Dental emergencies never happen at a convenient time. A cracked tooth at dinner, a soccer ball to the mouth at a weekend game, or a throbbing toothache that wakes you up at 2 a.m. Knowing what to do in the first 30 minutes can be the difference between saving a tooth and losing it. Here’s our practical guide for Bergen County families.
Go to the emergency room or call 911 first if there is swelling that is spreading to your eye, neck or under your jaw, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a high fever with facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or a possible broken jaw or head injury. These can be serious, and they come before any dental visit.
Is it a dental emergency?
| Call us right away | Can usually wait for a regular appointment |
|---|---|
| A knocked-out adult tooth | A small chip with no pain |
| Severe or throbbing tooth pain | Mild sensitivity to cold |
| Swelling in the gums or face | A lost filling with no pain |
| A broken tooth with pain or sharp edges | A loose crown you still have |
| A tooth pushed out of position | Food stuck between teeth (try floss first) |
When in doubt, call. We’d rather tell you it can wait than have you wait on something that can’t.
What to do for the most common dental emergencies
1. A knocked-out adult tooth — act within 30 minutes
This is the most time-sensitive dental emergency. The sooner the tooth goes back in, the better the chance it survives.
- Pick it up by the crown (the white part you chew with). Don’t touch the root.
- If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water for a few seconds. Don’t scrub it, use soap, or wrap it in a tissue.
- Try to put it back in the socket, facing the right way, and gently bite on a clean cloth to hold it.
- If you can’t put it back, keep it moist. Place it in a cup of milk, or hold it inside your cheek (adults only — not for young children who might swallow it). Never let it dry out.
- Call us immediately at 201-385-2500.
Important: Do not try to put a knocked-out baby tooth back in — it can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Call us so we can check your child.
2. Severe toothache
- Rinse with warm salt water and gently floss to remove anything stuck.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek, 15 minutes on and off.
- An over-the-counter pain reliever, taken as directed on the label, can help until you’re seen.
- Don’t put aspirin directly on the gum — it can burn the tissue.
Throbbing pain, pain that wakes you up, or pain with swelling often means infection. Pain that suddenly stops doesn’t mean the problem is solved — the nerve may have died while the infection continues. Get it checked.
3. Chipped or broken tooth
- Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any pieces in milk or a damp cloth.
- Apply gauze if there’s bleeding and a cold compress for swelling.
- Cover sharp edges with sugar-free gum or dental wax from the pharmacy to protect your tongue and cheek.
- Avoid chewing on that side until we see you.
4. Lost crown or filling
Keep the crown. If it’s clean and fits, you can temporarily hold it in place with dental cement from the pharmacy — never with superglue. A lost filling can be covered with sugar-free gum or temporary filling material. Call us to have it properly re-cemented or replaced.
5. Swelling or a pimple-like bump on the gum
This is usually a sign of an abscess — a bacterial infection. It needs professional treatment, and antibiotics alone usually aren’t enough to fix the source. Call us right away, and go to the ER if the swelling spreads or you have a fever or trouble swallowing.
6. Something stuck between your teeth
Use floss gently. Don’t use pins, toothpicks or other sharp objects that can injure your gums.
Build a simple dental first-aid kit
Takes five minutes and lives in your bathroom cabinet or sports bag:
- Gauze pads and a small container with a lid
- Dental wax and temporary dental cement
- An over-the-counter pain reliever
- An ice pack
- Our phone number saved in your phone: 201-385-2500
Prevent emergencies before they happen
- Wear a mouthguard for sports — football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, hockey and martial arts. A custom-fitted guard protects better and is more comfortable than a store-bought one.
- Don’t chew ice, hard candy or pens, and don’t open packages with your teeth.
- Keep up with checkups. Many “sudden” emergencies — a cracked tooth, an abscess — start as small problems we can catch early. See our cleaning and prevention services.
Frequently asked questions
Can I be seen the same day?
Same-day emergency appointments may be available. Call as early as possible and our team will do everything we can to get you in. Learn more on our emergency care page.
Should I go to the ER for a toothache?
For tooth pain alone, a dentist is the right call — hospital ERs can manage pain and infection, but usually can’t fix the tooth. Go to the ER for the warning signs at the top of this article.
Do you see emergency patients who aren’t current patients?
Yes. Call us and let us know you’re a new patient with an emergency.
Dental emergency in Bergenfield? Call us.
The Dental Way is at 359 S Washington Ave in Bergenfield, NJ, open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Call 201-385-2500 — we’ll tell you what to do right now and get you in as quickly as we can.
Written by Dr. James Park, DDS
General dentist and owner of The Dental Way in Bergenfield, NJ — caring for Bergen County families since the practice opened in 1988. Meet Dr. Park
This article is for general education and isn’t a substitute for an exam. Every mouth is different — call us and we’ll give you advice specific to you.
