Emergency Dentist in Cherry Hill, NJ
Emergency Dental Care and Prevention Tips
A dental emergency, whether it affects your teeth, gums, or other oral tissues, can have serious consequences if left untreated. If you are wondering what constitutes a dental emergency or when you should see an emergency dentist, it often includes situations involving severe pain, infection, trauma, or damage that require urgent dental care.
At Barclay Family Dental, our emergency dentist in Cherry Hill, NJ, provides dental emergency treatment to help address urgent dental concerns, relieve discomfort, and reduce the risk of further complications. If you are experiencing a severe toothache, broken tooth, lost restoration, or dental injury, contact our office to discuss urgent dental care in Cherry Hill and available appointment options.
To help prevent dental emergencies from occurring, you should always:
Wear a Mouth Guard When Participating in Sports
Wearing a properly fitted mouth guard during contact sports and other high-risk activities can help protect your teeth from injury. This is especially important for sports-related dental injury prevention, reducing the likelihood of a chipped, broken, or knocked-out tooth. A protective mouth guard may help minimize damage during unexpected impacts.
Eat Carefully and Wisely
Although teeth are strong, biting extremely hard foods such as hard candy, ice, or certain nuts can sometimes result in cracks or chips. Use caution when chewing hard foods to help reduce your risk of needing broken tooth emergency care. If you notice a cracked tooth or experience sudden pain while chewing, contact our office for an evaluation.
Avoid Chewing on Items That Are Not Edible
Chewing pens, pencils, fingernails, or other hard objects can damage tooth enamel, fillings, crowns, or natural teeth. These habits may contribute to fractures or other dental injuries requiring emergency dental treatment. Avoiding unnecessary pressure on your teeth can help protect your smile.
List of Services
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ToothachesList Item 1
Toothaches are a common reason patients seek emergency dental pain treatment. If you develop a toothache, gently rinse your mouth with warm water and carefully floss to remove any trapped food. If swelling is present, apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek.
If you are experiencing severe tooth pain, persistent discomfort, or need a sudden toothache dentist in Cherry Hill, contact Barclay Family Dental as soon as possible. Our team can help assess your symptoms and determine whether you need prompt treatment for decay, infection, or another dental problem.
Avoid placing aspirin directly against the affected tooth or gum because it can irritate or damage the soft tissue. While temporary measures may provide relief, a dental examination is necessary to identify the underlying cause of the pain.
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Chipped or Broken ToothList Item 2
A broken tooth may require prompt emergency care for a broken tooth, depending on the severity of the damage. If possible, save any broken pieces and rinse them gently with clean water. If bleeding occurs, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze.
A cold compress placed against the outside of your cheek may help reduce swelling. Avoid chewing on the damaged tooth and contact our office for an assessment.
If you are wondering what to do if you break a tooth, timely professional evaluation can help determine whether the tooth can be repaired with bonding, a crown, or another appropriate treatment. Severe fractures may require more extensive care.
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Lost Filling
A missing filling can leave part of your tooth exposed and may cause sensitivity or discomfort. If you have lost a filling, avoid chewing on the affected side and keep the area clean.
A temporary dental filling product from a pharmacy may sometimes be used according to its instructions until you can see a dentist. However, this does not replace professional treatment.
If you are unsure what to do when a filling falls out, contact Barclay Family Dental to discuss a lost filling emergency appointment. Our dentist can evaluate the tooth and recommend appropriate restoration or repair.
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Lost Crown
If your dental crown falls out, keep the crown in a safe place and contact your dentist promptly. A missing crown can expose the underlying tooth to sensitivity or further damage.
In certain circumstances, a temporary dental cement product may be appropriate, but you should seek professional guidance before attempting to replace the crown. Never use household glue or other non-dental adhesives.
Patients needing a lost crown emergency dentist in Cherry Hill can contact our office to arrange an evaluation. Depending on the crown's condition and the health of the underlying tooth, the restoration may be recemented, repaired, or replaced.
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Dislodged (Luxated) TeethList Item 4
A dislodged or luxated tooth is one that has been pushed out of its normal position within the socket, often due to an injury or impact. This type of dental trauma requires prompt professional evaluation.
If you experience a tooth pushed out of position, avoid trying to force it back into place yourself. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth if swelling is present and contact a dentist immediately.
Treatment may involve dislodged tooth repositioning and stabilization, depending on the type and severity of the injury. Early assessment is important for determining whether the tooth can be preserved.
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Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Tooth
A knocked-out permanent tooth requires immediate attention. If you are wondering what to do for a knocked-out tooth, carefully pick up the tooth by the crown, which is the portion normally visible in your mouth. Avoid touching or scrubbing the root.
If the tooth is dirty, rinse it briefly and gently with milk, saline, or clean water. For a permanent tooth, gently placing it back into the socket may be appropriate if it can be done easily and safely. Do not force it.
If reinsertion is not possible, keep the tooth moist in milk or an appropriate tooth-preservation solution and seek emergency treatment for a knocked-out tooth immediately. Do not reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth.
Time is extremely important when trying to preserve an avulsed permanent tooth. Contact Barclay Family Dental or seek an appropriate urgent dental service as quickly as possible.
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Loose Brackets and Bands
If an orthodontic bracket or band becomes loose, orthodontic wax may help cover an irritating edge temporarily until professional care is available.
If the bracket has completely detached, save it and contact your orthodontic provider for instructions. Loose orthodontic appliances should be evaluated to avoid additional irritation or damage.
Patients experiencing orthodontic appliance emergencies should contact the provider managing their orthodontic treatment, or seek urgent evaluation if the appliance is causing significant injury.
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Broken Braces and Wires
A broken or protruding orthodontic wire can irritate your cheeks, tongue, or gums. If a wire is causing discomfort, you may carefully cover the exposed end with orthodontic wax until professional treatment is available.
Avoid forcefully manipulating or cutting the wire yourself because doing so may cause injury or create a risk of swallowing or inhaling a loose piece.
If you need emergency dental care for broken braces or wires, contact your orthodontic provider for instructions. Significant soft-tissue injury or difficulty swallowing or breathing requires immediate medical attention.
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Soft-Tissue Injuries
Soft-tissue injuries involving the lips, cheeks, tongue, or gums can cause bleeding, swelling, and discomfort. For minor injuries, gently rinse your mouth with clean water or a mild saltwater solution when appropriate.
Apply steady pressure with clean gauze to help control bleeding and use a cold compress externally to reduce swelling.
If bleeding is heavy, does not stop with firm pressure, or the injury is extensive, seek urgent medical care. Patients with less severe injuries can contact our office for emergency dental care for mouth injuries and guidance about appropriate evaluation.
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Abscess
A dental abscess is a localized collection of infection that may develop around a tooth root or within the surrounding gum tissues. A dental abscess emergency may involve severe tooth pain, gum swelling, tenderness, fever, or an unpleasant taste.
Dental infections can spread if left untreated. If you notice signs of an abscess, contact our office promptly for emergency tooth infection treatment and assessment.
Treatment depends on the location and cause of the infection and may involve drainage, root canal therapy, tooth extraction, or other appropriate dental care.
If you develop rapidly increasing facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or other serious systemic symptoms, seek immediate emergency medical attention rather than waiting for a dental appointment.
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Post-Extraction Bleeding and Discomfort
Some discomfort and minor bleeding or oozing can occur after a tooth extraction. If bleeding continues, follow the instructions provided by your treating dentist.
Placing clean gauze over the extraction site and maintaining firm, steady biting pressure may help control minor bleeding. Avoid repeatedly disturbing the area or rinsing forcefully immediately after extraction.
If you experience heavy bleeding that does not improve with appropriate pressure, or you develop significant swelling, severe pain, or other concerning symptoms, seek prompt professional care.
Our team can provide guidance for post-extraction bleeding and discomfort and help determine whether additional evaluation is necessary.
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Signs and Symptoms
Dental emergencies can involve several warning signs, including severe tooth pain, persistent bleeding, facial swelling, dental trauma, a knocked-out tooth, or signs of infection.
Patients wondering when tooth pain is a dental emergency should contact our office when symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening.
An urgent dental evaluation may also be necessary for a broken tooth, loose or damaged restoration, or an injury that changes the position of a tooth.
If you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing, rapidly spreading facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or major facial trauma, seek emergency medical care immediately.
For other urgent dental concerns, contact Barclay Family Dental at (856) 288-3047 to discuss same-day emergency dental appointments in Cherry Hill, NJ, subject to availability.
