Emergency Dentistry – Mineola, NY
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No one expects a dental emergency to pop up and ruin their day, but roughly 1 in 6 Americans finds themselves in this kind of situation every year. If you or a loved one happen to end up in this unlucky group, don’t worry, because help is available right around the corner. Give Meadowbrook Dental Care a call, and we’ll gladly schedule a same-day appointment to provide the relief you need right away with emergency dentistry in Mineola, NY.
Why Choose Meadowbrook Dental Care for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments
- Soothing Sedation Options
- Kind & Highly Experienced Team
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
What counts as a dental emergency? We’ll make this easy for you: if you or a family member experience any painful or out-of-the-ordinary oral symptoms, go ahead and contact our dental office. We’ll let you know what to do in the moment and tell you whether or not you should come see us right away. In the meantime, here are a few quick tips on how to handle some of the most common dental emergencies we see:
Toothaches
Is there something stuck between the teeth? If so, rinsing and flossing the area might help. If not, it’s OK to take an OTC pain medication, and placing a cold compress on the face may offer some temporary relief as well.
Chipped/Broken Teeth
Try to find any broken off pieces of the tooth that you can, put them in a safe container, and remember to bring them to our dental office. Use light pressure and some gauze or a clean rag to control any bleeding and cover the remaining tooth with some dental wax or sugarless gum to prevent it from accidentally cutting the gums or lips.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Once a tooth has been dislodged, it needs to be put back within an hour or so to prevent it from dying, so be sure to move fast in this situation. After gently rinsing off the tooth, place it either beneath the tongue or in a container with milk or saltwater—it needs to remain wet until you can see us!
Lost Filling / Crown
While often not as urgent as other emergencies, it’s still wise to come see us right away for this kind of problem to prevent a tooth from developing pain or damage. If you can, try to place the restoration back onto the tooth—this is only a temporary measure and should not substitute for a full repair.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Fortunately, lowering your risk of experiencing a dental emergency is fairly simple, given that you keep a few practices in mind:
- Wear a mouthguard when playing sports (both contact and non-contact)
- Be very careful when chewing particularly hard or sticky foods
- Don’t use your teeth to open packages
- Avoid chewing on ice, pens, pencils, and other hard, non-food items
- Keep up with your biannual checkups and cleanings to prevent small issues from turning into emergencies
The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
There is no set price for emergency dentistry—the cost of your care will be based solely on the type and degree of your injury as well as the procedure needed to address it. For both your teeth and your wallet, it is always better to come see us sooner rather than later, as this allows us to take care of an issue before it becomes more advanced.
Root Canal Therapy
Often, the worst toothaches are caused by a dental infection that has reached the interior nerve of a tooth, which is called the dental pulp. A root canal allows your dentist to access and remove this pulp, stopping the infection and the pain at the same time. Thanks to Dr. Casañas’ experience and use of sedation, most patients describe feeling practically nothing during this procedure.
Tooth Extractions
We will only recommend an extraction if a tooth is simply beyond repair due to extensive decay or trauma. We know that this procedure can cause some patients to feel nervous, which is why we’re happy to offer sedation to ensure a calm and comfortable experience. Afterward, we can also help a patient quickly replace their tooth with one of our custom-made restorations.
Dental Emergency FAQs
If you’re experiencing moderate to severe discomfort or any other urgent issue with your smile, then you’ll likely want to see your emergency dentist in Mineola right away. By visiting our team at Meadowbrook Dental Care, we can help make an unsettling situation less overwhelming by assessing your dental condition and providing the necessary treatment to get you back on track with good oral health. Since you may have questions about what to expect, we’ve gathered some of the most common ones we get so that you can learn more. Feel free to reach out to us if you don’t see the information you’re looking for!
Will My Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
We don’t recommend you wait and see if a toothache will go away by itself. This is because your pearly whites will not heal themselves such as a bruise or cut. Once your teeth have been damaged, decayed, or infected, you’ll need to seek professional dental treatment as soon as possible to address the issue. For this reason, if you notice any type of discomfort in your smile or indications of a problem, don’t hesitate to give our office a call. We’ll be able to treat the issue before it becomes worse.
If I Have a Toothache, Do I Need a Root Canal?
Toothaches can be due to several kinds of issues, from cavities to dental infections or abscesses. The way our team will address your situation will depend on the root cause. Some of our common treatments for toothaches involve crowns, fillings, nightguards for bruxism, gum disease therapy, and even antibiotics.
One of the main reasons you would require a root canal is to save an infected tooth from needing to be extracted. While this procedure may seem daunting, the process itself is rather straightforward and stress-free. Not only will we make sure you’re as comfortable as possible throughout your treatment, but most patients also feel it’s as quick and easy as getting a large filling.
Is Emergency Dental Care Expensive?
Our team understands the importance of being able to afford any necessary treatments. Dental emergencies that aren’t addressed right away can be detrimental to your overall health as well as drive up the cost of your procedures in the long run. If you suspect an urgent situation, be sure to reach out to us immediately. Most dental emergency treatments can receive 50-80% coverage from dental insurance. Our team can help review the details of your policy so that you can make the most of your benefits. We can even offer alternative financing options through third-party financiers like CareCredit to split up the cost of your emergency care into budget-friendly monthly installments.
Should I Go to the Emergency Room for a Dental Emergency?
You should only go to your local ER if your dental emergency is life-threatening, including:
- Bleeding that persists longer than 10 minutes
- Swelling that makes it difficult to swallow or breathe
- A broken or disjointed jaw
For any other dental issues, be sure to bring them to our attention. Whether it’s a severe toothache or a broken or knocked-out tooth, getting treatment from our team will save you time, money, and stress. Most ERs only alleviate tooth discomfort temporarily. But with our expertise and services, we can address the root cause of your dental emergency and get you back on track with good oral health!