Emergency Dentist in New Jersey

Common Dental Emergencies

Common dental emergencies include both painful and non-painful conditions. For example, a new onset of acute tooth pain is a dental emergency because it often indicates the presence of infection. Severe pain may also indicate the presence of a dental abscess which may require emergency dental services.

Impact to a tooth, whether the tooth was knocked out, is also a dental emergency. Cuts or lacerations on the soft tissues, including the inside of the cheeks, lips, or tongue also require emergency dental treatments.

Other dental emergencies may not be painful but need to be treated as soon as possible. Examples of a dental emergency include broken teeth, seriously chipped teeth, crowns that have come off, or dental fillings that have fallen out. Oral health issues like tender gums, tooth pain, or gums that begin to bleed when brushing or flossing also require urgent dental care.

If a dental emergency strikes, do not wait. Contacting an experienced emergency dentist as soon as possible can make all the difference in saving a tooth and preventing more serious complications.

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What to Do if a Tooth is Knocked Out

Strange as it may seem, a tooth that is knocked completely out may be salvageable. If you or your child has a knocked out tooth, follow these steps:

• Pick up the tooth by the chewing surface, taking care to avoid touching the roots
• Rinse the tooth with water
• Attempt to gently guide the tooth back into the socket
• Call our office immediately and head to our practice to seek emergency dental care

If your tooth cannot be easily guided back into the socket, you may either hold the tooth inside your cheek to keep it moist, or you may place it in a cup of milk and bring it to the emergency dentist with you.

A knocked out tooth that is permanent may be saved if you receive dental care within less than an hour. In cases where the tooth cannot be saved, we can walk you through what to expect with a dental implant restoration or dental bridge to replace the missing tooth.

If a child loses a baby tooth and it cannot be saved, in some cases nothing needs to be done because the permanent teeth are nearing eruption. In cases where a very young child has a tooth knocked out, a space maintainer may be necessary to hold the space for the eventual eruption of the permanent teeth.

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What to Do if a Tooth Is Broken or Chipped

Broken teeth are considered a dental emergency. You should notify us immediately. If the break does not extend below the gum, the tooth can often be saved with a root canal and dental crown.

Unfortunately, if you have broken a tooth in half beneath the gum, the tooth will need to be extracted and you will need to plan for restorative treatment.

Chipped teeth typically do not pose a risk to your health, but chipping one of your front teeth is a cosmetic emergency. Emergency dental treatments such as dental bonding can immediately restore a chipped tooth. However, depending on the severity of the chip, you may ultimately wish to cover the tooth with dental restorations like a porcelain veneer or dental crown.

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Why Choose Sunshine Dentistry for Urgent Dental Care

Sunshine Dentistry is an award-winning Jersey Shore dental practice treating patients of all ages with dental issues. To best serve busy patients and to offer extended availability for same day emergency appointments, we are open until 7:00 pm several nights each week.

The team of dentists at our practice includes some of New Jersey's Top Doctors in the field of Dentistry. Our practice was also recognized on the 2022 Best of Jersey Shore list for our expertise in Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, and Cosmetic Dentistry.

Our compassionate, gentle, and skillful dentists are supported by an incredible team of hygienists and dental assistants who care deeply about our patients. If you or a loved one has suffered a dental emergency, contact us right away for priority emergency dental care.

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When to Call 911

If you or your child is experiencing uncontrolled bleeding or suffered a fall or any other injury to the head, call 911 or have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room.