarless, as gum with sugar inserted into your cavity will typically cause pain. In any case, you will need to set up an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

Injuries to Soft Tissues

The soft tissues of your mouth include your lips, cheeks, gums, and tongue. Injuries to these tissues can often result in bleeding. This can become emergent when the bleeding doesn’t seem to be slowing down or stopping altogether.

Before you go to the emergency room, try rinsing your mouth out with a combination of warm water and salt. Then, try to stop the bleeding by applying a piece of moistened gauze to the bleeding site. Keep applying pressure for approximately twenty minutes to give the wound an opportunity to clot.

For pain relief, you can also apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth where the wound is. If the bleeding does not subside, you should go to the emergency room or get in to see your emergency dentist.

The Development of an Abscess

Possibly the most emergent dental situation you can run into is the development of an abscess. An abscess is an infection that envelops between the teeth and gums or in the root of a tooth. If left untreated, the infection could spread to other parts of your body, which is why seeking assistance from your dentist immediately is of utmost importance.

You might be suffering from an abscessed tooth if you notice swelling and what appears to be a pimple on your gums. While you wait for your appointment, you can help bring the discharge of the abscess to the surface and relieve your pain by rinsing your mouth out multiple times a day with salt water.

The Importance of Emergency Dental Care

There are numerous dental situations that could be considered an emergency. If you have concerns that you may need immediate dental attention, you can give us a call to schedule an emergency appointment. We also happily accept walk-in patients as necessary. For more serious conditions, including life-or-death situations, you should always call 911.

Costs of Emergency Dental Services

A patient requiring emergency services will be assessed an emergency fee in addition to any services performed by the dental staff. The cost of the treatment and/or procedure will vary largely, based on what type of emergency you’ve experienced and the depth of treatment what will be required.

These fees and costs of treatment may be covered by your dental insurance provider. Contact your insurance company for more information, or you can work with our receptionist to discuss what services are able to be covered by your insurance and what will need to be paid for out of pocket.

In some instances, we may be able to work out a financing or payment arrangement on a case-by-case basis. Please bring your dental insurance card with you when you come in for emergent situations so that we are able to discern coverable services from ones that may need to be approved by your insurance company before treatment can begin.

Reach Out to an Emergency Dentist in New York City

If you’ve had to endure an injury or are in severe pain, contact your New York City dentist for emergency care. Remember, suffering pain or swelling is an immediate cause for concern, and acting quickly can help prevent permanent damage or more expensive dental work in the future. Call us now at 555-555-5555 for help treating your teeth or mouth pain.