Dental emergencies can be frightening. You experience sudden pain or sustain an oral injury and are unsure what to do first. Don’t worry, we're here to help restore your oral health and alleviate your pain.
This guide explores the following:
- Common Dental Emergencies and What They Mean
- Whether You Should Visit the ER or a Dentist in Brooklyn
- How to Relieve Pain Until You See an Emergency Dentist
- When to Call an Emergency Dentist and What Info to Share
- Where to Find Fast Emergency Dental Care in Brooklyn
- Learn about Emergency Dentist Costs in Brooklyn
- How to Lower Your Risks for Dental Emergencies
- When Your Injured Tooth Cannot Be Saved
- Tooth Restoration Explained
- Root Canals: What You Should Know
Common Dental Emergencies and What They Mean
Dental emergencies in Brooklyn can encompass a wide range of situations, but some predicaments are more common than others.
Common dental emergencies include:
- Toothaches or increasing sensitivity
- Jaw or face swelling
- Injuries to the oral tissues or teeth
- Knocked-out tooth
- Broken or lost restoration
Typically, toothaches accompanied by swelling indicate a deep tooth infection that requires root canal therapy. Our dental team provides gentle root canal treatment to rid your tooth of pain and restore your well-being.
Injuries are less common than oral infections, but it’s still important to see your dentist as soon as possible for treatment.
In some cases, small chips can wait until the next opening, unless you’re in pain or there are signs of infection.
Whether You Should Visit the ER or a Dentist in Brooklyn
Your dentist should see you for oral injuries. However, if you sustain trauma to the head or body, it’s crucial to head to the ER first. After the emergency department stabilizes your injuries and declares you safe, you can contact our dental team for direct oral care.
When it comes to trauma, your safety and well-being are top priorities.
How to Relieve Pain Until You See an Emergency Dentist
There are things you can do before your emergency dental visit to help stabilize your situation before you see the dentist. Consider these steps your immediate first aid!
- Toothache: Use an ice pack periodically and take an over-the-counter pain reliever if you’re medically able.
- Swelling: Use of an ice pack can reduce swelling until you see the dentist.
- Oral injury: If your tooth or oral tissues are bleeding, use gauze to gently staunch the flow.
- Knocked-out tooth: Collect the tooth, but don’t handle it by the roots. Rinse it gently and store it in a container of milk or saliva until it’s time to see the dentist.
- Broken restoration: Rinse your mouth to keep the unprotected tooth clean and help reduce infection risks.
When to Call an Emergency Dentist and What Info to Share
After you’ve stabilized yourself with immediate first aid, it’s essential to call our dental office for guidance. We can help determine your next steps and book your emergency dental visit.
Where to Find Fast Emergency Dental Care in Brooklyn
You can find fast emergency dental care in our office! We set aside time in our schedule to treat emergencies as soon as possible.
Learn about Emergency Dentist Costs in Brooklyn
Emergency dental care costs vary by patient and depend on the nature of your dental emergency. However, we can share costs with you after we’ve assessed your issue and have a better understanding of the required treatment plan.
CareCredit is a credit card for medical and dental use. Many plans are interest-free for qualifying patients. A team member can assist you with the application process.
How to Lower Your Risks for Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies happen from time to time, but you can lower your risks by adopting a few healthy habits and precautions.
Because most dental emergencies are infection-based, be sure to do the following:
- Visit your dentist every six months for checkups and teeth cleanings.
- Brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily.
To avoid injury, wear a mouthguard when playing sports and consult your dentist about a nightguard if you experience bruxism (teeth grinding during sleep).
We also recommend lowering your intake of sugary and acidic foods and drinks. If you do indulge, clean your teeth as soon as possible to avoid cavities, which can penetrate the enamel and reach the sensitive tooth root.
When Your Injured Tooth Cannot Be Saved
If a tooth is too damaged or decayed for treatment and crowning, we’ll discuss tooth replacement options, such as a dental implant or dental bridge.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root surgically placed in the jawbone. This root integrates into the bone over a few months. Then we cap it with a dental crown. The implant is the only tooth replacement option that preserves your jawbone health. A deteriorating jawbone can lead to a sunken appearance in the lower face.
A dental bridge is typically one or two artificial teeth housed between dental crowns. We cap healthy teeth with the crowns, allowing the bridge teeth to complete your smile.
Tooth Restoration Explained
If you have a damaged or deeply decayed tooth, we typically treat it and shape it for crowning. The crown is customized to match your unrestored teeth, creating a protective shield between the at-risk tooth and your chewing force.
Root Canals: What You Should Know
Root canal treatment is steeped in myth, but don’t be fooled. It is neither a complex nor a painful treatment. It is, in fact, pain-relieving!
Your dentist numbs the area around your infected tooth and gently extracts the infection. We temporarily fill the tooth, and you return after healing to have a tooth-colored filling or crown placed.
After we treat your tooth, you may experience mild tenderness for a few days, but nothing close to the infection and swelling that brought you to the dentist. You can treat it with an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Contact Your Emergency Dentist in Dumbo to Get Started
We treat patients of all ages and are here for your dental emergency. If you have an emergency or suspect you may have one, call us at (718) 285-3035.
