Emergency dentistry

Dental pain should not wait on a form.

For active tooth pain, a broken tooth, a lost crown, or sudden dental swelling, call 518-842-3220 during office hours and the front desk will triage the situation. For difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, severe facial swelling, or trauma involving more than just teeth, go to the emergency department or call 911 first.

Call for urgent care Office hours + contact

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

Call first. A phone conversation is faster than any form.

The front desk asks what is happening, when it started, and what you have tried, then finds the earliest appropriate opening.

Phone-first triage

911 or emergency department first

When it is not a dental office visit.

Some situations belong in the emergency department or with 911 first. Once the immediate risk is addressed, the follow-up dental work happens after.

Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Uncontrolled bleeding.
Severe facial swelling, especially near the eye or extending down the neck.
Trauma involving more than just teeth (jaw, head, or loss of consciousness).

For any of the above, go to the emergency department or call 911. Do not wait for a dental office call-back.

When to call the office

Dental concerns Dunning can triage.

Most dental urgencies fall into these patterns. During office hours, call 518-842-3220 and the front desk will triage.

Severe or worsening tooth pain

Pain that keeps you up at night, radiates to the ear or jaw, or has gotten significantly worse in the last day. Call the office.

Knocked-out permanent tooth

Time-sensitive. Handle the tooth by the crown (not the root), rinse gently, and if possible place it back in the socket. Call the office right away.

Broken tooth or lost restoration

A broken tooth, a lost crown, a lost filling, or a lost bridge. Save any pieces if you can. Call the office for the earliest appropriate opening.

Localized swelling around a tooth

Contained swelling near a specific tooth without fever, breathing difficulty, or throat involvement. Call the office. Larger swelling belongs in the emergency department first.

What to do while waiting

Between the call and the visit.

For a lost crown: save the crown, do not force it back on. Chew on the other side until you are seen.
For a broken tooth: save any pieces in a small container, rinse gently, and chew on the other side.
For a knocked-out permanent tooth (ADA guidance): handle it by the crown, rinse gently, and if possible place it back in the socket. If it cannot go back in, keep it in milk or in the cheek. Do not use tap water for storage. Call the office immediately; time matters.
For localized swelling: cool compresses on the outside of the face can help. Do not apply warm compresses without a dentist's guidance.
For pain: standard over-the-counter pain relievers used as directed on the label are generally appropriate. Mention what you have taken when you call.

Baby-tooth avulsions are different. Do not attempt to reinsert a baby tooth; it can damage the developing permanent tooth beneath. Call the office or a pediatric dentist for guidance.

What the office can and cannot promise

How the earliest appropriate opening works.

Some urgent concerns need same-day attention; others can be stabilized and scheduled promptly. The exact timing depends on the situation and the schedule that day.

1

Phone triage

The front desk asks short, practical questions: what happened, where it hurts, when it started, and what you have taken. That call decides whether you need to come in today, whether the emergency department is the right first stop, or whether the concern can safely wait for the next available appointment.
2

Earliest appropriate opening

If the concern cannot safely wait, the office finds the earliest workable slot. Same-day and next-morning openings are common but not guaranteed. Whatever the answer is, you know it before you hang up.
3

The visit itself

When you arrive, Dr. D'Addio or Dr. Bauman examines the tooth, takes any imaging needed, and explains what is happening and the options. Most urgencies are stabilized in one visit; longer treatment is planned separately.

What it costs

Emergency visits are billed like other visits.

An emergency exam with any needed imaging is billed like a standard exam. Treatment cost depends on what is wrong and what needs to be done. The front desk provides a written estimate before treatment beyond routine care. Dunning is out of network and submits claims to most carriers as a courtesy; the insurer makes the final benefit determination and reimburses you directly. See the insurance and payment page for the full flow.

Call with payment questions

Written estimate before treatment

For any work beyond a basic exam, the office provides a written estimate so you know the number before treatment starts.

CareCredit is accepted

When an urgent situation leads to larger treatment, CareCredit is third-party financing that can spread the cost across months. Approval and terms are set by CareCredit.

Common questions

Practical answers, plainly written.

Do you offer same-day emergency appointments?

The office triages every urgent call and works to see dental urgencies at the earliest appropriate opening. Same-day and next-morning openings are common, but actual timing depends on the situation and the schedule that day. Call 518-842-3220 during office hours; if the concern cannot safely wait, the front desk will make that clear and find the soonest workable slot.

What if it is after hours?

For difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, severe facial swelling, or trauma involving more than just teeth, go to the emergency department or call 911. For a lost crown or a small chip without pain, home care until the next business day is usually fine; call the office when it opens. Voicemail is checked when the phones roll to it.

Should I go to the ER or call the dentist?

Emergency department or 911: difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, severe facial swelling, or trauma involving more than just teeth. Dental office: tooth pain, broken teeth, lost crowns or fillings, or localized swelling near a specific tooth without breathing or throat involvement. When in doubt, call the office and the front desk can redirect you to the emergency department if that is the safer route.

I lost a permanent 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 it is dirty; do not scrub. If you can, place it back in the socket and hold it in place with light finger pressure or by biting on clean gauze. If it cannot be placed back, keep it in milk or in saliva (in the cheek or in a container); do not use tap water for storage. Call the office as soon as possible. Time is the critical variable. This applies to permanent teeth. Do not attempt to reinsert a baby tooth; call for guidance.

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

Yes. Urgent 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 at the earliest appropriate opening.

When it matters, call first.

Dunning triages urgent dental concerns by phone during office hours. If it is after hours and it is serious, the emergency department is the right first stop.

Honest dentistry for families who want the long view.