Dental emergencies
If you have a broken tooth, a knocked-out tooth or sudden pain, call us at 631-588-9041. We will tell you what to do right away and fit you in as soon as we can.
A knocked-out adult tooth
Minutes matter here.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown, the part you chew with. Avoid touching the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it gently with water. Do not scrub it.
- If you can, place it back in the socket facing the right way and bite gently on a clean, damp cloth to hold it.
- If it will not go back in, keep it in milk or tucked inside your cheek.
- Call us straight away, or go to an emergency room if we are closed.
A chipped or broken tooth
Rinse with warm water and save any pieces you find. Call us the same day. Sometimes a fragment can be bonded back on; if not, a filling or crown restores the shape.
A tooth pushed in, out or sideways
Do not try to force it back. Call us and try to be seen within a few hours. We will take an x-ray to see how the root and bone were affected.
Sudden toothache or swelling
Rinse with warm salt water and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as the label directs. Do not put aspirin on the gum. Swelling in the face or a fever with tooth pain can mean infection and should be seen quickly.
Preventing sports injuries
A custom mouthguard is the best protection for anyone who plays contact sports, from football and lacrosse to martial arts. It fits better and is easier to talk and breathe through than a boil-and-bite guard. Ask us about one at your next visit.
Questions people ask us
What counts as a dental emergency?
A knocked-out or loosened adult tooth, a broken tooth, bleeding that will not stop, swelling in the face or jaw, or pain that keeps you up at night. When in doubt, call.
What if it happens when you are closed?
For a knocked-out adult tooth, heavy bleeding, or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room. For everything else, call us as soon as we open.
Should I keep a knocked-out baby tooth?
Baby teeth are not put back in, but call us so we can check for damage to the gum and the adult tooth underneath.
Related care
Have a totally irrational fear of the dentist (like a lot of people) and cracked my tooth the other day! I was referred to this office by a coworker and I must say, I could not be happier with the service I received
Talk to a real person
Call and you will reach our front desk, not a call center. If you would rather not call, send an appointment request and we will phone you back to find a time.
516 Hawkins Ave, Lake Ronkonkoma. Free parking beside the office.