-
When a dental emergency happens, quick, calm action can make a big difference. Begin by assessing the situation: if there’s heavy bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. For swelling, cold compresses applied to the outside of the cheek can reduce pain and limit inflammation. If a tooth has been knocked out, handle it by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently without scrubbing, and if possible, try to place it back in the socket — otherwise keep it moist in milk or saliva until you can get professional care.
Minimizing movement and avoiding substances that could irritate the mouth — such as alcohol or overly hot or cold foods — helps limit further damage. Over-the-counter pain relief can be used according to package directions, but avoid placing aspirin directly on the gums or tooth, as this can cause chemical burns. If a sharp edge from a broken tooth is cutting the cheek or tongue, a piece of sugar-free chewing gum or dental wax can be temporarily applied to reduce irritation until you are seen.
It’s also important to keep an eye on general symptoms that may signal more than a localized dental issue. High fever, spreading swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, or severe persistent bleeding all require immediate medical attention. For most dental injuries and sudden tooth pain, prompt assessment by a dental professional preserves options for saving teeth and limiting complications.
Dental emergencies come in many forms, ranging from sudden pain to traumatic injuries. Toothaches can signal deep decay, an inflamed nerve, or an abscessed tooth; a chipped or fractured tooth may expose sensitive inner layers; and a dislodged crown or filling can leave a tooth vulnerable to further damage. Wisdom teeth that erupt awkwardly or become infected often create acute discomfort and swelling that benefit from timely intervention.
Soft-tissue concerns also require prompt attention. Lacerations of the lips or tongue, inflamed or bleeding gums, and suspicious lumps or sores in the mouth should be evaluated without delay. Infections — whether bacterial, viral, or fungal — can progress rapidly if left untreated, sometimes causing systemic symptoms. Identifying the source of pain or swelling helps guide effective treatment and prevents avoidable complications.
When you arrive, our first priority is to stabilize your comfort and assess the severity of the problem. Triage allows us to determine which issues require immediate action and which can be scheduled for timely follow-up. A careful history — how the injury occurred, how long symptoms have been present, and any relevant medical conditions — helps shape safe, effective care. We will also review medications and allergies to ensure chosen treatments are appropriate for your overall health.
Clinical examination is supported by diagnostic imaging when needed. Digital radiographs and intraoral cameras offer a detailed look at tooth structure, root health, and surrounding bone, while three-dimensional imaging (CBCT) may be used for complex cases involving trauma or suspected pathology. These tools accelerate diagnosis and help us craft a precise treatment plan that aims to preserve natural teeth whenever possible.
Soft-tissue evaluation is equally essential. We inspect the lips, cheeks, tongue, and gums for cuts, foreign bodies, or signs of infection. If swelling or signs of systemic involvement are present, we coordinate care to address potential spread of infection and protect airway safety. Clear communication during this phase ensures patients understand findings, options, and next steps.
Treatments for emergency dental problems are tailored to the diagnosis and your individual needs. Minor fractures and small cavities can often be repaired quickly with fillings or composite bonding to restore tooth shape and reduce sensitivity. For larger breaks, a crown may be recommended to rebuild strength and protect the remaining tooth structure; these restorations are designed to return function and appearance while preventing further damage.
When inflammation reaches the tooth’s nerve, root canal therapy is a conservative option that removes infected tissue and preserves the natural tooth. This treatment has a strong success record for relieving pain and maintaining chewing function. In situations where a tooth cannot be saved due to severe infection or structural compromise, extraction becomes the appropriate course to protect surrounding teeth and oral health.
Replacing a missing tooth is an important part of recovery and long-term oral health. Modern solutions include dental implants, fixed bridges, and removable dentures, each suited to different clinical situations and patient preferences. Our approach prioritizes restoring oral function and preventing the changes in bite and bone loss that can follow tooth loss, so you can return to normal eating and speaking with confidence.
Some signs call for immediate evaluation: uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain that doesn’t respond to home measures, a tooth that has been completely displaced, or swelling that affects breathing or swallowing. If you experience these symptoms, prompt professional assessment is essential. Even less dramatic but persistent issues — such as a lingering ache, a loose filling, or a sore that won’t heal — deserve timely attention to prevent escalation.
After treatment, the practice focuses on clear aftercare instructions and scheduled follow-up to ensure healing proceeds as expected. This may include short-term pain control strategies, soft-diet recommendations, and guidance on oral hygiene while tissues recover. We monitor healing and, when appropriate, discuss longer-term restorative planning to reestablish optimum function and aesthetics.
As an established local practice, Morrison Dental Care emphasizes continuity of care: the same clinicians who evaluate an emergency often coordinate ongoing treatment so patients benefit from consistent guidance and a coherent plan. Our goal is to make the emergency experience as quick and reassuring as possible, restoring comfort and stabilizing oral health with compassion and clinical expertise.
Summary: Dental emergencies can be alarming, but timely, informed action preserves options and improves outcomes. If you or a family member are facing a sudden dental problem, contact us for more information about how we can help. We’ll listen, assess, and work with you to get care underway promptly.
Pain is your body's way of signaling that something is not quite right and though there are many reasons for oral pain, one of the most common complaints and reasons for seeking urgent dental care is a toothache. Whether you simply need a dental filling, a crown, or require a root canal procedure to save your tooth, we'll alleviate your discomfort and restore the look and function of the involved tooth.
Dental trauma can result in a defect as minor as a small chip in tooth enamel to a more extensive and painful crack or fracture. With sufficient force, a tooth can even be displaced or completely knocked out of its socket. With prompt emergency care, many injured teeth can be restored and saved.
The last teeth in your mouth to develop, wisdom teeth often do not have enough room to fully erupt or may be positioned in the wrong direction. These issues can affect your dental health as well as overall well-being. Our office provides skilled care to address the complications caused by problematic wisdom teeth.
A broken or lost dental prosthesis or restoration can cause embarrassing gaps in your smile as well as compromise your ability to eat and speak with ease. If you've lost or broken a dental filling, denture, crown, or other dental appliance, you can rely on our office to perform a prompt repair or provide a durable and cosmetically pleasing replacement as quickly as possible.
At the office of Morrison Dental Care, emergency appointments are always available. Of course, in addition to providing top treatment for dental emergencies, we also welcome patients searching for high quality and affordable care. We offer a complete range of the latest and best cosmetic and dental services for every member of your family.
If you are suffering from a toothache or have sustained a dental injury, it is important to visit the dentist as soon as possible before more serious complications arise. Whether your dental emergency is painful, if it affects the appearance of your smile, or if you suspect that an infection is present, our office will make every effort to see you as promptly as possible for care.
At the office of Morrison Dental Care, we treat your dental emergency as our top priority. Our caring team will respond to your emergency call right away, making sure you get the gentle, state-of-the-art care you need without delay.
As your trusted emergency dentist in Clifton Park, we provide the highest quality of care to mitigate the stress, anxiety, and discomfort of dental problems. Our dedicated team will help you start feeling better as soon as we receive your emergency call.
At the office of Morrison Dental Care, we provide skilled and experienced care to effectively resolve a broad range of dental emergencies, restoring a patient's oral health while protecting their overall wellbeing.
However, even so, specific dental emergencies pose significant threats to one's health. These situations require immediate, emergency room care. Serious and potentially life-threatening dental emergencies include significant oral and facial trauma such as jaw fractures, deep wounds or lacerations to the face and mouth, an abscess or infection that causes widespread facial or submandibular swelling, or affects breathing and swallowing.
At the office of Morrison Dental Care, we provide prompt, skilled, and experienced care to address dental emergencies. We understand that finances are always a concern and do our best to provide options in care that are both affordable and respect your budget.
Once we've had the opportunity to examine your smile, we can give you a clear picture of any existing dental issues, along with a quote for what the cost of treatment will be. The cost of care all depends upon the extent and complexity of issues affecting the health or appearance of your smile and the types of procedures that are required.
To help alleviate any additional stress or delay, you can count on our staff to work with you to optimize coverage for your dental care and to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. For patients without insurance, we strive to make things easier as well! We invite you to visit our financial information page or speak to an expert in our business office.
Dental emergencies are often painful and debilitating experiences. For this reason it's important to have an emergency dentist in Clifton Park, who welcomes patients with urgent dental needs while providing the prompt care required to restore oral health.
Here are just some of the reasons why so many patients choose our office for emergency dental care and to meet their family's dental needs:
We're dedicated to helping patients enjoy good oral health and beautiful smiles. We look forward to helping you keep your smile in tip-top condition. You can rest assured that our highly skilled office team will provide you the highest quality of state-of-the-art dental care and have you smiling again in no time!
To make an appointment or for more information on our office and the many state-of-the-art services we provide, give us a call today.
A dental emergency is any oral condition that requires urgent attention to relieve severe pain, stop uncontrolled bleeding, or prevent further injury or infection. Common examples include a knocked-out tooth, a severe toothache that won’t subside, a fractured tooth with sharp edges, and swelling that affects breathing or swallowing. Problems such as a dental abscess, persistent bleeding after trauma, or a broken restoration that exposes the nerve also qualify as emergencies.
If you are unsure whether a situation is an emergency, it is better to seek prompt evaluation rather than wait. Quick assessment and treatment can often prevent complications, reduce the need for more extensive care later, and improve the likelihood of saving the natural tooth. An emergency visit allows the dentist to triage, manage pain and infection, and create a follow-up plan for definitive care.
If a permanent tooth is completely knocked out, find it quickly and handle it by the crown, not the root, to avoid damaging delicate cells needed for reattachment. Rinse the tooth gently with plain water if it is dirty, but do not scrub or remove any attached tissue. If possible, try to reinsert the tooth into the socket and hold it in place; if reinsertion is not possible, place the tooth in milk or the patient’s saliva and get to an emergency dentist immediately.
Time is critical for a knocked-out tooth, and outcomes are generally better if treatment occurs within the first hour. While en route to the office, keep the person calm and avoid activities that could cause further injury. The dentist will assess the socket, attempt reimplantation if appropriate, and provide splinting, antibiotics, or other care as needed to support healing.
For severe tooth pain, start by rinsing the mouth with warm salt water to help reduce irritation and dislodge debris. Use a cold compress on the outside cheek to reduce swelling and apply over-the-counter pain relievers according to the product instructions to help control discomfort. Avoid placing aspirin or other medications directly on the gum or tooth, as topical placement can cause tissue damage.
Swelling may indicate an infection that requires prompt professional treatment, so contact an emergency dental provider as soon as possible. Do not attempt to lance or drain any swelling at home, and seek immediate care if swelling affects breathing or swallowing. The dentist can prescribe appropriate antibiotics, drain abscesses when necessary, and plan definitive treatment to resolve the source of pain.
Many fractured or chipped teeth can be repaired at an emergency appointment to restore function and reduce pain. Small chips are often smoothed or restored with dental bonding, while larger fractures may require a temporary or permanent crown to rebuild the tooth’s structure. The dentist will evaluate the extent of the damage with an exam and necessary imaging to determine the appropriate immediate and long-term treatments.
In cases where the fracture exposes the nerve or compromises the tooth’s stability, root canal therapy or extraction may be necessary. Emergency treatment focuses on stabilizing the tooth, managing pain, and preventing infection until definitive care can be completed. Follow-up appointments ensure that the chosen restoration is durable and that the tooth remains healthy after the initial emergency intervention.
Delaying care for a dental emergency can increase the risk of infection, tooth loss, and more complex procedures later on. An untreated abscess can spread to surrounding tissues and, in rare cases, lead to systemic complications that require hospitalization. Similarly, a knocked-out tooth or severe fracture left untreated is less likely to be successfully saved over time.
Prompt treatment usually reduces the extent of restorative work needed and improves outcomes for the affected tooth and overall oral health. Early intervention can also limit pain, preserve bone and soft tissue, and shorten recovery time. If you suspect an emergency, seek evaluation quickly to minimize long-term consequences.
Imaging is often a key part of emergency dental care because it helps the dentist identify the extent of damage that may not be visible on the surface. Dental X-rays and, when indicated, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) can reveal root fractures, abscesses, bone involvement, and the position of impacted teeth. These images guide treatment decisions and allow the clinician to plan safe and effective interventions during the emergency visit.
Using diagnostic imaging helps the dental team determine whether a tooth can be restored, requires root canal therapy, or must be extracted. It also assists in evaluating surrounding structures to rule out complications. The dentist will explain the findings and recommended next steps based on the imaging during your appointment.
Emergency treatment can often save a natural tooth, especially when care is provided promptly and the injury is manageable. Procedures such as bonding, crowns, splinting, and root canal therapy are commonly used to stabilize and restore damaged teeth. The likelihood of saving a tooth depends on factors like the type and severity of trauma, the time elapsed since injury, and the tooth’s overall health.
When preservation is not possible, the dentist will discuss appropriate replacement options to restore function and appearance. Advances in restorative dentistry, including dental implants and fixed bridges, provide reliable alternatives for replacing lost teeth and maintaining oral health. Your emergency dentist will prioritize treatments that aim to preserve natural dentition whenever clinically feasible.
Yes, pediatric and adolescent dental emergencies are commonly treated and require special consideration for growth, tooth development, and behavioral management. Care for children often focuses on preserving developing permanent teeth, controlling pain, and preventing infection, with techniques tailored to the patient’s age and comfort level. Early primary tooth injuries may also affect permanent teeth, so prompt evaluation is important.
The dental team will assess whether a baby tooth or permanent tooth is involved and recommend appropriate urgent measures or follow-up care. Parents are guided on home first aid, signs of complications to watch for, and how to support healing after treatment. Children are seen with the same urgency as adults to reduce pain and protect long-term oral health.
During an emergency visit you can expect a focused evaluation to determine the cause of pain or injury, followed by immediate measures to manage discomfort and stabilize the problem. The dentist will take a medical and dental history, perform an oral exam, and use imaging as needed to inform treatment. Immediate care may include pain control, temporary restorations, splinting, drainage of infections, or referral for advanced procedures when required.
The team will also outline a treatment plan for definitive care and schedule any necessary follow-up appointments. If appropriate, the dentist may coordinate care with specialists such as an oral surgeon or endodontist. The goal of the emergency visit is to relieve pain, protect oral structures, and set a clear path for recovery and long-term restoration.
Morrison Dental Care follows evidence-based infection control protocols and standard precautions to protect patients and staff during emergency visits. The practice uses sterilization procedures, personal protective equipment, and clinical workflows designed to minimize exposure and maintain a safe treatment environment. These measures are applied consistently for both routine and urgent care to support patient safety.
Patient comfort is addressed through communication, gentle technique, and pain management strategies tailored to each situation. The dental team explains each step of care, discusses options, and provides clear post-treatment instructions to support a smooth recovery. If additional expertise is required, the practice coordinates referrals to ensure the patient receives comprehensive emergency care.
Address:
1524 Route 9, Clifton Park, NY 12065