Emergency Dentistry – Westfield, NJ

Dental Pain Relief Right When You Need It

Has a terrible toothache been keeping you up at night? Did your tooth get broken or knocked out while tossing the pigskin with friends? Whatever the case may be, you need professional help from an emergency dentist immediately, and our team at High Tech Family Dentistry is just a phone call away! Our experienced dentists use the latest technology to relieve your pain quickly and effectively, and we’re usually able to see emergency patients the same day they call. Don’t wait; get in touch with us right away so we can save your smile with emergency dentistry in Westfield, NJ!

Why Choose High Tech Family Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Care for Emergency Dental Patients
  • Saturday & Evening Appointment Times
  • In-Network with Most Dental Insurance Plans

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman in need of emergency dentistry holding cheek in pain

When a dental emergency strikes, it’s hard not to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Take some deep breaths, try to remain calm, and call us as soon as you can. From there, we’ll handle the situation by:

  • Scheduling your same-day appointment – We always keep some time in our schedule for emergency patients, so we’ll work hard to get you seen right away. While we have you on the phone, we can give first-aid tips to reduce your discomfort in the meantime.
  • Performing an emergency evaluation – Once you arrive, Dr. Scheiner or Dr. Aryan will examine your mouth and relieve any immediate pain.
  • Creating a treatment plan – Our dentists recommend treatment based on what they find during their exam.
  • Healing your smile – After we’ve outlined what to expect with your treatment, including cost and timeline estimates, we’ll get to work on repairing your smile right away.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Woman in pain before emergency dentistry

From sudden accidents to decay that has been steadily worsening, there are countless varieties of dental emergencies, all of which need prompt care. If you’re unsure whether what you’re dealing with counts as a “real” emergency, we urge you to call us just to be safe. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the dental emergencies we see the most often here at High Tech Family Dentistry.

Understanding the Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

Dentist and dental team member reviewing the cost of emergency dental treatment plan

Every dental emergency is different, so they all require different treatments. Naturally, this means we can’t give you an accurate cost estimate for your care until our dentists have had the chance to look over your mouth and make treatment recommendations. Rest assured that our team will help you navigate your payment options and handle the paperwork on your behalf. In addition to offering low-interest financing, we’re also in-network with many leading dental insurance providers.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies 

Woman brushing teeth to prevent dental emergencies

You can’t always stop a dental emergency from happening, but you can greatly reduce your risk of damaging your smile by:

  • Visiting High Tech Family Dentistry every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning.
  • Brushing your teeth twice a day using fluoridated toothpaste.
  • Flossing once a day.
  • Wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth from grinding and sports-related injuries.
  • Avoid bad habits that could break a tooth, such as eating ice, biting your fingernails, and chewing on pen caps.
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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Not every toothache is an emergency, but if you experience intense pain or notice a pimple-like spot on your gums, call us as soon as possible as this could indicate an abscess. An abscess should be treated quickly before the infection has time to worsen. Contact our office if you notice any of the following symptoms as well:

  • Severe pain that lasts more than 24 hours
  • Extreme sensitivity that lasts more than 30 seconds
  • Sharp pain when biting down
  • Fever, fatigue, or swelling (signs of serious infection)

How you should handle a toothache: If there’s not a pimple-like spot, you can also try flossing around your tooth to see if that removes any debris that could be causing your discomfort. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce inflammation and wash away harmful bacteria. You can also use a cold compress if needed.

How we treat toothaches: First, we’ll need to identify the cause of your toothache to determine the best treatment method. Our team will conduct a thorough examination to find an effective solution to get your oral health back on the right track. Some common services include fillings, dental crowns, tooth extractions, gum disease treatment, and root canal therapy.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Not necessarily, but you should still make an appointment within a few days. Even if the tooth doesn’t hurt, you should have it checked out. Going without treatment leaves your tooth at risk of further damage and possible infection.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Collect any lost pieces of the tooth and bring them with you if possible. Use an ice pack if swelling occurs. Sometimes chipped or broken teeth can cut or irritate the inside of your cheeks or lips, so apply dental wax to the broken area if you need to.

How we treat chipped teeth: We typically use a tooth-colored composite resin to fill in the damaged area of your tooth, helping restore its strength and appearance. If you’ve chipped a highly visible tooth and are concerned about aesthetics, you can opt for a dental veneer.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Porcelain Veneers

 

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Yes! Even a small crack can put your tooth at risk of further infection or damage. It’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible, especially after sustaining a blow to the face.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Carefully rinse your mouth with water to wash away any lingering bacteria. If needed, you can use a cold compress or take over-the-counter pain medication to ease your discomfort. While you wait for your appointment, you should avoid eating or chewing on the injured side of your mouth.

How we treat cracked teeth: In many cases, we’ll address cracked teeth with a custom-made dental crown. However, we may simply use composite resin if the damage is minor enough. For patients with teeth that are broken beyond repair, an extraction may be the ideal solution and you’ll need to explore your tooth-replacement options (i.e., dental implants, dentures, bridges).

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Dental Implants

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? There are many reasons why tooth sensitivity may occur. Maybe your tooth roots are exposed, or your enamel has eroded. While mild cases are typically considered non-urgent, your sensitivity is considered a dental emergency if:

  • It becomes severe or painful
  • Lasts multiple days in a row
  • Impacts one to two teeth

How you should handle sensitive teeth: Give our office a call and explain your symptoms. Over the phone, we’ll share tips to help you manage your situation. We often recommend drinking lukewarm water, taking over-the-counter pain medication, and avoiding spicy, sweet, or acidic foods.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: First, we’ll identify the root cause of your problem to determine the best treatment method. If your enamel is weakened or eroded, we may recommend desensitizing toothpaste, prescription mouthwash, or topical fluoride therapy. Some other solutions include antibiotics, gum disease treatment, or root canal therapy.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Time is of the essence during this emergency. Try to get to our dental office within an hour of the incident. The sooner you get to us, the more likely we’ll be able to reimplant your tooth.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Retrieve your knocked-out tooth, being sure to only handle it by the biting surface, and rinse it under a cool stream of water. To keep it alive, store it in a sealable container of milk or saltwater. If there’s blood, you can place a piece of gauze over the area to help absorb it and promote clotting.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: If the tooth is still intact, we may be able to reimplant it. It will naturally integrate back into place over time. However, an extraction may be recommended if the tooth has been outside of the mouth for too long or is damaged beyond repair. In that case, you’d need to explore your tooth-replacement options.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Dental restorations are durable, but they’re not meant to last forever. Very old fillings or crowns can break down or fall off completely. While it’s not necessarily an emergency if that happens, you should still call our office right away. Otherwise, your tooth is vulnerable to infections and further damage.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: If you have a lost restoration, you can temporarily reattach it using an over-the-counter dental cement, denture adhesive, or sugar-free chewing gum as a last resort. Avoid chewing food until you get the restoration replaced by our dental office. If you do not experience any discomfort or sensitivity, you can wait until normal business hours to see us.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: We might be able to bond the restoration back into place if it’s still intact. If it’s too damaged, you may need to get a replacement crown or filling altogether.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency? Damaged dentures can harm the gums, soft tissues, jaw, and remaining teeth. This issue should be treated as a dental emergency. Give us a call at your earliest convenience to schedule an urgent visit.

How to handle a broken denture: You shouldn’t wear a denture that’s broken. If you continue to wear it, you could accidentally injure your smile or make the damage worse. Never try to repair a broken denture at home with super glue or other household items. These aren’t biocompatible and can even make you sick.

How we treat broken dentures: The treatment for your dentures will depend on how severe the damage is. Sometimes, we can use composite resin to fill in a small chip or crack. In other cases, the denture will need to be readjusted or repaired. This Is also a good opportunity for you to consider another tooth replacement option, like dental implant dentures.

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency? Teeth can become loose over time or as the result of an injury. If your teeth are loose then they are at risk of falling out, even if you aren’t in any pain. This is an urgent dental emergency and should be brought to our attention right away.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: Give our office a call as soon as possible. Avoid touching or moving your tooth, and don’t eat anything particularly hard or sticky. Don’t brush or floss at this time either. Instead, keep your mouth clean by swishing around warm water.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: We will do everything in our power to save your loose tooth with a dental splint or another treatment. If we can’t, we may need to extract it and discuss tooth replacement options, like a dental bridge or implant.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy 

Learn More About Sports Mouthguards

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? Cuts to the mouth can be alarming, as they can bleed a lot. They are most common in people who participate in contact sports. Usually, this type of issue can be resolved on your own at home, but a dentist can also help if needed.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Start by cleaning the area with water to wash away food debris and bacteria. Apply pressure with a clean washcloth or a piece of gauze until the bleeding stops.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: If necessary, your dentist can stitch the wound and help to keep the area clean. If you can’t control the bleeding on your own, head to your local emergency room.

Learn More About Sports Mouthguards

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? This is not usually an urgent dental emergency, but it can interfere with your everyday life and lead to oral health issues over time. This is definitely something that you should bring up so we can take steps to reduce your discomfort.

How you should handle jaw pain: Until you see us for an appointment, use over-the-counter pain relievers as directed to manage discomfort. Cold compresses can also help. However, if you think that you may have broken or dislocated your jaw, you should head to the emergency room. We’d be happy to take a look at your smile afterward.

How we treat jaw pain: Bruxism treatments with a custom-made nightguard can help to prevent jaw pain. If your wisdom teeth are what’s causing your pain, we can work with you to have them extracted. If you need to go to the emergency room first, we’d be happy to help you fix any damaged teeth and address lost teeth once you’ve been discharged.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Most of the time, this problem can be resolved on your own at home. Rinse your mouth with water to soften the object. Carefully use floss to attempt to dislodge the debris. Never use a toothpick, tweezers, or another sharp object to try to get something out from between the teeth. You could end up accidentally damaging the soft tissues in your mouth. If you are still struggling to get it out on your own, give us a call.