Emergency Dentist — Astoria, NY

Visit Our Dental Office Regularly

Many people believe they only need to see a dentist when their tooth starts hurting, but by that point, it’s very likely that serious, irreversible damage has already occurred. You should still visit ED Family Dental for a routine checkup and cleaning twice a year, even if your teeth and gums feel perfectly fine. Dr. Shkurti can spot even the smallest of warning signs that you might be headed for a dental emergency. From there, he can address the issue before a problem even develops, saving you quite a bit of time and money (not to mention pain) later on.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home

Daily brushing and flossing do a whole lost more than keep your breath fresh. Without regular oral hygiene, bacteria-filled plaque and tartar begin to build up on your teeth and gums. They leave behind an acidic waste product that irritates your gum tissue and erodes your tooth enamel, increasing for your risk for gum disease and tooth decay, respectively. Make sure to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every single day. Using a toothpaste with fluoride can strengthen your teeth, making them less susceptible to cavities and breakage. 

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

The more often you consume sugary or starchy foods and beverages, the more quickly dangerous bacteria accumulate in your mouth. Indulging in snacks like candy or potato chips is fine every now and then, but moderation is key. Also, try to eat plenty of mouth-healthy foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain vitamins that encourage healthy gums, and calcium-rich dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese keep your teeth and jawbone strong.

Wear a Mouthguard

As many as 40% of all dental injuries are related to sports, which is why we can’t recommend wearing a mouthguard enough if you’re an athlete. Our team can create a personalized mouthguard that fits comfortably over your teeth and delivers more protection than the store-bought versions. On a similar note, ask Dr. Shkurti about a nightguard if you suffer from bruxism (chronic nighttime teeth grinding). Wearing a custom nightguard shields your pearly whites from weakening or fracturing due to long-term pressure from clenching and grinding.

Avoid Using Your Teeth as Tools

The enamel of your teeth is the strongest material in your body, even more so than bone. However, teeth were not designed to do more than help you bite and chew. If you’re in a rush, you might be tempted to crack open a bottle or package with your teeth, but it’s just not worth the risk. When you use your teeth as tools, it’s all too easy to crack a tooth, scratch your gums, or sustain some kind of oral injury that requires you to head to our emergency dental office in Astoria. Always grab the right tool for the job instead; your smile will thank you!

Every Dental Emergency is Different

As nerve-wracking as your initial emergency visit is likely to be, you’ll be happy to know that this first appointment – where we check your mouth, diagnose the issue, and create a treatment plan based on our findings – comes at a relatively low cost. As for the treatment, the exact procedures will vary based on the situation, so the final cost of care isn’t something you’ll know until a full examination is performed. The treatment will not move forward until an estimate has been made.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

If you have a dental insurance plan, check with your carrier about what sort of benefits are available for emergency care. Most of the time, you can expect at least one emergency exam per year to be covered. Also, insurance will usually help pay 50% to 80% of the cost of some of the treatments most closely associated with emergency dentistry, such as root canal therapy and dental crowns.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Not everyone has dental insurance – we understand that. We are in-network with a variety of plans (including Aetna, Metlife, and Delta Dental), but we also have flexible financing options in the event that you can’t rely on insurance to fully cover the cost of care. We work with a third-party financier known as CareCredit that can create low-to-no-interest payment plans spread out over a matter of months. We can discuss CareCredit and other payment options during your emergency consultation after we figure out the ideal next steps in your treatment plan.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

There are dental emergencies that you simply can’t predict. You might lose a tooth in an automobile accident or even simply tripping on the sidewalk, for example. There are, however, emergencies that you can actively work to prevent, such as those that are the result of decay, infection, and gradual damage over time. A good oral hygiene routine and regular dental checkups could go a long way towards saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars in the future on urgent dental care. Furthermore, having a potential emergency treated right away could stop it from turning into an even bigger problem. You might be worried about the initial cost, but putting off treatment for too long means living with even worse pain, and it might result in requiring a more expensive treatment than you might not have needed otherwise.

Will my toothache go away on its own?

In most cases, a toothache won’t go away on its own after it has appeared. That’s why you should always give our office a call if you notice discomfort just so we can confirm no underlying issues are present. Since there are so many potential causes for toothaches, it’s always better to rule them out early before they turn serious. If pain is stemming from areas around the tooth, rather than from the inside, it may go away on its own.

How long can a restoration be temporarily attached?

The reality is even if you are able to reattach a restoration that came off, there’s no guarantee it will stay on for very long. In fact, crowns reseated with dental adhesive usually don’t stay on longer than a few days. Furthermore, dental fillings can’t be placed back into the mouth at all; instead, you’ll simply need to avoid chewing on the damaged and exposed tooth. The same applies for teeth with dental crowns, even if it has been reseated.

What if I can’t afford emergency dentistry?

At the end of the day, our office will not deny emergency treatment if you are experiencing an urgent dental issue, especially pain. If you don’t have dental insurance at this time, there are other options available to you that make care more affordable. For example, we do accept third-party financing through CareCredit, allowing you to make monthly installments on care. The last thing you should do is put off care when you need it as doing so can lead to bigger problems that only cost more to treat.

Can the emergency room remove a tooth?

If you need to have a tooth extracted, whether it’s due to an injury or infection, only a licensed dentist can perform treatment. In fact, it’s illegal for someone without the right training or credentials to remove teeth, including those who may work in a hospital. In most cases, emergency rooms will provide you with painkillers, antibiotics, and tell you to go to a dentist. That’s why we recommend that you visit our office first. After all, you may not need to have your tooth extracted at all and instead only need root canal therapy.

Do chipped teeth heal?

Chipped teeth do not have the ability to heal on their own. Tooth enamel is strong, but it cannot heal itself like other areas of the body can. If your tooth has minor or severe chips, you should get in touch with us as soon as you are able to. From there, we can go over your cosmetic and restorative treatment options.

Are knocked-out baby teeth a dental emergency?

Yes! Even though baby teeth should fall out eventually, it can be a dental emergency if they come out sooner than anticipated. There are a few reasons for this, including that your child’s surrounding teeth and gums (as well as their underlying tooth) could’ve been injured in the process. If you and your child find yourselves in this situation, then call our Astoria emergency dentist ASAP. In addition to scheduling same-day treatment, our knowledgeable team can walk you through what to do until you arrive at our office.

How should I sleep with tooth pain?

It’s important that we first mention that the following recommendations are only short-term solutions, not long-term answers to tooth pain. If you weren’t able to schedule a same-day appointment, then here are a few effective ways to sleep soundly with a toothache: don’t eat any foods that are crunchy, spicy, or acidic before bed, take an OTC pain reliever 30 minutes before you go to sleep, and keep your head elevated throughout the night with a few pillows.

Is my tooth pain from an infection?

It’s possible! However, chronic tooth pain could also be from other oral health problems, like a cracked tooth or damaged restoration. That’s why we recommend scheduling an exam with our team sooner rather than later. That way, we can determine what’s causing your discomfort and put a plan in place to alleviate it.

Can I pop a dental abscess on my own?

Absolutely not! Doing so will only lead to further complications, including the bacteria inside being exposed to your mouth. If you notice a pimple-like bump, a blister, or anything else abnormal on your gums, then call our Astoria dental team ASAP.

What does chronic bad breath mean?

Chronic bad breath can result in considerable embarrassment. It may even make you feel self-conscious when you’re just going about your day-to-day routine! If the odor persists even after implementing a solid oral hygiene regimen and avoiding pungent foods (like onions and garlic), then it warrants a visit to our dental team. After learning more about your symptoms, taking X-rays, and conducting an exam, we can determine what needs to be done to restore your minty-fresh breath.

Are toothpicks safe to use?

Since “tooth” is in the name, you might assume that toothpicks are safe to use. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. In addition to the fact that swallowing one can be deadly, it’s easy for a piece to splint off, irritating the soft tissue in your mouth in the process. Simply put, toothpicks should never be your first choice. If you have something stuck between your teeth, opt for floss instead!

Should knocked-out teeth be placed in water?

Once your tooth is knocked out, your top priority is preserving the root so it can be saved. Since water can actually damage the root surface cells, it’s recommended that you use milk or saliva instead. You can also place the tooth back in its socket – only if it slides back into place without force, though!