Is a toothache an emergency?

You should be evaluated soon after developing a toothache. But you should not panic. Call our office, and let us know and we will get you in as soon as possible.

My child swallowed a baby tooth! What should I do?

This happens more often than you may think. If your child swallowed their tooth, the tooth should digest naturally. You should notify your dentist. However, if your child is coughing or gagging, they need to receive emergency medical care. It is extremely rare for a child to inhale a tooth, but it can happen.

My crown came off. What should I do?

Dental crowns occasionally come off. Crowns are more likely to come off if you grind or clench your teeth at night, as there is extra pressure placed on the crown. If you lose a crown you should receive emergency dental care as soon as possible. The exposed tooth can deteriorate quickly without the crown to protect it. Contact your dentist immediately.

Emergencies

Emergency Dentistry in
Cape May Court House

Sunshine Dentistry provides emergency dental care for patients of all ages in Cape May Court House and surrounding communities. Call us immediately at 609-465-5415 for help. If you or your child is experiencing uncontrolled bleeding or suffered a fall or any other injury to the head, call 911 or have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room.

Common Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies include both painful and non-painful conditions. For example, a new onset of acute pain is a dental emergency because it often indicates the presence of infection. Severe pain may also indicate the presence of a dental abscess.

Impact to a tooth, whether the tooth was knocked out, is also a dental emergency. Cuts or lacerations on the soft tissues, including the inside of the cheeks, lips, or tongue are also dental emergencies.

Other dental emergencies may not be painful but need to be treated as soon as possible. Examples include broken teeth, seriously chipped teeth, crowns that have come off, or dental fillings that have fallen out. Tender gums or gums that begin to bleed when brushing or flossing are also dental emergencies.

What to Do if a Tooth is Knocked-Out

Strange as it may seem, a tooth that is knocked completely out may be salvageable. If you or your child has a tooth knocked out, follow these steps:

Pick up the tooth by the chewing surface, taking care to avoid touching the roots
Rinse the tooth with water
Attempt to gently guide the tooth back into the socket
Notify your dentist and head to their office

If your tooth cannot be easily guided back into the socket, you may either hold the tooth inside your cheek to keep it moist, or you may place it in a cup of milk and bring it to the dentist with you.

Permanent teeth that have been knocked out may be saved if you receive dental care within less than an hour. In cases where the tooth cannot be saved, your dentist can walk you through what to expect with a dental implant restoration or dental bridge, to replace the missing tooth.

If a child loses a baby tooth, and it cannot be saved, in some cases, your dentist will tell you that nothing needs to be done, because the permanent teeth are nearing eruption. In cases where a very young child has a tooth knocked out, a space maintainer may be necessary to hold the space for the eventual eruption of the permanent teeth.

What to Do if a Tooth Is Broken or Chipped

A broken tooth is considered a dental emergency. You should notify your dentist immediately. If the break does not extend below the gum, the tooth can often be saved with a root canal, and dental crown.

Unfortunately, if you’ve broken a tooth in half beneath the gum, the tooth will need to be extracted, and you’ll need to plan for restorative treatment.

Chipped teeth typically do not pose a risk to your health, but chipping one of your front teeth is a cosmetic emergency. Treatments such as dental bonding can immediately restore a chipped tooth. However, depending on the severity of the chip, you may ultimately wish to cover the tooth with a porcelain veneer, or dental crown.

Why Choose Sunshine Dentistry for Urgent Dental Care?

Sunshine Dentistry is an award-winning Jersey Short dental practice treating patients of all ages. To best serve busy patients, and to offer extended availability for dental emergencies, we are open until 7:00 pm several nights each week.

The team of dentists at our practice includes some of New Jersey’s Top Doctors in the field of Dentistry. Our practice was also recognized on the 2022 Best of Jersey Shore list for our expertise in Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry, and Cosmetic Dentistry.

Our compassionate, gentle, and skillful dentists are supported by an incredible team of hygienists and dental assistants, who care deeply about our patients. If you or a loved one has suffered a dental emergency, contact us right away for priority care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Emergencies

Contact Us for Emergency Dental Care

Call Sunshine Dentistry at 609-465-5415 immediately after experiencing a dental emergency, and begin making your way to our office in Cape May Court House. If you experience a dental emergency after hours or over the weekend, call our office and listen to the instructions on the voicemail.

If you are bleeding in the mouth or experienced any head trauma, call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room.

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Emergency Dentistry in Cape May Court House