Emergency Dentistry – Hoboken, NJ

How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies

The best way to handle any dental emergency is to call a dentist, schedule an appointment, and go see them as quickly as possible. Of course, we all know that life is less than ideal sometimes, so what should you do if you can’t reach our dental office right away? Below, you’ll find a few tips on what to do when facing some of the most common dental emergencies:

Toothaches

Toothaches can stem from a wide variety of sources, such as a cavity, a crack in the enamel, or just a piece of food being stuck between the teeth. Start by rinsing and flossing around the tooth, and if this doesn’t help, take an OTC medication and apply a cold compress.

Chipped/Broken Teeth

Recover as many pieces of the tooth that you can and place them in a safe container. Use a cold compress to manage any pain and swelling, and be sure to cover the remaining tooth so it doesn’t accidentally injure the inside of the mouth. You can use sugarless gum or some dental wax to do this.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Pick up the tooth while only touching the crown and rinse it off while avoiding any tissue still connected to the root. See if you can place the tooth back into its socket. If this isn’t working, the tooth must remain wet to keep it alive, so store it between the cheek and gums or put it in a container with milk or saltwater. You need to come see us within an hour or so of a tooth being knocked out so we can successfully replant it!

Lost Filling / Crown

If you still have the restoration, rinse it off with some warm water, and see if you can place it back onto your tooth. If it won’t stay, put a dab of toothpaste on your tooth to act as a temporary adhesive. Even if you don’t feel any pain, try to come see us soon before your tooth develops any damage or decay.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

The majority of dental emergencies are the result of a small dental problem being allowed to turn into a major one, so to prevent this from happening, the best things you can do are brush and floss your teeth every day as well as get regular dental checkups. You can also preserve your teeth by wearing a mouthguard whenever you play sports and not chewing on extremely hard items such as ice, popcorn kernels, pens, pencils, and fingernails.

The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

Because there are so many types of dental emergencies, all of which can have differing levels of severity, there is no set cost for urgent dental care. When a patient comes to see us, we’ll do whatever we can to get them out of pain before discussing their repair options. For patients concerned about the cost of emergency dentistry, we help make it easily affordable by accepting all insurances and offering low-to-no interest financing.

Learn More About the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Emergency Dentistry FAQs

Do you still have questions about what you should do in the event of a dental emergency? At Dentistry Redefined, you can trust that our team will be here to help you every step of the way. If you are confused on what to do, feel free to call our office and ask! For your convenience, we’ve included the answers to some questions we get asked the most often below.  

Should I Visit My Local ER or an Emergency Dentist?

In most cases, you should call your emergency dentist in Hoboken instead of visiting the ER. Our team is better equipped to handle specific dental problems than the majority of ER doctors.

However, some life-threatening issues may require immediate medical attention before we attend to your teeth. In these situations, head to your local ER first. Here are some signs that you need urgent medical care:

• A fractured or dislocated jaw
• A deep cut on your face
• Swelling that makes it difficult to breathe or swallow

Once you’ve gotten the care you need from the hospital, please call our office. We can take a look at your smile and see whether any further treatment is necessary.

If I Have a Toothache, Does That Mean I Need a Root Canal?

Toothaches can be the result of a variety of problems. When you arrive at our office, we’ll thoroughly examine your teeth and gums and take detailed X-rays to determine the cause of your pain. If it’s due to an infection, we may recommend root canal therapy.

Although root canals have a reputation for being painful, our team uses the latest technology to ensure you’re comfortable the entire time. Thanks to our techniques, getting a root canal shouldn’t feel much different from getting a simple filling.

Will My Toothache Go Away on Its Own?

As much as we would like to believe that tooth pain will go away if we just power through it, that is usually not the case. In fact, the longer you wait to seek treatment for an oral health problem like a toothache, the worse the pain often gets. Not to mention, it may require a more invasive and expensive procedure to address. For this reason, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with us as soon as you notice a toothache.

What Should I Include in a Dental Emergency Kit?

To make future emergencies less stressful, it helps to create one or more dental emergency kits ahead of time and store them in easily accessible places, such as your kitchen drawer, the glove compartment in your car, or your desk at work. Make sure to include the following items:

• Our contact information
• A small container with a lid (for storing knocked-out teeth or lost dental crowns)
• Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen
• Latex-free gloves (just in case someone has a latex allergy)
• Gauze pads or pieces of cloth (for controlling bleeding)
• Dental floss (to dislodge objects that might be trapped between teeth)