What Is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is any situation involving your teeth, gums, or mouth that requires immediate attention to relieve pain, stop bleeding, save a tooth, or treat a serious infection.
Common dental emergencies include:

Severe toothaches or sensitivity
Cracked, chipped, or broken teeth
Knocked-out (avulsed) teeth
Lost fillings or crowns
Swollen or bleeding gums
Abscesses or infections causing pain or swelling

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms—or something just doesn’t feel right—don’t wait. Early treatment can prevent complications and help you heal faster. When in doubt, give us a call. We’re here to help!

What to Expect

When you call our office for a dental emergency, our team will work quickly to schedule your visit as soon as possible. During your appointment, Dr. Stone will perform a thorough exam, take any necessary tests or X-rays, and discuss the best course of action to treat your specific issue. Our priority is to relieve your discomfort and restore your oral health—so you can get back to feeling like yourself again, fast. You’re in good hands, and we’ll do everything we can to make the process smooth and stress-free.

Emergencies We Often Treat

Broken Fillings, Tooth Crowns, and Dentures

If you have a dental filling or appliance that’s damaged or lost, we will need to restore or repair it to protect your oral health. Please bring all the pieces of your broken restoration to your dental appointment so we can evaluate the damage and determine whether we can save the existing materials.

Most likely, we can quickly restore your dental filling right here during your emergency dentistry treatment. If your tooth crown or dentures are severely damaged, we may need to fit you for a temporary crown or denture flipper while we design your replacement.

Toothaches and Pain

Severe or constant dental pain often indicates an infected tooth. We need to treat your pain as soon as possible to keep the infection from getting worse, spreading, and resulting in tooth loss. In some cases, root canal treatment may be required and we can make sure your appointment is as comfortable as possible.

In the interim before your emergency dental appointment, you should take an over-the-counter painkiller to manage your symptoms. Once you arrive at our dental office for your emergency dentistry, we can prescribe something stronger for your pain.

Broken, Chipped Teeth

Chipped and cracked teeth can be painful and lead to increased sensitivity in that area of your mouth. If possible, you should recover the broken tooth piece(s) and safely transport them to our dental office. You can gently rinse the tooth fragments to clear off debris or blood, but do not scrub or wipe down the pieces.

We need to repair your broken teeth right away because sharp edges can irritate your other teeth or soft tissues. Dr. Stone will most likely use dental bonding, a tooth-colored filling, or a dental crown to repair your damaged tooth.

A Knocked-Out Tooth

Knocked-out, or “avulsed,” teeth are one of the most common types of dental emergencies. If your tooth becomes completely removed from your mouth, you need to rescue the tooth and place it in a glass of milk, saliva, or water until you can bring it to us. Take care not to touch the root portion of the tooth, as this can damage the sensitive nerves and tissues around the tooth.

Contact Dr. Stone immediately if you have a tooth that’s been dislodged. The faster he can treat it, the better chance he has of saving the tooth.

Happy Patients Make Us Smile

"I’ve been going to this office for several years. Renee is so great and does an amazing job. Cathy, at the front desk, is always nice and super helpful. I now bring my young daughters here. Even though we moved, it is worth the 35-minute drive!"

- Deanna W.

"I’ve been a client for over 30 years—and if that doesn’t show how much I love this team. When Dr. Aiello retired, I was devastated—I didn’t think anyone could fill his shoes. But Dr. Stone stepped in and hasn’t missed a beat. I couldn’t be more impressed. If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would!"

- Anna L.

"Absolutely the BEST! Cathy and Renee are super sweet. And Dr. Jay is awesome. Very informative. Highly recommend them!"

- Marilyn B.

"Scheduling my appointment was effortless. Dr Jay & staff made sure that I understood the procedure (i.e., X-ray, scanner, etc). I felt genuine care from everyone. It's refreshing to have medical staff who put patients first."

- George M.

"The staff here is very friendly and knowledgeable. Cathy greets you with a genuine smile, ready to take care of your needs. Renee, one of the dental hygienists, is so gentle, kind, and compassionate. Dr. Stone is an experienced dentist who takes the time to talk with you and really get to know you."

- Melissa P.

We offer both morning and evening dental appointments for our emergency dentistry patients. To contact us in the event of a dental emergency, please call (586) 263-6800.