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Emergency Dentist — York, PA

Repairing Cracks and Treating Toothaches

Any time one of your teeth is injured or you’ve noticed an excessive amount of oral pain or bleeding, you should call York Smile Care right away to schedule an emergency appointment. Dr. Cyriac will arrange to see you as soon as he can. With his soft-spoken manner and over 25 years of experience, he’ll keep you at ease while he finds a quick, effective solution for your problem using the latest dental technology for emergency dentistry in York, PA.

Woman with a toothache in York touching her cheek

Why Choose York Smile Care for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Availability in Evening and On Weekends
  • Tooth-Colored Crowns and Fillings Available
  • Experienced and Gentle Dentist

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman with dental emergency in York holding glass of water
  • Get an emergency appointment scheduled ASAP: Remain calm and call our dental office to tell our staff exactly what happened and what your symptoms are. By doing so, you can get an appointment scheduled quickly and speak with a team member who can provide first-aid tips over the phone.
  • Receive an emergency exam from Dr. Cyriac: After you arrive at our office, you’ll be brought to Dr. Cyriac by one of our team members so he can complete an emergency exam. This process may also involve X-rays depending on your symptoms. If you are experiencing discomfort, we’ll do whatever we can to bring you relief.
  • Review findings and discuss treatment plans: Following your emergency exam, we’ll have a much clearer understanding of your emergency and be able to recommend a treatment plan from there. We’ll go over the estimated costs of your care as well, ensuring you can make an informed decision beforehand.
  • Get the care you need: Whether you need a basic dental filling, dedicated dental crown, root canal therapy, extraction or other service, our office will work quickly to get your oral health back to normal so you can continue your life free of interruptions.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

We treat several common dental emergencies, including tooth pain, infections, broken or lost teeth, and many other issues, so don’t hesitate to give us a call even if you aren’t sure you’re dealing with a dental emergency. It’s always better to seek a professional for help sooner rather than later. Other common dental issues that should warrant a phone call to our office include the following:

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies 

Man learning cost of dental emergencies in York from a dentist

For emergencies, our first priority is to assess the damage and determine the treatment – whether it’s a filling, crown, root canal therapy, extraction, or another service – that will let you speak, eat, and smile without pain again. We can discuss the cost after we’ve formed a plan. The overall price will vary for each patient. In many cases, you can use dental insurance to cover some of the cost; we participate in most dental PPO plans, and we’ll help you with the process of filing a claim.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Woman receiving checkup from emergency dentist in York

The right habits could help you avoid a painful and costly dental ordeal. Brushing and flossing regularly is important for preventing tooth infections and maintaining good oral health overall. Do not chew on anything that can crack your teeth; this includes ice, popcorn kernels, and peppermints. If you play sports or participate in any kind of physical activity (such as rock climbing), ask us for a mouthguard to prevent tooth damage in the event of an accident.

Dental Emergency FAQ’s 

Woman thinking while touching her chin and looking upwards

Dr. Cyriac and our team are ready to help you should you ever face an urgent oral health crisis. Before you save our practice’s number in your phone as you go-to emergency dentist, however, you might have questions about emergency dentistry. That is why we have put together this brief list of FAQs. If you do not see the information you were hoping for, you are welcome to contact us directly so we can personally assist you.

How Can I Tell If I Should Visit the ER or an Emergency Dentist?

In most cases, the personnel in a hospital emergency room do not have the training, experience, or equipment to address a dental emergency. With that being said, there are some cases in which a visit to the ER would be advisable. For example, if you have broken facial bones, are bleeding excessively, or have any life-threatening symptoms, you should go to the ER. You can visit our practice later for follow-up care.

Is It Painful to Get Emergency Treatment?

Dr. Cyriac will do everything possible to make sure you are comfortable during your treatment. We even have advanced technology that painlessly administers anesthesia. We also offer multiple types of sedation. Most patients feel little to nothing while our team is working to restore their oral health. Some soreness and swelling are normal after many kinds of procedures. We’ll provide you with guidance to help you keep such symptoms to a minimum.

How Long Can I Wait Before I Go to the Dentist?

Some dental emergencies are more urgent than others. For example, if one of your teeth gets knocked out, immediate treatment is best because it increases the chance that your tooth can be replanted. A severe, throbbing toothache likewise requires prompt attention. However, if you have a dull toothache or one of your crowns gets knocked off, you may be able to safely wait a few days before you visit us for care. If you are ever in doubt as to how to handle a dental problem, give us a call so we can provide personalized advice.

What Should I Do If I Have a Dental Emergency While Traveling?

If your emergency occurs while you are in the U.S., a quick Google search should point you toward local emergency dentists. Pick one with good reviews and who offers financial options that are within your reach. If you are outside of the U.S., ask your travel insurance company to help you find a trustworthy dentist. Later, when you return home, Dr. Cyriac will be happy to help you finish recovering from your dental emergency.

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Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency?

A toothache in York is a symptom that can point to a number of different dental health conditions, some of which are quite serious. Here are some signs that your toothache merits a visit to an emergency dentist:

  • The pain is bad enough to interfere with your daily activities.
  • A tooth is darker than the ones around it.
  • There is a pimple-like bump on the gums.
  • There is visible damage to a tooth.

How You Should Handle a Toothache

Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the tooth and the area around it. If something is stuck near the tooth, use dental floss to remove the object. It is fine to take pain relievers, but do not place aspirin directly on the tooth or gum tissue. If there is a bump on the gums, do not attempt to pop it.

How We Treat Toothaches

The best way to treat a toothache depends on what is causing it. You might need something simple, like a small filling or prescription mouthwash. However, it is also possible that you will require more extensive care, such as gum disease treatment or root canal therapy. In some cases, removing a tooth altogether, and replacing it later with a dental implant, is the wisest course of action.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?

A chipped tooth usually does not require the care of an emergency dentist in York. However, you should still schedule an appointment within a reasonable amount of time because without treatment, the damage could easily worsen.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth

Clean your mouth by rinsing it with warm water, and use a cold compress to control swelling. If the tooth’s sharp edges are irritating your soft oral tissues, try covering it with a piece of sugar-free gum.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth

In most cases, we can repair a chipped tooth with dental bonding (a composite resin that we mold onto the teeth). However, if you want a longer-lasting solution, you may opt for a veneer instead. Veneers tend to endure for 10 – 15 years or longer before replacement becomes necessary. They are also more resistant to stains and breakage than bonding.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Whether or not a cracked tooth in York requires an urgent visit to our practice depends on the severity of the damage. Keep in mind that not all cracks in teeth are visible; they can occur beneath the gumline and on the sides of teeth. Anytime you suspect that a tooth is damaged, you should contact us to schedule an appointment.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth

Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. If there is swelling, use a cold compress to manage it. Avoid doing anything that might worsen the damage. For example, you should not bite down on any hard foods.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth

In some cases, we can repair minor damage with a tooth-colored resin. In other cases, we may need to place a crown to hold the tooth together and restore its strength. If the damage is particularly severe, the tooth may need to be extracted.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? It is best if you schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in York when dealing with very sensitive teeth. This problem can be the result of an abscess, a cavity, a cracked tooth, teeth grinding, gum disease, or even excessive teeth whitening.

How you should handle very sensitive teeth: Because it will be difficult to eat or drink anything hot or cold, it’s best to stick to lukewarm or room temperature items. Also, avoid engaging in any unhealthy lifestyle habits (i.e., smoking, eating ice, biting your fingernails).

How we treat very sensitive teeth: Only until we are able to examine your teeth will we be able to determine the problem. If caused by excessive teeth whitening, we may recommend desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride treatments, or a prescription mouthwash. If caused by a cavity, a tooth-colored filling will likely be the desired result. If gum disease or gum recession is the problem, periodontal therapy will be administered to clear out bad bacteria. And if a seriously damaged tooth is the reason for your sensitive teeth, we may be required to perform a root canal or extract the tooth.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Periodontal Therapy

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is my knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Yes. A knocked-out tooth is a time-sensitive issue that requires immediate attention to try and save the tooth. Call us to schedule an emergency appointment right away.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Once you retrieve the tooth and gently rinse it off, you can try to reinsert it into the vacated socket. If this doesn’t work, or you’re not comfortable with it, place it in a container of milk and bring it with you to your appointment.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: We should see you within one hour of the incident if you want us to try and save the lost tooth in York. We will use a splint to hold the tooth in place while it reintegrates with the bone tissues. However, if the tooth is not viable because too much time passed, we’ll discuss ways to replace it using a dental bridge, denture, or dental implant.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? It is unlikely that you’ll need to seek immediate dental treatment for a lost dental filling or crown. While you don’t want to wait too long, you can hold off for possible a day or two before seeking emergency help.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: When dealing with a lost filling or crown, the best course of action to take is to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. You can also use some toothpaste or dental cement to try and reinsert the restoration for a temporary fix. You’ll find you also want to avoid anything hot or cold, as this will only irritate your vulnerable tooth.

How we treat a lost filling or crown: When treating a missing filled or lost dental crown in York, we’ll either attempt to re-bond it into place (if possible) or replace it with a new restoration.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Metal-Free Dental Crowns

Broken Dentures

Is my broken denture a dental emergency? A broken denture in York is certainly a dental emergency. You do not want to continue wearing your damaged prosthetic, as it might harm your soft oral tissues or natural teeth.

How you should handle a broken denture: Although there are denture repair kits available and approved by the ADA, you should only use them in emergency cases. Otherwise, do not attempt to wear your damaged denture.

How we treat broken dentures: If the break in your denture is minimal and not impacting the functionality of your prosthetic, we may be able to use composite resin to fix the problem. If the damage is severe, we will need to either have a new denture created or discuss the option of switching to dental implants.

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a loose permanent tooth a dental emergency? If you have a loose tooth in York, do not wait to seek professional help. A member of our team will happily see you as soon as possible to ensure you do not lose your permanent tooth.

How you should handle loose permanent teeth: When calling to schedule your appointment, our team will recommend that you avoid touching the loose tooth and not eat on that side of your mouth. You’ll also want to avoid any hard or crunchy foods and be mindful when cleaning around this area of your oral cavity,  you might irritate the tooth or cause it to fall out.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: Our team at York Smile Center will survey the severity of the problem and determine what is causing your tooth to loosen. If caused by gum disease, we’ll administer periodontal therapy and possibly a bone graft. If the tooth cannot be saved and must be removed, we will safely extract it and discuss ways to replace it using either a dental bridge or dental implant.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Periodontal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? Unless you are unable to stop soft tissue bleeding after 10 minutes, it is not considered a dental emergency. If the bleeding does not stop, get to your local emergency room.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: While at home, rinse your mouth with warm water before applying clean gauze. Once you stop the bleeding, apply a cold compress to minimize discomfort and swelling.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: If we see you for a soft tissue injury, we will determine if you need stitches as well as if you might benefit from a customized sportsguard to prevent this type of injury on the field.

Learn More About Mouthguards

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? Jaw pain can be debilitating, causing you to have trouble eating, speaking, and sleeping. If this is the case and the discomfort is more than you can handle, call us right away to schedule an appointment with your emergency dentist in York.

How you should handle jaw pain: If the reason for your jaw pain is facial trauma that has resulted in a broken or fractured jaw, get to your local ER immediately. Once your symptoms are addressed and a medical professional has provided care, you can visit us for additional treatment.

Otherwise, you’ll need to avoid eating any hard or crunchy foods, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, and perform facial stretches or massages to minimize the pain while waiting for your appointment.

How we treat jaw pain: At York Smile Care, you can entrust us to examine your facial structure to determine the underlying cause of your jaw pain. If you are grinding your teeth at night (bruxism), we may suggest a nightguard to better protect your pearly whites and help relax your jaw joints and muscles. If you have inflammation in your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), you will need TMJ Therapy. And if your wisdom teeth are impacted, you may be referred out for wisdom teeth extractions.

Learn More About Mouthguards

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Unless you simply cannot remove a lodged object between your teeth, this type of situation is usually not considered a dental emergency. You can effectively remove the item using dental floss or a water irrigator. But if you try to use tweezers, toothpicks, or any sharp-edged object, you may push it up further into your gums or damage your teeth or soft oral tissues.