Emergency Dentist

What is considered a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is anything that severely affects your ability to carry out your daily activities. This includes a significant toothache that prevents sleep or a broken front tooth. In case of an accident, you should probably go to the Emergency Room (ER) first.

When should one see an emergency dentist versus going to an emergency room?

Serious accidents or situations such as major trauma or swelling to the face require ER visits. If you have a broken jaw, you should go to the hospital. However, issues like broken or chipped teeth, toothaches, swelling, or pimples on the gums can be handled by a dentist.

What are common types of dental emergencies and what can be done for tooth pain?

The most common dental emergency is a persistent, throbbing toothache that does not respond to painkillers. Such a condition can be addressed by a regular dentist who may perform a root canal, apply a post and crown, or conduct an extraction.

How can an abscess or swelling be treated?

An abscess or swelling in the mouth requires a dental checkup to determine the cause. If the issue stems from the tooth, we can drain it or administer antibiotics. If the swelling is due to a tumor or other condition, it warrants a hospital visit.

How is wisdom tooth pain managed?

Wisdom tooth pain necessitates a visit to an oral surgeon for extraction. Until your appointment, painkillers are provided to manage the discomfort.

What about bleeding or inflamed gums?

Bleeding and inflamed gums are a chronic issue, not an emergency. They can be addressed during regular checkups.

What causes tooth sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity can be caused by a variety of factors such as recession, tooth fracture, or general sensitivity. The treatment depends on the cause and severity. It might involve a change in toothpaste, dental work, or even a root canal.

How are broken, fractured, or cracked teeth treated?

Broken and fractured teeth are absolutely emergency cases, especially if they cause pain. Minor chips without severe pain can wait for a regular dental visit.

Why might one need an emergency root canal?

An emergency root canal might be necessary if you experience severe pain due to a broken tooth with an exposed nerve or a large untreated cavity that has reached the nerve.

Do you offer same-day care?

Yes, we provide same-day care. If it's safe to perform the necessary procedure that same day, we will.

Can one schedule late-hour appointments?

Yes, we offer late-hour appointments including late hours on Mondays until 8 PM and once-a-month weekend appointments. For further questions or clarifications, please call our office at (201) 845-5533.

An emergency dentist can provide urgent professional dental care for issues such as infection, damaged teeth, knocked out teeth and more. Emergency dental care is a standard service offered at Paramus Dental Arts.

No matter how much someone attempts to prepare ahead of time, accidents happen. Dental accidents and emergencies are no exception. Dental emergencies can include infections, tooth decay, damaged teeth, trauma to the mouth and more. By visiting an emergency dentist, you are seeking the immediate care your teeth need.

Prolonging the time between injuring one's teeth and seeing an emergency dentist will only increase the chance of the issue causing, irreversible damage. By seeking treatment with us, we will provide the treatment needed to help prevent further damage or tooth loss. Our goal is to save as many natural teeth as possible while preserving the patient's oral health.

If you need an emergency dentist, do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible for professional dental treatment.

Do I need emergency dentistry? Call us if…

Reasons for Needing an Emergency Dental Visit

The American Dental Association reported that the number one cause of adult tooth damage every year is playing sports. This spans all types of athletics and creates the need for emergency appointments throughout Paramus NJ. Even a backyard game of basketball can lead to someone damaging a tooth or someone knocking a player's tooth out. The same holds true for kids playing sports as well. While there are ways to protect yourself like wearing a mouth guard, a dental emergency is still possible. When an emergency strikes call (201) 845-5533.

Car accidents are another leading cause of tooth injury. While the enamel on your teeth is strong, it may not be strong enough to prevent your tooth from breaking when colliding with the steering wheel. With millions of accidents a year, teeth are a common victim. We recommend that patients of Paramus Dental Arts get examined at a local emergency room after being in a car accident; just to make sure that they have not sustained any physical injuries. Afterward, call us for a dentist appointment. The emergency room does not treat tooth damage, so you will need to see both types of medical providers.

Paramus, New Jersey Emergency Dentist

Severe and sudden toothaches are another reason people in New Jersey end up needing an emergency dentist. We can examine teeth and determine what is causing the pain. It may be a little cavity that grew into a big one and now requires a root canal. Another possibility is gum disease, which can cause the gums to recede, exposing the tooth and roots. Both can lead to intense pain and require emergency treatment. We do not want patients of Paramus Dental Arts to experience oral pain and will do our best to treat you right away so that you can remain comfortable.

If a tooth infection is left untreated for a long period of time, it can lead to a dental abscess. This is extremely painful. An abscess is a major tooth infection that can settle into your jawbone and the floor of your mouth. If it does, oral surgery may be necessary in order to remove the infection. We can let you know if we see an abscess during your dental exam with Dr. Olga Degtyareva.

How can I relieve dental pain while waiting for an emergency dental appointment?

We can help patients to stay comfortable and live a life that is pain-free. If you visit Paramus Dental Arts experiencing pain, we will identify what is creating the issue and the treatment options available for dealing with it. Often, we will also prescribe medication to help with the pain. This can prevent you from feeling discomfort while your tooth is being treated and at home. You may also want to apply a cold compress or ice pack to the area in order to reduce or prevent swelling.

Treatment Options

When a tooth has fallen out…
If your tooth has been knocked out, try to find it. Once located, rinse the tooth under warm water without scrubbing it. Next, place it in a cup of milk and bring it with you to your dental appointment. We will try to save the tooth, if possible. If not, we will discuss options for replacing the tooth. This may include dentures, a dental bridge or dental implants.

When a tooth is broken…
It is common for people to damage a tooth while playing sports or getting into a car accident. It is likely that the tooth will become cracked or chipped. As long as the tooth structure remains in place, we can typically correct it with various dental treatment options. There are multiple ways that we can restore a patient's teeth. Some of which include dental veneers and a dental crown. Both are excellent options and can restore your tooth to full functionality while keeping it natural looking. As an emergency dental facility, we can provide you with information on what your options are and the best way to restore your tooth while achieving the goals that you have for your smile. To schedule an appointment, call (201) 845-5533.

When a tooth is infected…
As an emergency dentist, we will assess the situation and inform you of where the infection is and the best way to quickly treat it. Our job is to keep you comfortable, healthy and pain-free. Patients trust us to remove infections and keep their teeth and gums in excellent oral health. Whether fixing a general cavity or treating a dental abscess, we make it possible for a tooth to be free from infection and pain. We can resolve the issue in a way that keeps patients comfortable during any necessary procedures.

How can an emergency dentist help me?

At Paramus Dental Arts we strive to keep our patients comfortable and free from injury or pain. As such, we are cognizant of the fact that most dental emergencies are unplanned. If your tooth has been damaged or you are in pain, call (201) 845-5533 right away so that we can schedule your appointment and treat the issue quickly. Our friendly staff will do our best to accommodate your schedule and ensure that you can get back to a life that is free from oral pain. While many dentists, require you to schedule appointments far in advance – our staff will work with you in each situation to get you the necessary treatment right away. You can also help to avoid dental emergencies by receiving teeth cleanings twice a year and maintaining a healthy diet year-round.

Why we provide emergency dental care

We provide emergency dental care to ensure that patients can get the help they need right away. If you leave a damaged or infected tooth alone, you will risk the infection spreading.

Why should I visit you for emergency dental care instead of going to the ER?

While the physicians at the emergency room are skilled at treating health emergencies, they are not familiar with dental care. They can triage any problem that you have by helping to stop the bleeding, but they will not be able to restore a damaged tooth. Likewise, if you visit an emergency room due to dental pain, they can provide you with pain relief but cannot find out what is causing the pain and work to solve it. This is why you need to visit the dentist instead. Remember that even if you go to the emergency room, you will still likely need to visit the dentist anyway. Visit us for emergency dental care instead to save yourself the extra pain, time and money.

What types of procedures does an emergency dentist perform?

At Paramus Dental Arts, our team provides the same type of services that you can receive during a traditional dental visit. The two most common issues that we address during emergency dental visits are:

Damage

It is actually fairly common for teeth to sustain damage in an accident. The damage can be due to a standard car accident, workplace injury, sports accident or other situation. While most adults do not think about cracking a tooth while playing a pickup game of basketball – it happens. These casual everyday events can lead to sudden tooth damage and if they do, you need to be sure to repair the damage as soon as possible. While providing emergency dental care, we can fix a cracked tooth, chipped tooth or even a tooth that is knocked out.

If you need an immediate dental restoration in the Paramus area, visit our office. For fast results we can use dental bonding. This is a resin, tooth-colored material that can be placed on top of your tooth, shaped, and hardened using a special dental light. It can be completed in one sitting so that you can walk in with a chipped tooth and leave with a fully restored one. Other solutions like dental veneers and dental crowns are also available to correct damage but typically require two visits to do so.

We can also provide emergency dental care if your tooth has been knocked out due to an accident or has fallen out after becoming loose. If you can find the tooth, rinse it and put it in a cup of milk, then come to our Paramus, NJ dental office right away. There is a possibility that the tooth can be put back in your mouth. Otherwise, we can discuss replacement options that include dentures, a dental bridge, or a dental implant. All of these are possibilities that can appear completely natural so to learn more about them, call (201) 845-5533.

Toothaches

With emergency dental care, we see a lot of New Jersey patients that are suffering from a major toothache. This is a top reason that people seek out care right away instead of waiting for Monday or for the dentist to open in the morning. When a toothache strikes it can be debilitating and we can provide relief. The good news is that it does not have to be. At Paramus Dental Arts, we have found that most toothaches do not happen without warning. Typically, there are signs that can include discomfort when biting down, sensitivity to heat or cold, irritation when brushing or flossing, etc. If you sense any of these things, we encourage you to call (201) 845-5533 and schedule an appointment for a dental exam. We can examine your teeth, look for any signs of infection or decay and treat the problem before you go from moderate discomfort to a raging toothache. Our friendly Paramus staff can work with you to schedule an appointment that fits within your schedule so that you have no reason to delay in seeking treatment. However, if you do not come in right away and do develop a bad toothache, we want to see you.

One of the common reasons for a bad toothache is severe decay or an infection. To resolve this issue, we may need to perform a root canal. We can do this while providing you with emergency dental care. Since the discomfort is caused by the infection, removing it will help you to feel better right away. First, we will numb the area and provide you with anesthesia and then create a small hole in your tooth so that the infected portion of it can be removed. Once done, the area will be cleaned before it is sealed. We will do everything available to safely ensure that the procedure is comfortable. After we finish the procedure, you will begin to feel significantly better than when you first came in. Sometimes it is also necessary to restore the tooth with a dental filling or crown. If this is the case we can either complete that portion of the procedure immediately or schedule a second appointment to do so.

Emergency Dentist FAQ

Q. What should I do if my child's permanent tooth is knocked out?

A. Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. (Do not scrub or clean it with soap — use only water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket immediately and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can't put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with cold milk, saliva or water. Get to the Emergency Dentist immediately. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

Q. What should I do if my child's baby tooth is knocked out?

A. Contact your emergency dental office as soon as possible. The baby tooth should not be replanted because of the potential for subsequent damage to the developing permanent tooth.

Q. What if a tooth is chipped or fractured?

A. Contact your Dentist immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling if the lip also was injured. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, place it in cold milk or water and bring it with you to the dental office.

Q. What about a severe blow to the head or jaw fracture?

A. You need immediate medical attention. Keep in mind that an emergency medical team might be able to reach you faster than you can get to the hospital. A severe head injury can be life-threatening.

Q. What if my child has a toothache?

A. Call our office immediately. Over-the-counter children's pain medication, dosed according to your child's weight and age, might ease the symptoms. You may apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth to the face in the area of the pain, but do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area.

Questions Answered on This Page

Q. How do I know I need an emergency dentist?

Q. If I hurt my tooth in a car accident, can I wait a day or two before seeking dental treatment?

Q. What can I do to relieve dental pain?

Q. What should I do if I have a toothache?

People Also Ask

Q. What dental services can help treat an infection?

Q. What should I do if I have a toothache?

Q. What is the most durable tooth replacement?

Definition of Dental Emergency Terminology

Helpful Related Links

• American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
• Colgate®. Lost Filling Or Crown. 2016
• Orajel™. Toothache & Denture Pain Relief. 2016
• WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015