A cracked tooth at midnight. A knocked-out crown before an important meeting. Sudden, severe tooth pain that won’t let up. Dental emergencies don’t follow a schedule — but at The Town Dentist, we do our very best to make sure you don’t have to wait days for relief.
If you’re in Paramus, NJ, or the surrounding Bergen County area, our team is ready to provide fast, compassionate, and effective emergency dental care — often on the same day you call. Here’s everything you need to know about how we can help when dental disaster strikes.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
Not every dental issue requires immediate attention, but some definitely do. Understanding the difference can help you act quickly and protect your oral health. Here are the most common dental emergencies we treat at The Town Dentist:
1. Severe Toothache
Pain that is throbbing, constant, or radiating to your jaw or ear is never something to push through. It may signal an abscess or deep infection.
2. Knocked-Out Tooth
A completely avulsed tooth has the best chance of being saved when treated within 30–60 minutes. Time is critical — call us immediately.
3. Chipped or Broken Tooth
A significant fracture can expose sensitive nerves, cause sharp edges that injure your tongue, and worsen without prompt care.
4. Lost Crown or Filling
An exposed tooth without its protective covering becomes vulnerable to bacteria, sensitivity, and further damage — don’t leave it untreated.
5. Dental Abscess
A pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. It can spread quickly. Signs include facial swelling, fever, and a persistent bad taste in your mouth.
6. Soft Tissue Injuries
Lacerations to the gums, lips, cheeks, or tongue from an accident or sports injury often need prompt professional attention to heal properly.
When to Go to the Emergency Room Instead
If you’re experiencing difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or significant facial trauma, please call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room first. Once you’re stable, we’re here to handle the dental follow-up care.
What to Do in a Dental Emergency (Before You See Us)
While you wait for your same-day appointment, the right first aid can make a real difference in outcome and comfort. Here’s a quick guide:
For a knocked-out tooth:
- Pick up the tooth by the crown (top), never the root.
- If dirty, rinse gently with water — do not scrub.
- Try to reinsert it into the socket and hold in place by biting down softly on gauze, or keep it moist in a small container of milk or saliva.
- Call The Town Dentist immediately and come in right away.
For a severe toothache:
- Rinse with warm salt water to reduce bacteria and swelling.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief such as ibuprofen (if not contraindicated for you) to manage discomfort.
- Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gum — it can cause tissue damage.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling.
- Call us — don’t wait for the pain to “go away on its own.”
For a broken or chipped tooth:
- Save any broken pieces and rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Apply gauze to any bleeding area and hold for 10 minutes or until bleeding stops.
- Use a cold compress on your face to minimize swelling and pain.
- If the tooth has a sharp edge, cover it with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect soft tissue.
For a lost crown or filling:
- If you still have the crown, keep it safe and bring it with you.
- Dental cement (available at most pharmacies) can be used temporarily to re-seat a crown.
- Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth until we see you.
Why Choose The Town Dentist for Emergency Care in Paramus?
“We know a dental emergency is stressful. Our goal is to get you out of pain, save your tooth if at all possible, and restore your confidence — all on the same day you call.”
At The Town Dentist, we’ve built our practice around being there for our patients when it counts most. Here’s what sets our emergency care apart:
- Same-day appointments: We reserve availability specifically for emergency patients — call in the morning and we’ll do our best to see you that day.
- Experienced, compassionate team: Our dental professionals have handled hundreds of emergency cases and understand how to provide care efficiently and gently, even when you’re in pain.
- Full range of emergency treatments: From root canals and extractions to re-cementing crowns and treating infections, we handle it all in-house.
- Comfort-focused environment: We know dental anxiety is real — especially in an emergency. We take extra care to ensure you feel calm and informed throughout your visit.
- Transparent pricing: We’ll always discuss costs and options with you before proceeding. We work with most major dental insurance plans and offer flexible payment options.
- Convenient Paramus location: Centrally located and easily accessible from throughout Bergen County, including Teaneck, Fort Lee, Hackensack, and Leonia
Common Emergency Treatments We Provide
Depending on the nature of your emergency, we may recommend one or more of the following treatments during your visit:
- Emergency root canal therapy— to remove infected pulp and relieve severe pain while saving the tooth
- Tooth extraction— when a tooth is too damaged to save, we perform gentle, precise extractions with clear next steps for replacement
- Crown re-cementation— restoring a lost or loosened crown quickly and securely
- Dental bonding— repairing minor chips and fractures in a single visit with tooth-colored composite resin
- Abscess drainage and antibiotic therapy— stopping infection before it spreads
- Temporary or permanent filling placement— to protect exposed teeth immediately
We Also Help After Hours
Have a dental emergency in the evening or on a weekend? Call our office number and listen to the message for our after-hours emergency contact. We’re committed to helping you reach a provider — even when the office is closed.
Preventing Future Dental Emergencies
While you can’t predict every accident, there’s a lot you can do to reduce your risk of a dental emergency. We always encourage our patients to:
- Wear a custom-fitted mouthguard during contact sports or recreational activities
- Avoid using your teeth as tools to open packages, bottles, or hard materials
- Keep up with routine dental check-ups twice a year so we catch issues before they become emergencies
- Address cavities, cracked teeth, and worn-down fillings promptly — small problems become big ones when ignored
- If you grind your teeth at night, ask us about a custom night guard to protect your enamel
Serving Paramus and All of Bergen County
The Town Dentist proudly serves patients from Paramus, NJ and the surrounding communities, including Teaneck, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Leonia, Bergenfield, and Ridgefield. Whether you’re a long-time patient or visiting us for the first time in the middle of a dental crisis, we’ll treat you like family.
Our office is conveniently located and easy to reach by car or public transit. Parking is available. We’re here to make an already difficult situation as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Dental Emergency? Don’t Wait — Call Now.
Same-day emergency appointments are available at The Town Dentist in Paramus, NJ. Get out of pain fast.