Emergency Dentist Riverdale Park

When an Injury Occurs, You Can Count on Us

Are you dealing with a dental injury but are unable to get the immediate care you need? At My Riverdale Dentist, this is a concern you do not need to worry about. We are pleased to offer same-day appointments for emergency patients, which means all you need to do is call. Our emergency dentists and team in Riverdale Park are experienced in treating all types of serious dental injuries, so you can remain confident that we will not only help you out of pain quickly but also restore your smile to its former, undamaged beauty.

Why Choose My Riverdale Dentist for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Dentists Provide Same-Day Emergency Appointments
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  • In-House Membership Plan Available for Uninsured Dental Patients
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How to Handle Emergencies

Close-up of woman rubbing her jaw in pain

No matter the type of dental emergency you are facing, we are here to provide the immediate care and treatment you need. Although each injury is different, the same steps are followed to ensure we remain thorough in our pursuit of restoring your damaged smile.

  • Call to Schedule an Emergency Visit: When calling to let us know about your injury, a member of our staff will find a time for you to come in on the same day and be seen by one of our talented team members. We’ll also provide helpful first-aid guidance so that you can better manage any pain while waiting at home.
  • Receive a Thorough Dental Exam: You can expect to have digital X-rays taken of your mouth as well as a visual examination performed by a member of our team. This will allow us to clearly identify the problem area and work quickly to alleviate any pain.
  • Development of a Treatment Plan: Once you are more comfortable, we will go over our findings with you and discuss the type of treatment plan we believe you will need to improve the health and aesthetics of your smile.
  • Receive First-Rate Care: Depending on the service(s) you will need to address your injured smile, we will suggest either moving forward on the same day or returning at a later date. This may be necessary if the proposed treatment is considered timelier and more invasive.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

There are many different types of dental emergencies. While some require immediate care (a knocked-out tooth), others may not need same-day treatment (i.e., a soft tissue injury or lost dental filling). At My Riverdale Dentist, though, we want you to have peace of mind, which is why we encourage you to call our office if you are in pain or notice something “off” about your teeth or gums. Below is a list of the most common dental emergencies we treat.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman smiling while working on laptop at home

As your dental team, our goal is to be just a phone call away, especially when you need us most. With that said, we also know how painful even relatively mild dental injuries can be. That’s why we also want to help you protect your smile and, in the process, avoid needing emergency care. We recommend:

Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year

Patient with black glasses smiling in treatment chair

Oftentimes, patients chalk routine dental visits up to just a quick sweep for cavities. The truth is that we cover a lot of ground during your appointments, from screening for oral cancer and examining the condition of existing dental work to removing built-up plaque. Plus, if any dental issues do arise, we can catch (and treat!) them in the early stages, lowering your chances of needing emergency dentistry in the process.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Woman brushing her teeth in bathroom

Of course, you also need to take good care of your smile at home. That starts with brushing your teeth for two full minutes each morning and evening (time yourself – it may be longer than you think!). At least once a day, you should also floss, rinse with mouthwash, and clean your tongue.

Tip: Replace your toothbrush (or toothbrush head) every 3-4 months. That way, you’re using new, clean bristles instead of dirty, frayed ones.

Eat Healthy, Well-Balanced Meals

Smiling woman enjoying lunch at home

Eating healthy, well-balanced meals that are filled with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients will help keep your enamel strong and your gums infection-free. It’s also important to limit your intake of cavity-causing foods, like caramel-filled candies, potato chips, and lollipops, especially if you want to avoid a last-minute visit to our emergency dental office in Riverdale Park.

Wear a Mouthguard While Active

Group of women smiling while jogging in park

Whether you enjoy playing pickleball with your friends on the weekend or you prefer a solo sport, like running, you need to wear a mouthguard. That said, you shouldn’t buy a one-size-fits-all one online since they can be quite uncomfortable (not to mention a choking hazard). Instead, we recommend coming to our office so your emergency dentist can have a custom one made for you.

Break Harmful Habits

Closeup of patient biting their nails

Last, but certainly not least, you need to break harmful habits. While your mind may immediately go to smoking, that’s not the only thing that could jeopardize the health of your smile. We also advise against biting your nails, using your teeth as tools to open things, and chewing on ice cubes!

Tip: If you’ve had trouble quitting harmful habits like these in the past, don’t hesitate to let us know. That way, we can share recommendations and resources that have worked for our patients over the years!

Cost of Treating Emergencies

Female dental team member helping male patient fill out form

The estimated cost of treating dental emergencies is not the same for everyone. The reason is that the kind of services required to address a knocked-out tooth are likely to be very different than those that are recommended for a lost dental crown or filling. After a scheduled visit with a member of our team, we will be happy to discuss your proposed costs as well as the various ways you can pay for treatment. Not only do we welcome dental insurance, but we also work closely with third-party financier CareCredit as well as provide an in-house Membership Program for uninsured patients.

Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Oftentimes, patients who are struggling with a toothache in Riverdale Park are tempted to take the “wait and see” approach. However, it does warrant an immediate call to our office, especially if there is a pimple-like bump on your gums or you feel a sharp, stabbing pain when you bite down.

How You Should Handle a Toothache: There are a few steps we recommend taking in addition to scheduling an appointment with us: avoiding crunchy foods, rinsing with warm saltwater, and not chewing on that side of your mouth. If needed, you can take OTC pain medication as well. Just be sure to follow the directions on the label.

How We Treat Toothaches: While some patients need a tooth-colored filling to restore their healthy, pain-free smiles, others need a root canal. That’s why completing an exam is so important. From there, we can determine the root of the problem, the severity of the damage, and the best treatment for you.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Not always, no. For example, if the chip is so small that you aren’t experiencing any unusual symptoms, like persistent sensitivity, then a same-day visit likely isn’t necessary. That said, even if that’s the case, you should come to our office within the next few days.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth: There are a few steps we recommend taking, starting with rinsing your mouth gently with clean, room-temperature water. Then, use some dental wax or sugar-free gum to cover the sharp edge (this will help prevent the soft tissue in your mouth from getting cut).

How We Treat Chipped Teeth: We offer several solutions at our Riverdale Park dental office, including cosmetic bonding and veneers. Ultimately, the one that’s best for you will depend on the size of the chip, your aesthetic goals, and your budget. We will cover all of this information and more with you during your visit so you can confidently decide how you want to proceed.

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Not only can a cracked tooth break further, but it can also develop an infection. For those two reasons, we strongly recommend scheduling an appointment with our emergency dentist in Riverdale Park ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth: Basically, you should avoid doing anything that could cause the crack to worsen, like chewing on that side of your mouth. Instead, stick to room-temperature water, take OTC pain medication as directed, and get to our office as soon as you can for the necessary restorative care.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth: First, we will determine if your cracked tooth can be saved. If the damage is so severe that’s not an option, then we will perform an extraction before filling the open space with a custom dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth  

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Not usually, no. However, there are some instances when we do recommend scheduling an emergency appointment with us, including if your symptoms are getting progressively worse, there is a pimple-like bump on your gums, or there is a crack in your enamel.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: There are a few steps we recommend taking, starting with switching to a desensitizing toothpaste. If your discomfort persists, then stick to room-temperature water, avoid acidic and sugary foods, and take OTC pain medication as directed.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: In short, that depends! If we determine that the sensitivity is stemming from a small cavity, then we will likely recommend a tooth-colored filling. If we determine it’s due to an infection, however, then a root canal will be needed to restore your healthy, pain-free smile.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Knocked-Out Tooth  

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, so it’s important that you act fast! Call us ASAP so we can schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Riverdale within the hour, as well as walk you through how to preserve your tooth so we have the highest chances of saving it.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: First, locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the chewing surface). If there is dirt or any other debris on the surface, gently rinse it with clean water before placing the tooth back in its socket. If it doesn’t slide back into position, or you’re too scared to try, that’s okay – you can put it in a clean container filled with milk instead.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: As your dental team, we always want to save your natural teeth. That said, there are some cases where that’s simply not possible, like if the tooth was badly damaged or lost. If that’s the case, then we will replace it with a custom dental bridge or implant instead.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown  

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? We do recommend coming to our office the same day, if you can. If that’s not possible for one reason or another, we still recommend calling us. That way, we can schedule an appointment before the end of the week and walk you through what to do in the meantime.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: There are a few ways you can handle this dental emergency, including placing your restoration in a small, clean container for safekeeping or using toothpaste to temporarily hold it in place. In both cases, it’s important that you don’t chew on that side of your mouth and that you avoid crunchy, sticky, and sugary foods entirely.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: How we recommend proceeding will depend on your unique situation. For example, if you lost a filling, then we can provide you with a new one. Conversely, if your dental crown fell out, but you have it, and it’s in good condition, we may recommend recementing it back in place.

Broken Dentures  

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Patients often assume that a broken denture in Riverdale Park isn’t a dental emergency. However, continuing to wear it can cause it to break and irritate the soft tissue in your mouth. So, it’s best to get in touch with us sooner rather than later.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: In addition to calling us to schedule an appointment, we recommend keeping your broken denture in a small, clean container for safekeeping. It’s also a good idea to stick to a soft foods diet in the meantime since your bite will temporarily be compromised.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: Hopefully, we will be able to repair your denture at our office! If the damage is severe, however, then we will either need to send it to the dental lab or begin the process of having a replacement made.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Loose Permanent Tooth  

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, so it’s important that you call us right away. The sooner you do, the sooner we can alleviate any pain you’re experiencing and provide the necessary restorative care.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: It’s important that you do what you can to prevent the tooth from loosening further. That includes not touching it with your finger, avoiding crunchy and sticky foods, and not chewing on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: When you arrive at our office, we will alleviate any pain you’re experiencing and assess the damage. If we can save your tooth with a dental splint, then that’s how we will proceed. If our only option is to extract it, then we will do so before replacing it with a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue  

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Usually, cuts to the soft tissue in your mouth don’t require same-day care from our dental team in Riverdale Park. With that said, you shouldn’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions or need assistance.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: First, go to the sink and use clean, cool water to gently rinse your mouth. Then, locate the cut and apply pressure to it with gauze or a damp, clean washcloth to stop the bleeding.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Although we don’t typically treat soft tissue injuries, you should call 911 or head to the ER if the cut is bleeding uncontrollably or you’re experiencing any other potentially life-threatening symptoms, like trouble breathing.

Jaw Pain  

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Jaw pain doesn’t usually require same-day care. That said, we do recommend getting in touch with us if your discomfort has persisted for more than 24 hours or it’s getting progressively worse.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Fortunately, there are a few ways you can alleviate your discomfort in the short term, including using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time and avoiding crunchy and sticky foods entirely. You can also take OTC pain medication. Just make sure to follow the directions on the label.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: Are you in your late teens or early twenties? If so, then it may be time to have your wisdom teeth extracted. If you aren’t, then there’s a good chance that your jaw pain is stemming from chronic teeth grinding or TMJ dysfunction.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WISDOM TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

Like many other patients, you may be tempted to reach for a toothpick if something gets caught between your teeth. However, the sharp edge can irritate your gums and push the debris further into place. So, we recommend a different approach: rinsing with warm saltwater a few times before using a strand of floss to gently clean between your teeth.