Forest Hills Emergency Dentistry
Dental emergencies are often scary and quite painful, especially if it’s something that involves your child. Rest assured, Dr. Gregory Mark and the team at Forest Hills Dental are here to get you out of pain as quickly as possible. If needed, we can even start treatment the same day in most cases.
Our family practice provides emergency dental services to individuals of all ages. Regardless of if you’ve never been to our Forest Hills dentist office before, we are happy to accept new patients (even if it is during such unfortunate circumstances!)
Don’t go to the emergency room for your dental emergency unless there’s severe bleeding, facial swelling, or you suspect a broken jaw. Most medical providers aren’t set up to address dental pain; they can only provide temporary relief. You need a trusted Forest Hills dentist to treat the underlying cause so that discomfort doesn’t keep coming back.
How to Tell if it’s a True Dental Emergency
Sometimes people experience dental issues or problems that aren’t painful but may still require urgent attention. If you’re unsure whether or not you need to seek out immediate care, ask yourself the following questions:
Am I able to eat normally?
Can I go to work (or school) like this?
Is there swelling involved?
Is the situation causing embarrassment?
If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, then you need to see a dentist. A broken or cracked tooth may not hurt, but if you’re unable to go about your normal daily activities (or even talk in front of other people) then it’s not something that should be overlooked. You may not need to be seen immediately (as in, within the hour,) but it’s best to call our office to get scheduled at your earliest convenience and possible even the same day.
What to do During a Dental Emergency
First, control any bleeding. Since our mouths are full of blood vessels, they tend to bleed easily when we’re injured. Use a clean cloth or tissue to apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding. If it doesn’t improve and is severe, head to the nearest emergency room.
For broken or knocked out teeth, locate the missing fragment. Time is of the essence, as an avulsed (knocked out) tooth needs to be re-implanted within the next two hours.
Take care to only handle the tooth by the crown, never touching the root. If there’s visible debris, gently run it under a light stream of water; never scrub or rub the root with your hand or anything else (as it can prevent the small fibers from reattaching in your tooth socket.)
Next, store your tooth or broken fragment in a sealed container, completely submerged in liquid. The best options are milk or saline/contact solution. If neither of these are available, use tap water with a small pinch of salt. If you have enough saliva, that can be used as well. Bring it to our Forest Hills emergency dentist immediately.
Some people do prefer to try to reinsert the tooth their own. This is ideal, but never force it into place, as there could be broken bone getting in the way. If you’re able to put the tooth back into its socket, it’s still imperative that you see a dentist within the next hour.
Address pain and swelling. As long as your doctor hasn’t indicated that you should avoid anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, this is the best over-the-counter drug to take. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories lower the swelling around your injury, which is typically the main cause of tooth pain.
Same Day Emergency Dentistry
Our Forest Hills dentist office is always ready for your emergency. It’s our goal to see you as quickly as possible. The sooner you can get to our office, the better.
We keep our schedule arranged so that there are openings throughout the day to work in emergency dental appointments for new and existing patients alike.
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency after hours, we recommend calling our office and following the message prompts. Someone will be in touch with you as quickly as possible to walk you through the next steps. If absolutely necessary, Dr. Mark may even be able to arrange to meet you at our office so that you can receive care in a timely manner.
Affordable Emergency Treatments
The cost of dental care shouldn’t be what gets in the way of getting the emergency treatment you need. At Forest Hills Dental our treatment coordinators work closely with your dental insurance to help you access all of the benefits you’re entitled to.
Don’t have dental insurance? No problem. We offer flexible low-interest and 0% interest financing plans that fit your budget, so that you can start emergency treatment right away. In most cases you can apply for coverage on the spot, with immediate access to funds.
Preventing Athletic Injuries and Concussions
Some of the most common dental emergencies — especially in children — involve sporting activities. If you’re a recreational or school athlete, then there’s almost always a risk of traumatic injury. An elbow to the mouth, ball thrown in the wrong direction, or even falling down can result in facial lacerations, chipped teeth, knocked-out teeth, and concussions.
Fortunately, athletic mouthguards are very protective and help to significantly reduce the risk of orofacial trauma. But not all sports guards are created equal.
For the best level of protection, have our Forest Hills dentist create a custom mouthguard that snugly fits your teeth. That way it won’t fall out or feel uncomfortable to drink with. Professional sports mouthguards are also better at safeguarding individuals against concussions, because of the way they fit your jaw. Over the counter appliances can’t, because they’re much looser.
Martina Machado
For someone who is deathly afraid of the dentist, my nerves disappeared instantly. When I first arrived, Maria the receptionist was very welcoming and that was exactly what I needed in order to feel more comfortable. I was then taken in for X-rays and of course my nerves started up again but Marvin was very patient with me and reassured me that there was no rush. Ana then took me in for my cleaning and she explained everything to me step by step. Not once did I feel uncomfortable. Lastly, I met with Dr.Mark who is very knowledgeable and gave me my next steps to ensuring that my teeth stay healthy and my smile gets to where I want it to be. Overall, it was an amazing visit and I know I am in great hands!
Lisamarie Garguilo
Thank you Dr. Mark! Visiting Forest Hills Dental was the best decision! I recently moved to Queens from Long Island and did not have a dentist in the area. My situation was unique and I was told that not to many dentist would take on my issue. I made an appointment on line. Maria the receptionist called to confirm my appointment, when I explained what was going on and she immediately re-scheduled to get me in sooner to see Dr. Mark. While in the chair Dr. Mark explained everything that was going to happen with the procedure and made sure I was never in pain. I am so happy I found them. Thank you again for taking care of me!