Emergency Dentistry
What Is a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is anything that is broken, painful, or bleeding in your mouth. While there are a number of situations which could require urgent dental care, some of the most common dental emergencies include the following:
- Knocked-out tooth
- A toothache or abscess
- Broken filling or crown
- Dislodged tooth
- Broken tooth
- Something lodged between teeth
- Injury to the lips, gums, or jaw
- Pain or swelling in the face
How to Handle a Dental Emergency
The most important thing to remember in the event of a dental emergency is to remain calm. Panicking won’t help anything or anyone. Keep a clear head and feel confident knowing you have an emergency dentist just a phone call away! When you contact Blossom Smiles Dental Dentistry, we will offer first aid tips to help control the situation until you can make it to our office as soon as is necessary given the severity of the injury/problem.
First aid tips for dental emergencies include:
- Collect and store any larger broken pieces for possible reattachment
- Rinse (but do not scrub) a knocked-out tooth. Store it in the original socket, a cup of milk, or wrap in plastic wrap until you can make it to our office. Come in within the hour for the best chance of successful reattachment.
- Stop bleeding with a clean gauze or cloth.
- Use an ice pack in 10- to 15-minute intervals to reduce swelling or pain.
- Take an over-the-counter pain medication as directed for an ache or pain.
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
The treatment for a dental emergency depends on the original injury or problem. For an ache caused by tooth decay, a root canal with a dental crown will often be recommended. A dental crown can also restore a broken or cracked tooth. Sometimes, a knocked-out tooth cannot be reattached — and we may set you up for a dental implant to replace it. Whatever the recommended treatment for your emergency, you can feel confident when you partner with your dentist in Hackensack, NJ for a solution! We’re even open longer hours than most dental practices (including nights and weekends) to better accommodate your needs.
Root Canals
Every tooth has a small amount of soft tissue inside it called the dental pulp, and this is actually where the delicate nerve of the tooth is located. When this tissue becomes infected or damaged, it can cause quite a bit of pain– the kind that prevents you from concentrating on anything else. Fortunately, we can relieve this kind of discomfort with a root canal, where your dentist will remove this infected tissue and save your tooth. Thanks to modern dental techniques and sedation, you can rest assured that you’ll remain comfortable throughout the entire procedure.
Tooth Extractions
For our patients who have severely damaged teeth that can’t be remedied with a root canal, we also offer tooth extractions in Hackensack, NJ. By removing an infected or impacted tooth, we’re able to create a healthy foundation for you to rebuild your smile on. Plus, we’re able to keep the current problem from causing additional damage to your surrounding teeth. In addition to extractions, we offer numerous restorative dental treatments, so we can repair your smile to look like normal again.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
The unexpected can happen anytime, anyplace. Knowing what to do is important when faced with a serious dental injury but what you might not consider until it’s time to check out at the dentist’s office is how much you can expect to pay for treatment. The cost of emergency dentistry in Planview is different for each case. Although it might seem as if you’ll pay the same as someone else suffering from a chipped tooth, you will not. Instead, a thorough consultation with our team will help to determine the actual expenses you will incur so you can better plan for a healthier, more beautiful smile.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
With good oral hygiene habits in place, there’s a good chance you’ll never experience a dental emergency! That’s why our team at Blossom Smiles Dental Dentistry recommends being vigilant about caring for your teeth and gums. With this in mind, here are a few best practices we encourage our patients in Hackensack, NJ to adopt:
Dental Emergency FAQs
Since they happen when you least expect them, dental emergencies can often feel unsettling and overwhelming. The good news is that our team will do everything we can to make sure you’re comfortable and feel confident during an urgent situation. That’s why we’ve compiled some of the most commonly asked questions our emergency dentist gets from our patients in Hackensack, NJ. Read on to learn more about what you can expect or give us a call today if you need to schedule an appointment