Have a dental emergency and wondering how to deal with it? Here we give some advice about dental emergencies.

If you have a dental emergency, it's important to take prompt action to address the issue and prevent further damage. If you are looking for an emergency dentist in NYC or any major city then we have a list of emergency dentists in major cities at the bottom of the page. Here are some steps that Irina Kessler, DDS and emergency dentist in NYC advises that you can take:

• 1. Contact your dentist or an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Explain the situation and ask for an appointment as soon as possible.

  2. If you have severe pain, take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed to help relieve discomfort.

  3. If you have a knocked-out tooth, handle it carefully by the crown (top) and rinse it gently with water. Try to reinsert the tooth into the socket if possible. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a container of milk or saliva until you can see a dentist.

  4. If you have a chipped or broken tooth, save any pieces if possible and rinse your mouth with warm water.

  5. If you have an object stuck between your teeth, try to remove it gently with dental floss. Do not use sharp or pointed objects as this can cause injury.

  6. If you have a swollen jaw, apply a cold compress to the affected area to reduce swelling.

  7. If you have bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze.

  Remember, dental emergencies can be serious and require immediate attention. Don't hesitate to seek professional help from a dentist or emergency medical professional.

If you are looking for an emergency dentist in NYC then New York Family Dental Arts provides 'same day' appointments from Monday to Friday. Call the office as early as possible and say that you have a dental emergency and that you need to see a dentist. They will  do their best to give you a same day appointment. 

If you are looking for a teeth cleaning in NYC the try New York Family Dental Arts who offer a $249 teeth cleaning for patients without insurance or who are between insurance policies. If you are looking for an emergency dentist in NYC then we treat all dental emergenies and if you are looking for an INVISALIGN dentist in NYC then we treat patients using clear INVISALIGN aligners with outstanding results. 

What to do in a dental emergency and how to know if it really is one - Dr Joseph Danial

Is it an emergency?

It is understandable that if you are in pain or require immediate medical attention it is difficult to clear your head and act with your best interests in mind; for many people, their first thought will be go straight to the hospital but when the emergency is purely dental in nature, this might not be the best course of action to take. Although medical professionals can certainly help with some injuries, they are not going to have the right skills to treat dental conditions such as broken braces or enamel damage. If you are certain that your situation represents a dental emergency then you would be much better off speaking to a dentist because you are more likely to get the right treatment within a shorter timeframe. The Pearl Dental Clinic have a twenty-four hour emergency service that can help every hour of the day and night – give them a call if you think you might need an appointment at short notice. They can normally make treatment available within twenty-four hours of initial notification, regardless of your registration status.

Something else that could help is to make a note of an emergency clinic in your local area, that way you are not scrambling around for contact information if you should suffer a dental injury. No one can predict when this type of problem will develop, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead to cover yourself for every eventuality. In any case, making your way to the dental clinic after experiencing an emergency is the best way to ensure that you are not left sitting in the waiting room behind people with more serious medical problems. Forward planning and making the right decision can make all the difference to a positive end result.

Should I be going to the dental surgery or the hospital?

The best way to decide on who to approach for treatment is to learn something about the nature of your problem. It should be obvious that injuries that involve bleeding or other symptoms that could affect your overall health need to be taken to the local hospital; dental problems are different to serious accidents, whilst they might be painful, they are rarely life-threatening and should be treated at an emergency clinic. Obviously, if you feel that you are panicking about your condition or your life is in danger then you are better off speaking to a doctor.

Dr Joseph Danial, an emergency dentist in Yonkers says that the worst thing a person can do is ignore a dental emergency. " In almost all cases ignoring a dental emergency can and will make the condition worse. If you do not have medical insurance it is going to cost you more money than if you dealt with the emergency in the beginning." He also says that in most cases the problem could have been picked up during a regular cleaning or check up. " I cannot emphasise enough the 6 month rule for dental hygiene. It is the only way to pick up on these sort of problems."

To help you make an early diagnosis and decide on the best way to proceed, we are going to take a look at some of the common situations that patients and dentists deal with on a regular basis.

Go to the dentist if you have…

Knocked one of your teeth out – As long as there are no other injuries that should take precedence – such as head trauma – then a dentist is the only person who is going to be able to restore this type of problem quickly and as easily as possible. A knocked-out tooth can be successfully reattached after a couple of hours but time is an issue in this situation because the nerves and minerals will die and reattachment will be impossible.

Broken one of your teeth – The treatment needed to deal with this problem depends on the extent of the damage and whether the inner pulp has been exposed to outside elements. The average nurse and doctor won’t have the right training or equipment to repair enamel damage – particularly if it extends beyond the crown of the tooth. An emergency dentist should easily be able to fill small cracks and repair chips using composite bonding material, which may be more of an aesthetic problem than an actual physical issue.

Developed an abscess – Most abscesses will not be a danger to your health but if they are a regular occurrence then you should certainly seek treatment before the infection can move deeper into the tissue and into other areas of the body. The swelling needs to be drained and excised and antibiotics might be prescribed to fight the bacteria from within.

Go to the hospital if you have…

Cut your face – Your dentist certainly wouldn’t leave you bleeding heavily in the waiting room but they won’t be able to help if your condition takes a turn for the worse; surgery may be required if the lacerations are deep; doctors and surgeons are needed to carry out this type of treatment. If this happens to you, you need to be monitored by a medical professional and any dental injuries can be seen to when the initial risk has been reduced.

Dislocated your jaw – Dislocation can be an on-going problem that would warrant a consultation with a specialist oral surgeon, but immediate treatment from a doctor should be implemented to replace the bone and prescribe pain relief to make the process more comfortable.

Developed a large abscess – Although small abscesses can be treated by a dentist, larger ones will have to be examined by a doctor before they reach a critical point where they start to affect bodily functions. If you notice other symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, and general ill feelings like high fever, then you should be going to the hospital instead of the emergency clinic because your life could be at risk. Of course, blood poisoning and serious infection are part of a worst case scenario but you should be aware of them if you suffer with dental problems and gum disease.

Fractured your jaw – Most dental clinics won’t have the necessary surgical equipment to pinpoint the exact location of a jaw fracture and it is important to make sure that the right precautions are taken to test for head injuries. A crack in the bone has to be identified using an x-ray and treated accordingly to avoid further problems. Follow-up appointments will also be needed because this kind of condition can be difficult to heal from as we use our jaws every day, most of the time without even thinking about it.

Joseph Danial, DDS is a cosmetic and general dentist in Yonkers offering all procedures. The practice offers teeth cleanings in Yonkers and accepts most dental insurances. It also offer treatment for periodontal disease and if you are looking for a periodontist in Yonkers, then Dr. Hedayti accepts most insurances and provides all periodontal treatments. If you are looking for dental implants in Yonkers then we also provide dental implants and free consultations.