Emergency Dentistry – Brooklyn, NY
We’re Ready to Take Your Emergency Call!
It’s obvious that you need to go to the emergency room or see a physician whenever a medical emergency occurs. But where should you turn in case of a dental emergency? Our dentists of course! Our Ralph Avenue Dental Care team is trained and equipped to handle emergency situations. That’s why we suggest saving our number in your mobile phone in case you ever need to contact us right away. Don’t let you or your loved one sit idly by contact us right away for emergency dentistry in Brooklyn!
Why Choose Ralph Avenue Dental Care for Emergency Dentistry?
- Dental Specialists Dedicated to Collaborative Approach
- Happy to Welcome Patients of All Ages
- Stuck in Pain? Get a Same-Day Appointment
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
Whether you’re struggling with a severe toothache, a knocked-out tooth, a lost dental crown, or another dental emergency, we recommend calling our Brooklyn dental office. From there, we can:
- Schedule a same-day appointment (if necessary): Once we learn more about your dental injury and symptoms, we can determine if you need to come in for treatment the very same day. Since we are open until 6 PM on most days, there is a good chance we will be able to see you right away if needed.
- Conduct an emergency exam: To assess the severity of your dental injury and determine what the best treatment is, we need to take the necessary X-rays and perform an oral exam. Of course, if you are in pain, then we will also alleviate it at this time so you can stay calm and comfortable throughout your visit.
- Review the findings: Our Brooklyn emergency dentist will review their findings as well as which treatments they recommend. Then, they will answer any questions you have, create a custom treatment plan, and review the associated costs so there aren’t any unwanted surprises along the way.
- Provide you with the care you need: Lastly, we will intervene with the care needed to restore the look, health, and function of your smile.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
You should give our dental office a call in most cases after a dental emergency occurs. We can both schedule an appointment with you as soon as possible and give you helpful advice for improving your situation before you arrive. Below, you can find some information on how to deal with the most common emergencies and what to do next to ensure successful treatment.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Rest assured, our Brooklyn dental team won’t leave you in the dark when it comes to the price of your care. Instead, we will provide you with an estimate, review all of your treatment options, and share the financial solutions available to you. In the meantime, you can learn more about the cost of emergency dentistry right here.
Why Every Dental Emergency is Different
Initially, you might think that the price of emergency dentistry is the same across the board. The reason it isn’t is because patients rarely visit us with the same injury. Plus, even if two patients visit us because of tooth pain, one might need a tooth-colored filling and the next might need a dental crown and root canal treatment. The good news is that we can take all of this into account following your emergency exam and, after alleviating your pain, we can provide you with an estimate of the cost of your care.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Dental plans vary from patient to patient, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. That said, many cover the cost of one emergency exam each year as well as upwards of 80% of the cost of essential restorative care. Since waiting periods, annual maximums, and yearly deductibles need to be taken into account, we always recommend reading the fine print, reaching out to your provider directly, or asking us for help. We’d be more than happy to take a look and provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, don’t worry! We also welcome CareCredit. If you haven’t heard of this third-party financier before, they help patients by providing payment plans. That way, they don’t have to pay for the entire cost of their emergency dental care all at once. One of the best parts? Several of their payment plans have little-to-no interest attached!
Bonus: We also offer periodic specials, so don’t hesitate to look at the “Special Offers” page on our website or ask if we have any offers related to emergency dentistry at your appointment!
Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Are you concerned about what your dental emergency will cost? If you feel tempted to put off your treatment because you think it will save money, we ask that you reconsider. Unlike some medical conditions, teeth do not get better with time. In fact, oral health problems have a tendency to get worse the longer you wait. Seeking out treatment is actually the best way to both reduce your cost and discomfort moving forward. So, make sure that you schedule an appointment with us when abnormal symptoms, like pain, first arise, and that you commit to good oral hygiene habits at home (i.e., brushing twice a day, using an ADA-approved mouthwash to rinse, flossing daily).
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can happen just about anywhere, even for those who take care of their teeth. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t largely preventable. In order to avoid dental emergencies, you should follow the below recommendations from our Brooklyn dental team:
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Your routine checkups and cleanings play an important role in preventing built-up plaque and tartar. However, that’s not the only reason we recommend coming to our office every six months. These periodic appointments also allow us to conduct a thorough oral exam, checking for oral cancer, tooth decay, loose restorations, gum disease, and other signs of trouble. If we notice anything concerning, then we will bring it to your attention and put a plan in place to fix it right away.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
In short, if you don’t take good care of your smile, then your teeth and gums will suffer. The good news is that large cavities, advanced gum disease, and other serious oral health problems are largely preventable with a solid oral hygiene regimen in place. So, if you aren’t already, make sure to brush for a full two minutes twice a day, floss daily, and rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash each evening.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
As you know, over-indulging in foods and drinks that are packed with added sugar can negatively impact your oral health. Don’t worry – that doesn’t mean you have to eliminate soda, ice cream, and candy from your diet entirely. Instead, focus on adding lots of nutrient-dense foods to your plate throughout the day! Fresh fruits and cooked vegetables are a great place to start because they are packed with the vitamins your body needs to keep your enamel strong and your gums infection-free.
Wear a Mouthguard
Each year, roughly five million teeth are knocked-out during a sports-related accident. So, if you participate in sports - even a non-contact one – you should wear a mouthguard during practices and games. If you don’t have one, then schedule an appointment with us. From there, we can take impressions of your teeth and have a custom mouthguard made.
Note: If you chronically grind or clench your teeth, then we’ll also provide you with a nightguard to help prevent premature wear, jaw pain, and the like.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Although your teeth are strong and sharp, they shouldn’t be used to remove bottle caps, plastic wrapping, or clothing tags. On a similar note, you shouldn’t chew on pens, cubes of ice, or your fingernails. Your teeth can easily break under the pressure and, if that happens, you should visit our emergency dentist’s office right away.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Will a Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
It is possible that your toothache will fade with time. While this might sound like good news, it’s actually the opposite because the most common reason this happens is the nerve has been “killed” by an infection. So, even though the pain you’ve been experiencing is gone, the root of the problem is not. That’s why we strongly recommend getting the restorative care you need sooner rather than later; it’s the best thing for the look, health, and function of your smile as well as your wallet.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
We don’t recommend going to the ER for dental emergencies unless you’re experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms, like difficulty breathing, your jaw is broken, or you have a severe laceration on your face. For toothaches, loose restorations, swollen gums, and other common dental problems, you should call us instead. That way, we can restore your pain-free smile ASAP.
Can I Pop a Dental Abscess on My Own?
If you see a pimple-like bump on your gums, do NOT pop it. Instead, call us right away to schedule an emergency exam. After conducting a comprehensive oral exam, we can determine the best way to address the infection. Oftentimes, this starts by opening and draining the wound and is followed by conducting a root canal.
Can a Chipped Tooth Heal on Its Own?
Sadly, it cannot. That’s why – even if the chip doesn’t bother you – we recommend scheduling an appointment with us to learn about your treatment options. We want to restore the missing structure not only to improve the appearance of your smile, but also to prevent the tooth from breaking further or an infection from developing.
Should You Put a Knocked-Out Tooth in Water?
We don’t recommend putting a knocked-out tooth in water. You can, however, place it in a clean container filled with milk. If you don’t have that, you can always place the tooth back in its socket as well (but only if it slides back into position without any force).
What Is Causing My Jaw Pain?
Chronic jaw pain is often the result of one of three things: Bruxism (teeth grinding), impacted wisdom teeth, or TMJ dysfunction. Once we know more about your symptoms and have the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive oral exam, we can determine what the source of yours is. More importantly, we can determine the best way to address it so we can alleviate your pain in the short and long term.
What Does Chronic Bad Breath Mean?
Chronic bad breath could be a warning sign that something is wrong, like one of your teeth is decayed, but it could also be due to your diet. So, if you haven’t already, try cutting out pungent foods, like pickles, fish, and garlic. It’s also important that you commit to good oral hygiene habits, like flossing every night before bed. If you are still struggling to get rid of the unpleasant odor on your breath, then give us a call to schedule an exam.
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