Columbus Circle: (212) 764-5464

Emergency Dentist

Emergency Dentist

Get Help from an Emergency Dentist

An emergency dentist knows best how to fix trauma to your teeth. This can occur during a fall, a car accident or when playing your favorite sport. Breaking a tooth may involve a considerable amount of pain, depending on the extent and nerve damage incurred. In many cases, it is necessary to get emergency dental implants to remove the damaged tooth, repair any nerve damage, and replace with an implanted cap or filling material. In the city, it may be difficult to determine the best provider for your dental emergency, so do some online research. Also, ask your regular dental provider for recommendations — and referrals, if necessary — as to the best dental surgical specialist in New York.

When Do I Need an Appointment with an Emergency Dentist?

Sometimes it’s easy to tell if you need an emergency dentist appointment: an accident damages your teeth or gums, a tooth is knocked out completely, or you’re experiencing piercing pain. These dental problems should be addressed immediately with a visit to an emergency dentist to minimize the risk of permanent damage, or more extensive repairs down the road. But sometimes dental problems can go unnoticed, and it’s harder to know when you need an appointment.  

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency? 

A dentist could be needed for many emergent reasons. Typically patients see a dentist for the following reasons:

  1. Sensitivity to heat: while sensitivity to cold is fairly common and does not require emergency treatment, tooth sensitivity to heat may indicate an infection is present, especially if accompanied by swelling and/or fever.
  2. Fractured tooth: a fractured tooth may cause momentary, sharp pain while biting or chewing as the pieces move. If left untreated, a fractured tooth can allow bacteria to enter and infect the tooth pulp within.
  3. Broken braces or wires: this should be rectified immediately by making an appointment with your orthodontist.
  4. Swelling in the mouth or gums: This may indicate the presence of an infection. The area will appear red and feel tender and warm to the touch.
  5. Abscessed tooth: an abscessed tooth is the result of untreated cavities. It is indicated by a pus formation near the root of the tooth and will require a root canal to drill out the infected portion of the tooth. You may also require antibiotics.

Typically, an emergency dentist is needed when you either can’t take the pain, need an immediate fix for a tooth, teeth, or dentures, or if you’re running a fever due to a tooth related issue.

What can I do right now to help my dental emergency?

If you find yourself in any of the following emergency dental situations, here’s what you can do immediately before calling a dentist:

Tooth and Jaw Pain

Tooth and jaw pain can come from a variety of causes, including wisdom tooth pain, as well as upper and lower jaw pain. The immediate response is different depending on the situation:

Toothaches

Rinse your mouth with warm water to keep clean. Take a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Wisdom Toothache

Try to keep your teeth and mouth clean as you can, brushing and rinsing with salt water after each meal.

Upper Jaw Pain

Taking a decongestant, a mucus expeller and a pain reliever will counter the symptoms and help the body ward off any potential infection.

Lower Jaw Pain

Avoid moving the temporomandibular joint.

Wisdom Teeth Jaw Pain

Soak a cotton swab in a mildly warm solution of lemon juice and asafetida and apply this swab several times a day to the affected area.

Sore Swollen Gums

Swish your mouth two or three times a day with warm salt water to cleanse the mouth and reduce the swelling.

Gums Bleeding

Dissolve a pinch of salt in warm water and rinse your mouth with the solution. Do this two times a day as it increases circulation and reduces gum swelling.

Adult Tooth Knocked Out

Save any adult tooth knocked out for possible re-implantation. Bring it to your dentist as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the less chance there is for successful reimplantation of an adult tooth that is knocked out. Be sure to handle the tooth only by the crown (chewing edge).

Baby Tooth Knocked Out

An avulsed milk tooth, or baby tooth, knocked out cannot be re-implanted and does not need to be put back in since an adult tooth will erupt to take its place. If a baby tooth is knocked out, apply a topical analgesic to numb pain.

Burning in Mouth

If you experience burning in the mouth, call your dentist immediately. Someone experiencing a burning in mouth sensation may be having an allergic reaction. Avoid eating hot and spicy foods until you can get a diagnosis of the burning in mouth’s cause as they may make the condition worse.

Tooth Fractures

If the chip is tiny but sensitive, you can use a little beeswax to cover the area until your dentist can treat it.

Emergency Dental Implants

When you lose or damage a tooth due to an injury, gum disease, decay or a previous unsuccessful root canal, dental implants are a viable option. An implant involves a titanium screw attached to an artificial tooth, which is surgically implanted into the jaw. The process typically is a two-step process: a surgery to implant the titanium screw, and a return visit for surgery to attach the tooth to the screw once it has had time to fuse with the bones in your jaw, generally a few months later.

Sore Swollen Gums

Swish your mouth two or three times a day with warm salt water to cleanse the mouth and reduce the swelling.

Gums Bleeding

Dissolve a pinch of salt in warm water and rinse your mouth with the solution. Do this two times a day as it increases circulation and reduces gum swelling.

How is Dental Trauma Treated in Our Office?

After a thorough examination, which may include x-rays, the treatment of trauma caused to the teeth may include tooth extraction, pain medication, antibiotics, cold compress, stitches, cosmetic repair done by another dentist, a nerve block, protective dentin covering, tooth preimplantation, and others depending on the person and severity. Also depending on the person and severity, you may be advised to visit your 212-Smiling dentist on a regular basis for an extended period of time. Never try and treat a dental emergency by yourself. Unnoticeable wounds can occur to neighboring teeth and tissue that can only be detected with a professional dental examination.

Emergency Dentist NYC: How to Be Seen Immediately

In certain situations, you can’t afford to wait to treat your emergency dental problems. For instance, you may need to see an emergency dentist in NYC if you’re experiencing sharp toothache pain or had a traumatic accident. Other signs you may need to see an emergency dentist in NYC:

  • Sensitivity to heat (could indicate infection)
  • A fractured tooth (painful, and could cause infection)
  • Gum swelling (could also indicate infection)
  • Abscessed tooth (very painful, requires a root canal)
  • A painful toothache, especially if the pain is worsening

Getting An Emergency Dentist Appointment

If you’re in pain, you should be able to see an emergency dentist the very same day. Here’s what to do:

  • Call our Manhattan office ASAP and ask for an emergency dentist appointment: (212) 764-5464
  • Try to be as specific as possible when describing your needs to us, so we can be prepared for you.
  • Your emergency dentist in NYC will give you directions on how to relieve pain and minimize permanent damage until you can visit our offices.
  • If you cannot come into our office the same day your emergency occurs, be sure to do what you can at home to minimize damage to your teeth or gums.

How to Minimize Damage Until You Can See Your Emergency Dentist

  • FOR TOOTHACHES: apply a cold compress outside your mouth or cheek to minimize pain.
  • FOR KNOCKED-OUT TEETH: try to retrieve the tooth, and place it in a glass of milk until you can see your dentist.
  • FOR LOST FILLINGS: temporarily place a piece of sugar-free gum in the cavity, and see your emergency dentist in NYC as soon as possible.
  • FOR SOFT-TISSUE INJURIES: control bleeding by rinsing your mouth out in a mild salt-water solution, and see your dentist or doctor right away.
  • FOR ABCESSES: for pimple-like swellings on your gum, rinse your mouth out in a mild salt water solution (1/2 tsp of salt in a small glass of water)

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