Emergency Dentist Howell

What to do right now

The first half hour after a dental injury matters most. Here is what to do before you get to us:

Knocked-out adult tooth — pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water without scrubbing. Try to slide it back into the socket and bite gently on a cloth to hold it. If you can't, keep it in milk or tucked inside your cheek, and come in immediately — the sooner it's replanted, the better its chances. Don't try to replant a baby tooth.
Broken or chipped tooth — rinse with warm water, save any pieces in a clean, damp container, and hold a cold compress on your cheek for swelling. Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax.
Severe toothache — rinse with warm salt water and gently floss to remove anything stuck. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label, but never put aspirin or a tablet directly on the gum; it can burn the tissue.
Swelling or a pimple on the gum — this often means an abscess (an infection). Rinse with warm salt water, use a cold compress on the outside of the face, and call us the same day. Don't apply heat.
Lost filling or crown — keep the crown if you have it, avoid chewing on that side, and call. A temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can protect the tooth for a short time.
Cut lip, cheek or tongue — rinse, then press clean gauze on the area for 10–15 minutes and use a cold compress.

When to go to the hospital instead

Some situations need a hospital emergency room or 911 first, not a dental office. Go to the ER if you have facial or neck swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, swelling that is spreading quickly toward the eye or down the neck, a high fever with a dental infection, bleeding that won't slow after 15–20 minutes of firm pressure, or a hard blow to the face with a possible broken jaw or head injury.

Once you are stable, the hospital can manage the immediate danger, but it usually can't repair the tooth itself. Call us afterward and we'll see you promptly to treat the underlying problem.

Same-day care from an Emergency Dentist Howell residents can count on

We don't fit emergencies in around a full schedule — we plan for them. Time is reserved every day we're open, so a patient in pain can usually be seen that same day. On Sundays, from 9 am to 3 pm, you can walk in with an emergency, and you can also book an emergency appointment online at any hour.

When you arrive, we go straight to finding the cause. A digital X-ray (up to 80% less radiation than traditional film) and an intraoral camera photo show us what's going on, and we show you too. Our first goal is to stop the pain; then we explain your options and their costs before doing any further treatment.

Emergencies we treat in our Howell office

Because we provide general, restorative and surgical care under one roof, most emergencies can be fully handled here rather than referred out:

Infected or abscessed teeth, often treated with a root canal to save the tooth
Cracked and broken teeth, repaired with bonding, a filling or a crown
Teeth that can't be saved, removed with a gentle extraction
Painful or swollen wisdom teeth
Lost fillings, loose crowns and broken dentures
Knocked-out and loosened teeth after sports or falls

Feeling anxious? We'll take it slowly

Being in pain and nervous at the same time is hard. We numb the area thoroughly before any treatment, check in with you as we work, and offer comfort aids and sedation options if you need more help to relax. Nobody here will lecture you about how long it's been since your last visit.

If cost is a worry, we'll give you a written estimate before treatment. We're in-network with 32 PPO plans, offer in-house and third-party financing, and our membership plan includes one emergency exam per year for patients without insurance.

Preventing the next emergency

Many emergencies start as small problems that didn't hurt yet: a cracked filling, a cavity under an old crown, a wisdom tooth slowly getting infected. Regular checkups catch these early. Wearing a mouthguard for contact sports and not chewing ice, hard candy or popcorn kernels also prevents many broken teeth.

If you're in pain right now, don't wait for it to settle. Call (732) 751-4028 or book an emergency visit online — we're on US-9, easy to reach from Farmingdale, Jackson, Freehold and Lakewood.

Emergency Dentist Howell: frequently asked questions

Does an Emergency Dentist Howell office take walk-ins?

Riverpark Dental of Howell welcomes walk-ins for emergencies on Sundays from 9 am to 3 pm. On other days, call (732) 751-4028 or book online — we hold emergency time every day we're open, so same-day visits are usually possible.

What counts as a dental emergency?

Severe or throbbing pain, a knocked-out or loosened tooth, a broken tooth, swelling in the gum or face, and bleeding that won't stop all count. If you aren't sure, call and describe what's happening; we'll tell you how urgently you need to be seen.

How long do I have to save a knocked-out tooth?

The sooner the better — ideally within about an hour. Keep the tooth moist in milk or inside your cheek, hold it only by the crown, and come in right away. The faster a tooth is replanted, the more likely it is to reattach.

Should I go to the ER for a toothache?

For a toothache alone, a dentist is usually the right place, because the ER typically can't treat the tooth. Go to the ER or call 911 if swelling affects your breathing or swallowing, bleeding won't stop, or you've had a serious injury to the face or jaw.

Can you fix a broken tooth the same day?

Often, yes. A small chip can often be repaired with bonding or a filling at the same visit. A larger break may need a crown, which we can usually start that day with a temporary crown and finish at a second visit. If the nerve is involved, a root canal may be needed first.

Will emergency treatment be expensive?

It depends on what the tooth needs, which is why we give you a written estimate before treatment. Insurance often covers emergency exams and much of the treatment, and financing is available if you need to spread out the cost.

In pain? Get seen today

Call (732) 751-4028 or reserve an emergency slot online. Sunday walk-ins welcome from 9 am to 3 pm at 4034 US-9.

Book online (732) 751-4028