Emergency Oral Surgeon in Warren, NJ

Dental emergencies can happen at any time, often when you least expect them, and require immediate attention to prevent further damage and alleviate pain. Whether caused by trauma, infection, or sudden complications, dental emergencies need prompt professional care to preserve your oral health and prevent more serious consequences.

At Warren Oral Surgery, we understand that dental emergencies don’t follow a schedule, which is why our team of six highly skilled oral surgeons is committed to providing urgent care when you need it most. Our recently renovated facility features 15 new operatories equipped with cutting-edge surgical technology, allowing us to handle even the most complex emergencies with precision and care.

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

The ADA provided its members and their patient’s detailed guidance on what to consider dental emergencies and non-emergency dental care.

A dental emergency is any situation that poses an immediate threat to the health of your teeth and supporting tissues. Dental emergencies are often the result of an impact to the mouth, but they can also be caused by infection. To ensure the best possible outcome, any dental emergency should be evaluated by a professional immediately.

According to the ADA, dental emergencies “are potentially life-threatening and require immediate treatment to stop ongoing tissue bleeding [or to] alleviate severe pain or infection.”

Dental emergency conditions include:

Uncontrolled bleeding,
Cellulitis or a diffuse soft-tissue bacterial infection with intraoral or extraoral swelling that potentially compromises the patient’s airway, and
Trauma involving facial bones that potentially compromises the patient’s airway.

ADA also defines urgent dental care as the management of conditions that require immediate attention to relieve severe pain and/or risk of infection and to alleviate the burden on hospital emergency departments.

Urgent dental Care conditions include:

Severe dental pain from pulpal inflammation
Pericoronitis or third-molar pain
surgical post-operative osteitis, dry socket dressing changes
Abscess, or localized bacterial infection resulting in localized pain and swelling
Tooth fracture resulting in pain or causing soft tissue trauma
Dental trauma with avulsion/luxation
Dental treatment required prior to critical medical procedures
Final crown/bridge cementation if the temporary restoration is lost, broken, or causing gingival irritation
Extensive dental caries or defective restorations causing pain
Suture removal
Denture adjustments or repairs when the function is impeded
Replacing temporary filling on endo access openings in patients experiencing pain
Snipping or adjustment of an orthodontic wire or appliances, piercing or ulcerating the oral mucosa

Non-emergency dental procedures include:

Initial or periodic oral examinations and recall visits, including routine radiographs
Routine dental cleaning and preventive therapies
Orthodontic procedures other than those to address acute issues (e.g., pain, infection, trauma)
Extraction of asymptomatic teeth
Restorative dentistry, including treatment of asymptomatic carious lesions
Aesthetic dental procedures

Some dental problems develop gradually and can wait for a regular appointment, while others demand immediate attention. Severe, throbbing pain that prevents you from sleeping or concentrating typically indicates an emergency situation. Similarly, any trauma to the mouth resulting in broken teeth, jaw injury, or significant bleeding requires prompt professional evaluation.

Swelling in the face, jaw, or neck area, especially when accompanied by fever, may indicate a serious infection that needs immediate treatment. These infections can spread rapidly and become life-threatening if not addressed quickly.

Immediate Steps for Common Dental Emergencies

Taking the right immediate action can make a significant difference in the outcome of your dental emergency. Here are the most important steps to follow for various emergency situations while you contact our office for professional care.

Knocked-Out Tooth

When a tooth is completely knocked out, time is critical for successful reimplantation. Handle the tooth only by the crown, never touching the root surface. Rinse the tooth gently with clean water if it’s dirty, but don’t scrub or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to reinsert the tooth into its socket and hold it in place by gently biting down on a clean cloth.

If you cannot reinsert the tooth, keep it moist by placing it in a cup of milk, saline solution, or your own saliva. Never store a knocked-out tooth in water, as this can damage the root cells needed for successful reimplantation.

Severe Toothache

For severe tooth pain, rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help reduce swelling and clean the area. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek for 15-20 minutes at a time to help manage pain and swelling. Over-the-counter pain medications can provide temporary relief, but never place aspirin directly on the gums, as this can cause tissue damage.

Avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages, which can worsen pain from exposed tooth nerves. Contact our office immediately for emergency treatment, as severe toothaches often indicate serious underlying problems.

Please call our Warren New Jersey office at 908-222-7922 if you have a dental emergency or in need of urgent dental care.

What to Expect During Emergency Treatment

When you arrive for emergency dental care, our team will quickly assess your situation and prioritize treatment based on the severity of your condition. We’ll conduct a thorough examination, including X-rays if necessary, to determine the extent of damage and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Pain management is always a priority during emergency treatment. We’ll ensure you’re comfortable throughout the procedure using appropriate anesthesia and sedation options when needed. Our goal is to address the immediate problem while setting up a plan for any follow-up care required.

Emergency procedures may include tooth extraction, drainage of abscesses, temporary restorations, or stabilization of fractured teeth. In some cases, definitive treatment may need to be scheduled for a follow-up appointment once the immediate emergency is resolved.

After Emergency Treatment

Following emergency dental treatment, you’ll receive detailed instructions for caring for the treated area and managing any discomfort. This may include prescription medications, specific dietary recommendations, and guidelines for oral hygiene during healing.

Follow-up appointments are often necessary to monitor healing and complete any additional treatment required. It’s important to keep these appointments to ensure proper recovery and prevent complications.

How To Manage Dental Pain Until You Can Get Treatment

If you can’t get into our office immediately, here is a list of effective home remedies to make you more comfortable while you wait for care:

Warm water rinses for sore teeth and gums.
Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen (NOT aspirin).
Ice packs applied to the outside of the cheeks.
Dental anesthetics containing benzocaine may be used as directed on the package for pain.
Avoid overly hot and cold beverages and foods to reduce sensitivity.
Heating pads may be used for jaw pain.
Avoid chewing in the injured area.

If a broken tooth has a sharp edge, cotton can be placed over it to protect soft tissues in your mouth.

Some dental emergencies may not cause pain initially. For example, a cracked tooth may not hurt, but it may lead to nerve damage in the roots. For this reason, all of the listed conditions need immediate attention, whether or not pain is present.

Immediate Emergency Care When You Need It

Don’t let a dental emergency compromise your health and well-being. At Warren Oral Surgery, we’re committed to providing prompt, compassionate emergency care when you need it most. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Sullivan, our surgical team is composed of expert oral surgeons: Drs.Sullivan, Aramphongphan, Awadallah, Bae, Marquis and Zambetti, supported by 35 incredible surgical assistants who are trained to handle urgent situations with skill and efficiency. Our office is open six days a week, and many members of our team, including Dr. Sullivan, are fluent in Spanish to ensure clear communication during stressful emergency situations.

We understand that dental emergencies can be frightening and painful, which is why we prioritize compassionate care alongside clinical excellence. Our team works quickly to relieve your pain and address the underlying problem, while keeping you informed throughout the treatment process. Contact us immediately at (908) 222-7922 or visit our contact form if you’re experiencing a dental emergency, and we’ll provide the urgent care you need to protect your oral health.

Warren Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center

For Patients

Serving the Following NJ & Somerset County Areas:
Warren New Jersey • Watchung New Jersey • Green Brook New Jersey • Middlesex New Jersey • Bernards New Jersey • Basking Ridge New Jersey
Berkeley Heights New Jersey • Piscataway New Jersey • Bridgewater New Jersey • Plainfield New Jersey • Branchburg New Jersey
New Brunswick New Jersey • Stirling New Jersey • New Providence New Jersey • Chatham New Jersey • Madison New Jersey
Boundbrook New Jersey • Martinsville New Jersey • Westfield New Jersey • Springfield New Jersey • Summit New Jersey