Maybe your tooth has become infected as a result of a cavity that wasn’t treated in time. Or perhaps you fell and broke off part of your tooth. A dental emergency can take many forms, but the response should always be the same: you need to get in touch with one of our doctors as soon as you can and schedule an emergency appointment. With our vast array of treatments, we can help you find relief from dental pain as soon as possible with emergency dentistry in Brick Township, NJ. If you or a loved one is experiencing new, painful, or worrisome dental symptoms, don’t hesitate to call us right away!
Why Choose Nu Dental Brick for Emergency Dental Care?
Same-Day Appointments Available for Emergency Patients
Sedation Options for Optimal Comfort & Stress-Free Treatment
Exceptional Staff and Expert Dentist with Years of Experience
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies are typically sudden and alarming. If you find yourself in one of these scary situations, don’t panic and follow these steps:
Step 1: Call Our Office: Give us a call as soon as you can so we can schedule your same-day emergency appointment and give you first-aid instructions.
Step 2: Get an Emergency Exam with one of our doctors: As soon as you arrive to our practice, one of our doctors will examine your mouth thoroughly to learn more about your situation.
Step 3: Review the Findings and Make a Plan: they will then review they're findings with you and fully explain your treatment options, including which one(s) he recommends.
Step4: Get the Fast, Efficient Dental Care You Need: Once you’ve agreed on a treatment plan, we’ll get to work right away to preserve your smile and ease your discomfort. If you are feeling particularly nervous or uncomfortable, we have sedation options that can help you sit back and relax while you get the care you need.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
When going through a dental emergency, it’s essential that you know what to do in order to prevent the problem from getting worse. That’s why you should give our office a call right away even if you’re unsure of whether you need urgent dental care or not. We’ll help you determine how serious your situation is, how quickly you need to be treated, and what you need to do to protect your smile until you can reach our office. Below, you’ll find the most common dental emergencies we treat here at Nu Dental Brick.
As you might expect, the cost of emergency dentistry in Brick Township tends to be different from that of a regular checkup. The price largely depends on the nature of the emergency and the type of treatment required. Remember, it’s never a good idea to avoid seeking dental care when it’s urgently needed; most oral health issues will only grow worse over time, so ignoring the problem could result in a worse situation that requires more expensive treatment. Our team at Nu Dental Brick will help you explore your payment options and find a way to make your care affordable.
Every Dental Emergency Has a Different Price
An emergency dental appointment is actually relatively inexpensive. During this visit, one of our doctors will examine your mouth, assess the extent of the damage, and determine what treatment you need. Because of the countless possibilities of dental emergencies, it’s pretty much impossible for us to give you a cost estimate until we physically see you in our office and understand the details of your situation.
Rest assured that before we move ahead with any procedures, one of our doctors will explain they're findings as well as his treatment recommendations. Then, our team members can go over the estimated costs so that you know exactly what to expect.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
The good news is that most dental insurance providers offer some level of coverage for emergencies. For instance, many plans cover one necessary emergency exam per year. Several of the services most commonly associated with hurting teeth (root canal therapy, crowns, etc.) are usually eligible for partial coverage. In most cases, this can be anywhere from 50% to 80%, but every plan is different. At Nu Dental Brick, our team members can help you navigate the details of your plan and make the most of your available benefits.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Even patients without insurance can still enjoy discounts on dental care at our practice. As an alternative to traditional insurance, we encourage you to sign up for our in-house membership plan. In addition to providing the free preventive care that insurance does, this plan also nets you discounts on all of our other services, including some that insurance may not cover. We can also help you break up your treatment costs through a low- to no-interest CareCredit payment plan.
Preventive Care Can Save You Money
We tend to think of dental emergencies as inevitable, but the truth is that many of them can be avoided by being proactive about your oral health. Investing in routine dental checkups and cleanings gives one of our doctors the chance to detect early warning signs of potential emergencies and stop them in their tracks. In fact, it’s estimated that every dollar spent on preventive dental care saves you 50 dollars in restorative care!
Another way to minimize your treatment costs is by contacting your emergency dentist in Brick Township as soon as you notice that your tooth is hurting or damaged. We understand that you might be worried about costs, but know that these costs will only increase the longer you avoid treatment.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
If you’ve recently experienced a dental emergency, the last thing you want to do is go through another one. While it’s virtually impossible to prevent dental emergencies in Brick Township with 100% certainty, these situations are often more easily avoidable than you might think. To dramatically decrease the risk of damage to your smile, just remember these five simple keys to preventing dental emergencies.
Attend Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings
There’s a good reason why the American Dental Association recommends two checkups and cleanings per year for most people. When it comes to health issues – and dental health issues in particular – early detection is crucial. When you visit Nu Dental Brick for a checkup, one of our doctors will have the chance to carefully look over your mouth for any signs of potential emergencies, like tooth decay or infections. From there, he can treat these problems before they cause pain down the road. Our team can also clean built-up plaque and tartar off of your teeth, greatly lowering your risk of cavities and other damage.
Maintain a Good At-Home Oral Hygiene Routine
Of course, it’s equally important to care for your smile in between checkups. You should brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day for two minutes at a time. This minimizes plaque accumulation and – if you use a toothpaste with fluoride – strengthens your teeth against decay. If you don’t already floss at least once a day, now is a good time to start, as flossing is the only way to remove food debris and bacteria from between your teeth.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Believe it or not, the foods you eat also impact your likelihood of needing to visit an emergency dental office in Brick Township. For example, eating lots of sugary or starchy items gives harmful bacteria in your mouth ample fuel to cause gum disease, cavities, and other potential emergencies. Try to cut back on sweets and processed carbohydrates and substitute them for fresh fruits and vegetables. Apples, carrots, and celery are all great items since they serve as natural toothbrushes by scrubbing your teeth as you chew them. They also encourage saliva flow, which helps rinse away leftover food particles and plaque.
Protect Your Teeth with a Mouthguard
Do you regularly play sports or grind your teeth at night? If so, your teeth will need protection from either sudden injuries or chronic wear and tear. one of our doctors can make you a custom mouthguard that not only fits more comfortably than cheaply made over-the-counter options, but shields your smile more effectively.
Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
To save time, you might feel tempted to open a package or bottle with your teeth. As a rule of thumb, though, teeth weren’t designed to do anything more than help you chew, talk, and smile. Using them as tools can all too easily lead to injury. It’s worth taking the time to grab the perfect tool for the job if it means keeping your smile safe.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
Should I Visit the Emergency Room for My Dental Emergency?
More often than not, hospital emergency rooms don’t have the expertise or resources to address dental emergencies effectively. In fact, many people assume that an ER can help them, only to be given antibiotics and told to go to a dentist instead. However, in life-threatening cases, a visit to the hospital is the best option before visiting our practice. This includes instances where you believe your jaw is fractured or dislocated, your face has a serious cut or laceration, or an oral abscess (infection) is making it difficult for you to breathe.
Is My Toothache Caused By an Infection?
If the tooth is sore or throbbing, it’s unlikely that it will stop on its own. While we’ll need to perform a detailed examination to confirm the cause of your discomfort, these symptoms (as well as a bitter taste) are a notable indicator that an infection is present. This is considered a dental emergency and needs attention from a dentist immediately. Other common symptoms include red or swollen gums, a loose tooth, and a draining sore on the gums near the tooth.
Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth an Emergency?
Baby teeth are meant to fall out on their own, which means just because a baby tooth came out does not necessarily mean your child is having a dental emergency. With that said, it is possible for baby teeth to come out too soon. When a baby tooth comes out too early, the neighboring teeth may crowd into the space and trap the permanent tooth underneath the gums. This can lead to problems with your child’s oral development. If your child’s tooth is knocked out and they experience significant discomfort or their mouth is bleeding profusely, call our office right away.
Do Chipped Teeth Heal?
Enamel might be the hardest substance in the human body, but it’s one of the few organic substances in the body that is not capable of healing itself. Once enamel is eroded or chipped, it does not grow back. This is why we recommend placing a dedicated restoration onto the tooth to prevent it from breaking down further. No matter how minor or severe the damage may be, don’t hesitate to give our office a call so we can get you the treatment you need.
Is my toothache a dental emergency? The cause of your toothache can range from minor to severe, which is why you shouldn’t take any chances when one appears. However, if your toothache is substantial, does not go away for hours at a time, or is accompanied with swelling and/or a fever, it’s considered a dental emergency.
How you should handle a toothache: Use dental floss to remove any food debris that may be stuck between your teeth. If pain persists, take an over-the-counter painkiller like ibuprofen. If a pimple-like bump is present, do not attempt to pop it.
How we treat toothaches: Our office will need to closely examine your tooth in order to figure out why it hurts. We may also need to capture X-rays to pinpoint the exact cause and location. The treatment we recommend will depend on the cause and could include a dental filling or crown, antibiotics, gum disease treatment, root canal therapy, extraction, or something else if needed.
Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Chipped teeth are not necessarily a dental emergency, but you should still call our office if your teeth are chipped in any way. This is because your teeth can easily become more damaged and at greater risk of tooth decay without professional care.
How you should handle a chipped tooth: Avoid biting down onto the damaged tooth and take painkillers as needed. Use a cold compress to reduce any swelling that is present. Apply the compress for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off for up to one hour to prevent damage to your skin.
How we treat chipped teeth: More often than not, cosmetic bonding can work to restore chipped teeth. After it’s molded and shaped onto your tooth, one of our doctors can cure it instantly to prevent future fracture. If the chip occurred in a visible tooth, a veneer may be a better option.
Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? When damage to your tooth is minor, it’s not necessarily an emergency. Severely damaged teeth, though, should be treated as soon as possible. If your tooth sustains a crack that extends below the gum line, call us right away. Keep in mind that it’s worth calling us after experiencing an oral injury as microscopic cracks could be present in your teeth without you realizing it.
How you should handle a cracked tooth: Avoid biting down on the damaged tooth until you get to our office. If the tooth hurts, take ibuprofen and apply a cold compress to your cheek to alleviate any swelling. Apply the compress for 10 minutes, then remove for an additional 10 minutes. You can do this for up to one hour.
How we treat cracked teeth: For minor cases, tooth-colored composite resin may be enough to restore the tooth. However, more severe cases may require a full-blown crown. If the tooth cannot be salvaged, an extraction may be performed.
Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Tooth sensitivity occurs when the deeper layers of enamel or your tooth roots become exposed. If your sensitivity is mild, it’s likely not urgent and can be handled during regular business hours. However, if the pain becomes severe, long-lasting, or impacts one or two teeth, it’s considered a dental emergency. This is because the underlying cause of your sensitivity could be an emergency itself.
How you should handle sensitive teeth: Start by calling our office. We’ll provide advice on how to treat your sensitivity at home as well as confirm if you should come to our practice instead. Make sure to drink plenty of water and keep your mouth clean. Avoid foods that are spicy, acidic, or sweet. Take painkillers (like ibuprofen) as instructed by the bottle or instructions from one of our doctors.
How we treat tooth sensitivity: How we treat your sensitivity will largely depend on the cause. For example, if your enamel has become weakened or eroded in some way, we may recommend desensitizing toothpaste or a prescription mouthwash. For more severe cases, antibiotics, gum disease therapy, or root canal therapy may be better.
Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? A knocked-out tooth is considered to be a dental emergency that should be handled as soon as possible. The sooner you get to our office for care, the better your chances are of saving the tooth. In fact, you’ll want to get to our practice within at least one hour. Waiting any longer than that will greatly diminish your chances of saving the tooth.
How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown portion only. Do not touch the root or remove any tissue that is still attached. After gently rinsing any dirt or debris from the tooth, try to place it back into your open socket to keep it preserved. Alternatively, you can keep it in whole milk, saline solution, or saliva for up to one hour.
How we treat knocked-out teeth: If the tooth is still alive and not too damaged, we will do our best to reimplant it back into your mouth. This way, it will have time to reintegrate with your bone and soft tissue. If it is not salvageable, we will recommend options to have it replace.
Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Since dental restorations do require replacement eventually, it’s possible for them to come off outside of a dental setting. While a loose or lost filling or crown is typically not a dental emergency, you’ll want to call us right away, even if your tooth doesn’t hurt. Your exposed tooth is at much higher risk of infection without a crown or filling.
How you should handle a lost filling or crown: After cleaning the crown, you can use dental cement to temporarily reseat it until you get to our office. If your filling has come out, avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the exposed tooth sits. Gargle saltwater to keep the area clean and remove food debris from the tooth. Use dental wax or temporary filling material to protect the exposed tooth.
How we treat lost fillings or crowns: If the crown is still intact, we may be able to reseat it. If not, we will need to create a new crown entirely. More often than not, lost dental fillings need to be replaced outright.
Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency?: Even if a damaged denture is still intact enough to be worn, it could end up damaging your gums, your remaining teeth, your soft tissues, or even your jaws. You should have the prosthetic fixed or replaced as soon as possible.
How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: A denture repair kit will let you temporarily fix your broken denture until you can see a dentist. Beyond this, though, you shouldn’t try to repair your dentures by yourself, as it could end up completely compromising the prosthetic.
How We Treat Broken Dentures: We’ll check the denture first to see how bad it is. Composite resin can be used to fill in small chips and cracks, and we can also readjust the dentures so that they fit better. If your dentures cannot be fixed, we’ll have to replace them. (If this happens, it may be a good time to ask about dental implants.)
Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency?: If teeth become loose because of injury or untreated dental issues, they could eventually fall out even if you don’t notice any pain. You should make an appointment immediately to try and save the tooth.
How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Avoid touching the tooth at all costs, and do not use it for chewing; only consume soft foods and liquids if you must eat, and make sure to only bite with the unaffected side of your mouth.
How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: Loose permanent teeth can sometimes be saved with procedures such as bone grafting, but there will be times (such as when the damage is already too severe) where they need to be extracted and replaced with dental implants instead.
Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency?: Some injuries can result in oral bleeding. If there’s a lot of blood or the bleeding is persistent, it should be treated as a dental emergency. This type of trauma often occurs in sports.
How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Rinse your mouth with warm water; this will wash away any debris or bacteria that could cause an infection. Use a clean washcloth or some gauze to stop the bleeding, then reduce pain and swelling by applying an ice pack to the area.
How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: We can often stitch an oral wound closed and take precautionary steps to keep the area clean. Bleeding that doesn’t stop within 10 minutes even after applying pressure to the wound should be handled by the local ER.
Jaw Pain
Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency?: Jaw pain is not necessarily an emergency, but it can get in the way of your daily routine, and it may lead to worse problems in the future. It’s therefore always better to have it diagnosed and treated sooner instead of later.
How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Over-the-counter pain relievers and an ice pack can help ease your pain. We can give you more instructions if you call our office and describe your symptoms. Call the ER if your jaw is broken or dislocated.
How We Treat Jaw Pain: Jaw pain can have different causes and thus can call for different solutions. For example, mouthguards can help correct bruxism, and TMJ therapy can help you avoid long term jaw issues. Sometimes jaw pain is a symptom of impacted wisdom teeth that need to be extracted.
Something Stuck Between the Teeth
This is an issue that you can often resolve by yourself. Use dental floss to gently push the object out from between your teeth or try rinsing your mouth out with water multiple times to try and remove it. Do not use tweezers, toothpicks, or other sharp objects to try and remove it; one wrong movement could end up injuring your soft tissues and result in a completely different kind of dental emergency. If you’re unable to remove the object by yourself, you should call our office as soon as possible so that we can examine your mouth and handle the issue for you.
