Emergency Dentist in Plainsboro Township, NJ

What Counts as an Emergency

If you're not sure whether your problem is urgent, it's always better to call. Common dental emergencies include:

• Severe toothache that over-the-counter pain relievers don't help ‍
• Broken tooth — cracked, chipped, sharp, or sensitive ‍
• Knocked out tooth — an adult tooth that has come out completely ‍
• Loose tooth after an injury ‍
• Swelling in the face or gums, often a sign of infection ‍
• Lost filling or crown ‍
• Bleeding that won't stop

A small chip with no pain can usually wait a day. But a toothache with swelling, a knocked-out tooth, or a broken tooth with an exposed nerve needs prompt care to give us the best chance of saving the tooth.

Dental First Aid: What to Do Before Your Visit

What you do in the first few minutes can make a big difference. Follow these steps, then call our office right away.

_{If You Have a Knocked-Out Tooth}

• Pick the tooth up by the crown (the part you chew with), not the root.
• If it's dirty, rinse it gently with milk or water. Don't scrub it.
• Try to place it back in the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth.
• If you can't, keep it moist in milk or tucked inside your cheek.
• Call us right away. A knocked-out tooth is most likely to be saved within the first hour.

_{If You Have Swelling}

• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
• Hold a cold compress on your cheek for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed.
• Call us for a same-day visit. Swelling often means infection, which won't go away on its own.

_{If You Have a Broken Tooth}

• Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any pieces of the tooth.
• Press gauze on any bleeding for about 10 minutes.
• Use a cold compress to ease pain and swelling.
• Cover sharp edges with dental wax or sugar-free gum.
• Call our office so we can repair the broken tooth before it gets worse.

Important: If you have a swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, a high fever, or a jaw injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first.

What Happens at Your Emergency Visit

Our goal is simple: relieve your pain first, then fix the problem. Here's what to expect when you come to see our emergency dentist in Plainsboro.

• Call us. We'll give you first-aid advice and find the earliest available time, often a same-day appointment. ‍
• Exam and X-rays. Your dentist will examine the area and take digital X-rays to find the cause. ‍
• Pain relief. We numb the area and make you comfortable before any treatment begins. ‍
• Treatment or a plan. Many problems can be fixed in one visit. For complex cases, we'll stabilize the tooth and plan your next steps.

Common Emergency Treatments

Depending on what we find, your treatment may include:

• Root canal therapy — the most common fix for a severe toothache caused by infection or deep decay. It stops the pain and saves your natural tooth. ‍
• Tooth extraction — when a tooth is too damaged to save, a gentle extraction removes the source of pain. ‍
• Bonding or a crown — to repair a chipped or broken tooth. ‍
• Reimplanting and splinting — to reattach a knocked-out tooth while it heals.

If a tooth can't be saved, we'll talk with you about replacement options like dental implants or a bridge once the area has healed.

Dental Emergency After Hours?

Because we're open seven days a week, help is usually never more than a day away. If your emergency happens after our office closes, here's what to do:

• Call (609) 799-8879 and leave a message with your name, phone number, and a short description of the problem. We'll call you back as soon as possible. ‍
• Follow the first-aid steps above to manage pain, swelling, or bleeding.
• ‍Call when we open for a same-day appointment. We open at 8:00 am on Mondays, 8:30 am on Saturdays, and 9:30 am all other days. ‍
• Go to the ER for life-threatening symptoms. For severe facial swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, or uncontrolled bleeding, call 911.

Why Choose Smile Dental Care for Emergency Dental Care

_{A Same Day Dentist in Plainsboro, 7 Days a Week}

As a same day dentist in Plainsboro, we keep openings in our schedule for urgent visits every day of the week. Weekend hours mean you won't spend Saturday or Sunday waiting in pain.

_{Most Treatments Done In-House}

Our team of five dentists, including a board-certified periodontist and implant specialist, can handle everything from a simple toothache to a complex extraction in our own office. That means fewer referrals and faster relief.

_{Gentle Care When You're Hurting}

We know emergencies are stressful. Our team takes the time to explain what's happening, keeps you comfortable, and treats you like family. Massaging chairs and private TVs help you relax during treatment.

Emergency Dentistry FAQs

_{Do you offer same-day emergency appointments?}

Yes. We reserve time each day for urgent cases, so in most situations we can see you the same day you call. Call (609) 799-8879 as early as possible for the best availability.

_{What should I do if my tooth is knocked out?}

Hold the tooth by the crown, rinse it gently, and try to place it back in the socket. If you can't, keep it in milk and call us right away. Seeing a dentist within an hour gives you the best chance of saving a knocked-out tooth.

_{What counts as a dental emergency?}

A severe toothache, a broken tooth, a knocked out or loose tooth, facial swelling, a lost crown, or bleeding that won't stop. If you're unsure, call us and we'll help you decide.

_{What if it happens after hours?}

Call our office and leave a message, follow the first-aid steps on this page, and call again when we open for a same-day visit. For trouble breathing, severe swelling, or uncontrolled bleeding, go to the nearest ER.

_{Do you see emergency patients who aren't current patients?}

Absolutely. As an emergency dentist in Plainsboro Twp, we welcome new patients with urgent needs. You don't need to be an existing patient to get care from our team.