Emergency Dentist in Bellmore, NY
In a dental emergency, call us first: (516) 636-5554. Bedford Dental, led by Dr. Isabel Yuabov, sees emergency patients the same day, seven days a week, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We’re at 219 S Bedford Ave in Bellmore — five minutes from the Bellmore LIRR station and minutes from Merrick, Wantagh, North Bellmore, Seaford, Massapequa, Levittown, and Freeport.
If you’re reading this in pain or after an injury, here’s what to do right now:
Call (516) 636-5554. Tell us what happened. We’ll triage over the phone and get you in today.
Knocked-out adult tooth? Pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse it gently with water — no scrubbing. Get to us within 60 minutes — sooner is better. That window decides whether the tooth survives.
Severe pain or swelling? Take ibuprofen as directed on the bottle (not aspirin against the gum — it burns the tissue). Cold compress on the outside of the cheek, 20 minutes on / 20 off. Saltwater rinse. Then call us.
Heavy bleeding from the mouth? Bite firmly on folded clean gauze or a wet tea bag for 15 minutes without lifting to check. If bleeding doesn’t slow after 30 minutes of pressure, call us.
When to Go to the ER First, Not the Dentist
Most dental problems are best handled at a dental office — emergency rooms typically can’t extract a tooth, save a knocked-out tooth, treat an abscess definitively, or replace a crown. But a few situations are medical emergencies first. Go to the nearest ER (or call 911) for: a suspected broken jaw (you can’t close your teeth normally, severe asymmetry, numbness); a head injury, especially with loss of consciousness, vomiting, or confusion; facial swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, or that’s spreading rapidly toward the eye or down the neck; uncontrolled bleeding that doesn’t slow with 30+ minutes of direct pressure; trauma involving other injuries.
Once medically stable, we’ll handle the dental side of the injury. Call (516) 636-5554 and we’ll coordinate.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency (and What Can Wait a Few Days)
Call us today for: severe toothache, throbbing or constant pain, visible facial swelling, a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth with a sharp edge or exposed nerve, a dental abscess (pimple-like bump on the gum, sometimes with fever), uncontrolled bleeding after an extraction, lost crown over a sensitive tooth, trauma to the mouth.
Call us this week, but it’s not an emergency: a small chip with no pain, mild sensitivity to cold that fades, a lost crown over a tooth that doesn’t hurt, a popped-out filling on a tooth that isn’t sensitive, a loose adult tooth without trauma, food stuck between teeth that floss can’t reach.
When in doubt, call. We’d rather hear about a problem early than have you wait on something that turns into a bigger one.
Common Dental Emergencies We Treat
Severe toothache. Constant or throbbing tooth pain usually means decay has reached the nerve, a cracked tooth is exposing pulp, or there’s an infection brewing. We diagnose quickly with digital X-rays (and a CBCT scan when we need a 3D view to find a hidden crack or root issue), get you out of pain the same day, and plan the definitive treatment — usually a filling, root canal, or crown.
Knocked-out (avulsed) adult tooth. A true time-critical emergency. The longer the tooth is out of the socket, the lower the chance of saving it. Aim to be in our chair within 60 minutes — we’ll clean the socket, reimplant the tooth, splint it to the neighbors, and start you on follow-up care. Knocked-out baby teeth are different — do not try to reimplant them. Call us and we’ll see your child the same day.
Broken or cracked tooth. Treatment depends on how deep the break goes. A small chip may only need composite bonding. A larger fracture often needs a crown. If the break exposes the nerve, you’ll need a root canal first. If the tooth is split below the gum line, extraction is the realistic call — and we’ll talk you through replacement options the same visit.
Dental abscess or infection. A pocket of pus from a bacterial infection — typically severe pain, swelling, sometimes fever, sometimes a small bump on the gum that drains a foul taste. Abscesses don’t resolve on their own and can spread. Same-day treatment is drainage, antibiotics where indicated, and a root canal or extraction to remove the source.
Lost or broken filling or crown. Bring the crown with you in a small bag or container — we can often re-cement it. While you’re waiting, avoid chewing on that side, keep the area clean, and over-the-counter dental cement from a pharmacy can protect a sensitive tooth temporarily. Don’t leave a tooth uncovered for long; bacteria moves fast.
Soft-tissue injuries. Cuts to the lip, cheek, tongue, or gum bleed dramatically because the mouth is highly vascular — but most stop with 15 minutes of firm gauze pressure. If bleeding doesn’t slow, the cut is deep, gapes open, or there’s a foreign object embedded, call us or head to the ER.
Post-extraction problems. Some oozing for the first 24 hours after an extraction or wisdom tooth removal is normal. Bite on gauze, keep your head elevated, no straws, no spitting, no smoking. Call us if bleeding is heavy and won’t slow with pressure, if pain suddenly worsens 2–4 days after the procedure (possible dry socket), or if you develop fever or swelling.
Jaw pain after trauma. If you can still close your teeth together normally, ice the area, take ibuprofen, and call us. If you can’t close normally, your bite feels off, or there’s numbness — go to the ER for imaging first; jaw fractures need orthopedic evaluation.
What to Do at Home Before You Arrive
For most dental pain, you can be more comfortable with a few simple steps.
Saltwater rinse: half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, swish gently for 30 seconds, spit. Repeat as needed.
OTC ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) as directed on the bottle — usually more effective than acetaminophen for dental pain because it’s anti-inflammatory. If you can’t take ibuprofen, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is fine.
Cold compress on the outside of the cheek, 20 minutes on / 20 off, for swelling and pain.
Avoid the trigger: very hot, very cold, very sweet, or hard/crunchy foods. Chew on the other side.
Don’t put aspirin on the gum. It’s an old myth that causes chemical burns to the gum tissue. Take aspirin orally if you take it at all.
Don’t apply heat to a swollen face — heat can make a spreading infection worse. Cold only.
Same-Day Appointments and After-Hours
We hold time in the schedule every day for emergencies. When you call (516) 636-5554, our front desk will triage your situation and get you in the same day in almost every case. We’re open Monday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, including Saturdays and Sundays.
If you’re dealing with an emergency outside our hours, leave a message — we check messages and call back as quickly as possible. In the meantime: control bleeding with pressure, manage pain with OTC ibuprofen and a cold compress, keep a knocked-out tooth in milk, and head to the ER if any of the situations above apply.
If You’re Anxious About Emergency Dental Care
A lot of people who avoid the dentist for years end up in our office during an emergency — and the anxiety can make the visit feel even worse. We get it. Bedford Dental offers several levels of sedation for emergency patients.
Local anesthetic to fully numb the area being treated — standard for any procedure, no exceptions.
Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) — light, fast, you drive yourself home. Takes the edge off without putting you out.
Oral conscious sedation — a pill taken before the appointment that leaves you relaxed and drowsy but awake. You’ll need a ride home.
Tell us when you call that you’re nervous, and we’ll plan the visit around what works for you.
Pediatric Dental Emergencies
We see kids the same day for emergencies just like adults. Common situations: a chipped front tooth from a fall, a knocked-out tooth from a sports collision, a toothache from a deep cavity, a swollen face. Two important differences with children.
Knocked-out baby teeth should NOT be reimplanted — putting one back can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Save the tooth, call us, and bring it with you so we can confirm it’s a baby tooth.
Knocked-out permanent teeth in a child follow the same protocol as adults — handle by the crown, milk if you can’t reinsert, in our chair within 60 minutes.
If your child has had a head injury along with the dental injury, ER first.
Cost, Insurance, and CareCredit
We accept most major PPO plans, and our front desk will verify your benefits and explain what your plan covers before treatment. An emergency exam (with X-rays) is typically a small copay or covered in full under most plans.
If you don’t have insurance, an emergency exam runs roughly $50–$150 depending on the imaging needed. Treatment cost varies — a filling, a root canal, a crown, and an extraction are all very different procedures. We’ll always give you a written estimate before we start, and you’ll know what your portion will be.
For larger treatment plans, we offer CareCredit, a healthcare-specific financing option with 0% promotional plans for qualified applicants. Ask our front desk and we’ll walk you through it.
Serving Bellmore, Bellmore LIRR, and Nassau County
Bedford Dental is at 219 S Bedford Ave, Bellmore, NY 11710 — a five-minute walk from the Bellmore LIRR station, with on-site parking if you’re driving. We’re a regular stop for emergency patients from Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa, Levittown, and Freeport, and we see patients from across Nassau County who need to be seen the same day.
Call (516) 636-5554 now if you’re in pain or have had a dental injury. We’ll get you in today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Emergencies
Is my tooth pain a dental emergency?
If the pain is severe, constant, throbbing, keeps you awake, or comes with swelling or fever, it’s an emergency — call us today at (516) 636-5554. Pain that comes briefly when you bite something cold and fades within a few seconds usually isn’t urgent and can wait a few days. When in doubt, call.
My tooth got knocked out — what do I do?
For an adult tooth: pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse gently with water without scrubbing. Call us at (516) 636-5554 and aim to be in our chair within 60 minutes — that window decides whether the tooth can be saved. For a knocked-out baby tooth, do NOT reimplant — call us and bring the tooth.
How do I stop a bad toothache fast?
Take ibuprofen as directed (it works better than Tylenol for dental pain because it’s anti-inflammatory). Rinse with warm saltwater. Apply a cold compress on the outside of your cheek, 20 minutes on / 20 off. Avoid hot, cold, and sweet foods. These steps buy you comfort until your appointment — they don’t fix the underlying problem, so call us.
Should I go to the ER or to a dentist?
For a suspected broken jaw, head injury, swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, or uncontrolled bleeding — ER first. For everything else (severe toothache, knocked-out tooth, broken tooth, abscess, lost crown), go to the dentist. ERs can give you pain medication and antibiotics but typically can’t extract a tooth, treat an abscess at the source, or save a knocked-out tooth.
How quickly can I get an emergency appointment?
We hold time every day for emergency patients and see almost everyone same-day. Call (516) 636-5554 — our front desk will triage your situation and give you a real time, often within a few hours.
Are emergency dental visits more expensive than regular visits?
An emergency exam is priced similarly to a regular exam — typically $50–$150 without insurance, and most PPO plans cover it. The cost difference comes from the treatment (a filling vs. a root canal vs. an extraction). We’ll always give you a written estimate before we start any work.
Is a chipped or broken tooth an emergency?
It depends. A small chip with no pain, no sharp edges, and no exposed nerve can usually wait a few days. A larger break — especially one that hurts, exposes a yellow or red layer, or leaves a sharp edge that’s cutting your tongue — should be seen today. Call us and we’ll triage over the phone.
My filling fell out. Is that an emergency?
Usually not a true emergency, but it should be handled within a few days. The exposed tooth is more vulnerable to decay and sensitivity. Avoid chewing on that side. You can buy temporary filling material at a pharmacy to cover the cavity until your appointment.
My crown came off. What should I do?
Find the crown and bring it with you — we can often re-cement it. Avoid chewing on that side. If the exposed tooth is sensitive, OTC dental cement from a pharmacy can hold the crown in place temporarily, but don’t try to glue it with anything from the hardware store. Call us and we’ll get you in.
What is a dental abscess and how serious is it?
An abscess is a pocket of pus from a bacterial infection at the root of a tooth or in the surrounding gum. Symptoms: severe throbbing pain, swelling in the gum or face, sometimes fever, sometimes a foul taste. Abscesses don’t go away on their own. Untreated, the infection can spread — which is why we treat them same-day with drainage, antibiotics where appropriate, and a root canal or extraction to remove the source.
Can I just wait and see if my tooth pain gets better?
Mild sensitivity that fades may resolve on its own. Pain that’s severe, throbbing, constant, comes with swelling or fever, or wakes you up at night will not get better without treatment — and waiting often turns a manageable problem (filling, root canal) into a bigger one (extraction, abscess). Call us early.
What over-the-counter pain medicine works best for dental pain?
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is generally most effective because it reduces inflammation as well as pain. Take as directed on the bottle. If you can’t take ibuprofen, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is fine. Do not put aspirin directly on the gum — it’s a common myth that causes chemical burns to the gum tissue.
Is bleeding after an extraction normal?
Some oozing for the first 24 hours is normal — saliva mixed with a small amount of blood looks like a lot. Bite firmly on folded gauze for 30–45 minutes without lifting to check. If heavy bleeding doesn’t slow after 30 minutes of solid pressure, call us.
I’m in pain at night or on the weekend — what do I do?
We’re open seven days a week, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, including Saturday and Sunday. If you’re calling during business hours, dial (516) 636-5554. After hours, leave a message — we check them and call back. In the meantime: ibuprofen as directed, cold compress on the cheek, saltwater rinse, head elevated when sleeping. If your situation matches the ER list above, head to the ER.
Do you treat children for dental emergencies?
Yes — we see kids the same day for chipped teeth from falls, knocked-out teeth from sports, sudden toothaches, and swelling. One important difference: knocked-out baby teeth should not be reimplanted (it can damage the developing adult tooth underneath). Knocked-out permanent teeth in a child follow the same protocol as adults. Call us and we’ll triage.
Can I get an emergency appointment without dental insurance?
Absolutely. An emergency exam without insurance typically runs $50–$150 depending on imaging. We’ll give you a written estimate before any treatment so there are no surprises, and we offer CareCredit for treatment plans you’d rather pay over time.
I’m anxious about going to the dentist — how do you handle that during an emergency?
Tell us when you call. We offer local anesthetic (always — fully numbs the area), nitrous oxide (light “laughing gas,” wears off quickly, you can drive yourself home), and oral conscious sedation (a pill that leaves you relaxed and drowsy; you’ll need a ride home). Dr. Yuabov and our team take time to explain what’s happening at every step, which alone helps a lot of nervous patients.
Can a small chip with no pain really wait?
Yes — a tiny chip on the edge of a tooth that doesn’t hurt, isn’t sharp, and isn’t visible when you smile can usually wait until a regular appointment. We’ll smooth or restore it then. If the chip is on a front tooth and you’re self-conscious, call and we’ll work you in sooner.
Does insurance cover emergency dental visits?
Most PPO dental insurance plans cover emergency exams and basic emergency treatments like extractions, fillings, and X-rays. Coverage for crowns, root canals, and other follow-up treatment varies. Our front desk will verify your benefits and explain what’s covered before you commit to anything.
How do I prevent dental emergencies in the future?
Most emergencies are preventable. The biggest three: regular cleanings and checkups so cavities and cracks get caught small, a custom mouthguard if you play contact sports or grind your teeth at night, and not using your teeth as tools (no opening packages, no chewing ice, no biting fingernails). For patients who’ve had restorations, watching what you bite into goes a long way.
Do you serve patients outside of Bellmore?
Yes — we regularly see emergency patients from Merrick, Wantagh, North Bellmore, Seaford, Massapequa, Levittown, Freeport, and across Nassau County. We’re at 219 S Bedford Ave, Bellmore, NY 11710 — five minutes from the Bellmore LIRR station with on-site parking. Call (516) 636-5554.
