Emergency Dentistry – Jersey City, NJ

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

• Emergency Appointment: We will make arrangements to see you as soon as possible. We do our best to see emergency patients the same day you call — including Saturdays from 8am to 2pm.
• Thorough Examination: At our dental office, we’ll take steps to keep you comfortable as we check your mouth and take X-rays as needed. We’ll narrow down what kind of emergency you have and how severe it is.
• Review of Findings: Once we understand the situation, we can discuss the available treatments as well as the costs and timeline associated with them.
• Personalized Care: After you’ve agreed on a treatment plan (whether it’s a simple procedure or something more extensive), our team will carry it out to restore your oral health as quickly as possible.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

No two dental emergencies are alike, so it’s important to explain your symptoms in as much detail as possible when you call our dental office. Below are some of the most common emergencies that we treat. If you’re not sure whether your situation is an emergency, call us anyway; we can give you whatever tips you need to protect your smile and help you decide whether you truly need immediate care.

Understanding the Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

If you’re experiencing an urgent toothache or dental injury, you may be concerned about the price of relieving your pain. However, the cost of emergency dentistry in Jersey City can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the type of treatment necessary and whether you have dental insurance. Furthermore, because each situation is as unique as your smile, there is no way to provide a treatment quote until after you’ve been seen by a dentist. In the meantime, here’s a closer look at how we’ll calculate your total following your exam.

Every Dental Emergency Is Different

Although it is typically not very expensive to visit an emergency dentist, the recommended treatment will likely incur a separate cost. During your appointment, your dentist will assess your tooth, diagnose the problem, and create a treatment plan to correct it. While we understand that you may be concerned about pricing, rest assured that we will thoroughly explain our discoveries as well as your recommended treatment plan and its associated costs before beginning any work.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

While most dental insurance plans will offer at least some coverage for dental emergencies, please be aware that all plans vary. In most cases, treatments that address painful toothaches like root canals, fillings, and extractions will be covered anywhere from 50% to 80% by most dental insurance plans, but again this depends on your induvial policy, and whether you’ve met your annual maximum and deductible. For clarification on exactly what your plan allows, reach out to your dental insurance provider, or let us know and we’ll be happy to verify your coverage on your behalf.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

In addition to being dental insurance friendly, AV Dental Associates of New Jersey is pleased to offer its own in-house membership plan, which grants a 20% discount on all restorative dentistry treatments performed in our office. Additionally, we welcome payment plans from CareCredit, which is an easy way to break up the cost of your treatment into multiple, lower or no-interest payments.  At AV Dental Associates of New Jersey, we’re here to help relieve your pain and make your emergency dental treatment more affordable. To get the urgent help you need, contact us today to get started.

How Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Although it is sometimes impossible to prevent dental emergencies, in most cases they are caused by infections or untreated decay. This means that one of the best ways to avoid them is to take excellent care of your teeth and gums, so they never have the chance to land you in the emergency dental chair.

If you are experiencing even minor oral discomfort, the sooner you address it, the better your prognosis. Leaving infections or dental damage untreated will only allow it to get worse, increasing your risk of pain, and ultimately costing you more in the long run. Thus, to protect your smile and your wallet, be sure to brush twice a day, floss daily, and visit your dentist every six months for your routine checkups and cleanings, as these will all help reduce your risk of painful dental damage later!

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Many dental emergencies can be avoided simply by taking proper care of your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing can greatly lower your risk for toothaches and severe decay. You can also protect your smile from damage by wearing mouthguards while playing sports or dropping tooth-damaging habits such as nail-biting. And of course, you also want to schedule a consultation at our dental office every six months so that we can help you catch smaller dental issues before they become emergencies.

Root Canal Therapy

When a tooth is badly infected, root canal therapy is often the only way to treat it without resorting to extraction. While you might have some anxieties about the treatment, it’s nowhere near as frightening as many people believe it to be. Many patients describe it as being no more uncomfortable than getting a filling; indeed, after the procedure, you will actually find relief from pain because the source of the infection has been removed.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Tooth Extractions

Removing a tooth is never our first choice, but we may recommend it if you have a tooth that’s so badly damaged that it can’t be repaired. It may also be necessary if there’s an infection that can’t be treated with root canal therapy. When we remove a tooth, your comfort will be our top priority. Afterward, we can go over your options for filling in the space in your smile, such as a dental bridge or a single dental implant topped with a crown.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Dental Emergency FAQs

Dental emergencies are stressful enough on their own, but they can cause even more of a headache if you aren’t sure what to do or where to turn for help. Whether you’re experiencing an abnormal dental symptom, like a pimple-like bump on your gums, or you’ve knocked out a tooth, you’re always welcome to get in touch with our Jersey City dental team with any questions you have or to schedule an appointment. If, however, you’d like to simply learn the answers to some FAQs about emergency dentistry, then keep reading!

How should I sleep with tooth pain?

Remember, you should never ignore a toothache. However, if you need to sleep before your appointment, then there are a few things we recommend. First, don’t eat anything extremely crunchy at dinner since this can exacerbate your discomfort. Second, take an OTC pain reliever about 30 minutes before bed. Third, prop yourself up on a few pillows so your head stays elevated throughout the night. You can also place a cold compress against the outside of your cheek for 10 minutes at a time to help alleviate swelling and provide temporary numbing.

Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?

There are some cases where the answer is “yes,” like if you’re experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms (i.e., a fractured jaw, trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing). With that said, hospitals rarely have dentists on-staff. So, if you’ve knocked out, cracked, or chipped a tooth, then your first call should be to our Jersey City dental office.

My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?

Yes, you do! Even if you aren’t in any pain, your tooth may be vulnerable to splitting further. We need to examine it to ensure that’s not the case. It’s also important to schedule an appointment so we can restore the missing structure of your tooth, improving the look, health, and function of your smile.

Can superglue be used to repair broken dentures?

No, superglue cannot be used to repair broken dentures – it contains chemicals that are toxic to ingest! The best thing to do in this situation is schedule an appointment with our team so we can repair or replace your dentures.

Should knocked-out teeth be placed in water?

Although you can use clean water to rinse a knocked-out tooth, you shouldn’t submerge it in water for safekeeping. This can damage the root, reducing the chances we’ll be able to save your tooth. We recommend instead carefully placing it in a container of milk. You can also place the tooth back in its socket, but that should only be done if you don’t need to apply any force.

Is my tooth pain from an infection?

It’s possible. However, it could also be the result of another untreated dental issue, like a severely decayed tooth. The best way to find out is to come in for an appointment so we can take X-rays and conduct an oral exam. From there, we can determine the root of the problem and put a plan in place to address it.