Emergency dentistry

Dental pain should not wait on a form.

If you have tooth pain, swelling, a broken tooth, a lost crown, or sudden dental trauma, call the office so the team can triage the right next step. Serving Johnstown, NY and the surrounding Fulton and Montgomery Counties.

Call now Hours and contact

Dr. Steven Bauman greeting a patient on arrival, emergency care at Dunning Family Dental in Johnstown, NY.

Call first. A short call is faster than any form.

Sara, Kasey, Francine, or Maggie will ask what is happening, when it started, and what you have tried. Then they will find the soonest time that works.

Triage in under 5 minutes

When to call

What counts as a dental emergency.

Most dental emergencies fall into four patterns. If any of these is true right now, call rather than wait for your next scheduled visit.

Severe or worsening pain

Pain that keeps you up at night, pain that radiates to your ear or jaw, or pain that has gotten significantly worse in the last 24 hours. Do not wait.

A broken or lost tooth

If a permanent tooth comes out: handle it by the crown (not the root), rinse gently, and call immediately. The first 30 to 60 minutes matter. If it is broken, save the pieces if you can.

Swelling in your face or jaw

Swelling, especially with fever, can mean an active infection. Call right away. If swelling is closing your throat or making breathing hard, go to the ER first, then call us.

A lost crown, filling, or bridge

Most of the time this is not urgent, but it can be uncomfortable and the exposed tooth is vulnerable. Call to get the next available appointment and ask the front desk what to do in the meantime.

Emergency guidance

Call first so we can match the problem to the right visit.

Some urgent concerns need same-day attention. Others can be stabilized and scheduled quickly. A short phone call helps the front desk understand what is happening and how soon you should be seen.

1

Triage on the phone

The front desk asks short, practical questions: what happened, where it hurts, when it started, what you have tried. They will tell you whether to come in or whether the ER is the right first stop.
2

Schedule the visit

If it is something Dunning can handle, you get the soonest workable appointment. Often that is same-day. Sometimes it is the next morning. Either way, you know when you hang up.
3

Get seen and treated

When you arrive, Dr. D'Addio examines the tooth, takes any X-rays needed, and explains what is happening and the options. Most emergencies get stabilized in one visit.

What we can handle

Common dental emergencies, plainly described.

Most dental urgencies fall into one of these categories. If your situation is not listed, call anyway. The front desk will help you figure out where to go.

Toothache or infection

Pain from decay, abscess, or a failing tooth. Often treated with antibiotics first, then root canal, extraction, or restorative repair.

Broken or chipped teeth

From minor edge chips to large fractures. We assess whether the tooth can be repaired, crowned, or needs extraction.

Knocked-out tooth

Time-sensitive. If reimplantation is possible, it happens within the first hour. Call before you do anything else.

Lost crown, bridge, or filling

Often re-cementable in one visit. Save the piece if you can.

Loose adult tooth

Can mean trauma, infection, or gum disease. We figure out the cause before deciding next steps.

Bleeding after a procedure

Some post-treatment bleeding is normal; persistent bleeding is not. Call and we will walk through what to do.

What it costs

Emergency visits are billed like other visits, plainly.

An emergency exam (with X-rays where needed) is billed like a standard exam. Treatment cost depends on what is wrong and what needs to be done. The front desk gives you the figure before any work starts, and CareCredit is an option for spreading anything significant across months. Insurance is handled the same way as regular visits. See the insurance and payment page for the full detail.

Call with payment questions

Honest estimates first

Before any emergency treatment, you know what it will cost. No surprises after the fact.

CareCredit accepted

When an emergency leads to a larger treatment plan, CareCredit can spread the cost across months.

Common questions

Practical answers, plainly written.

Do you offer same-day emergency appointments?

Often, yes, but we do not promise same-day on a webpage because actual availability depends on what the schedule looks like that day. The honest answer is: call 518-842-3220 during office hours and the front desk will triage what is happening in about five minutes. If there is a way to see you the same day, they will find it. If the soonest workable appointment is the next morning, you will know that when you hang up, along with what to do in the meantime for pain or swelling. For trouble breathing, severe facial swelling, or uncontrolled bleeding, go to the ER first, then call us.

What if it is after hours?

Leave a voicemail describing what is happening, then go to the ER if you have facial swelling, cannot breathe, or have uncontrolled bleeding. For pain only, take ibuprofen if appropriate for you, apply a cold compress, and call first thing in the morning.

Should I go to the ER or call the dentist?

ER for: trouble breathing, severe facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma involving your jaw. Dentist (us) for: tooth pain, broken teeth, lost restorations, abscess without breathing problems. When in doubt, call us. We will redirect you to the ER if needed.

I lost a tooth. What do I do right now?

Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse gently with water if dirty, do not scrub. If you can, gently reinsert it into the socket and bite down on a clean cloth. If you cannot, put it in a cup of milk or saliva (not water). Call us within the first hour for the best chance of saving it.

Can I come in if I have never been to Dunning before?

Yes. Emergency visits are open to new and returning patients. Tell the front desk you are new when you call. They will handle the forms and get you seen as quickly as possible.

Do not wait on a tooth that hurts.

Pain almost always means something has changed. The earlier you call, the more options stay on the table.

A legacy of family dentistry you can trust.