Planned Service · Opening Early 2027
Tooth Pain & Dental Emergency Care in Merrick, NY
Few things are more miserable than severe tooth pain. Endodontic emergencies — throbbing pain, swelling, pain that wakes you at night — usually mean the pulp inside a tooth is inflamed or infected, and they deserve prompt attention. Emergency evaluation is a planned service at Merrick Endodontics, in development in Merrick, NY, opening early 2027.
Symptoms that should be checked promptly
- Severe or throbbing tooth pain, or pain that wakes you from sleep
- Pain that lingers long after hot or cold touches the tooth
- Swelling of the gum, face, or jaw, or a bump on the gum that drains
- Pain when biting or releasing a bite, suggesting a crack or deep infection
- A tooth knocked out, pushed out of place, or injured in a fall or accident
- A broken tooth with a visible pink or red spot, or pain after a filling or crown is lost
Facial swelling that is spreading, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or fever with swelling are emergencies that warrant urgent care the same day — do not wait.
What an endodontist does in an emergency
The first job is diagnosis: finding exactly which tooth is causing the pain and why. That may sound simple, but tooth pain can be referred from a neighboring tooth, the sinuses, or the jaw joint, so careful testing and imaging matter before any treatment. Once the source is confirmed, emergency endodontic care is aimed at relieving pain — often by beginning root canal therapy to remove the inflamed or infected pulp, draining an area of swelling, or stabilizing an injured tooth — followed by a plan to complete treatment and restore the tooth.
A knocked-out tooth is time-critical
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, hold it by the crown (the part you see), not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly without scrubbing. Try to place it gently back in its socket; if that is not possible, keep it moist — in milk or held inside the cheek — and get to a dentist immediately. The best outcomes happen when the tooth is replanted within about an hour.
While you wait to be seen
- Over-the-counter pain relievers, used as directed, can take the edge off
- A cold compress on the cheek can help with swelling
- Avoid very hot, cold, or hard foods on the affected side
- Do not place aspirin directly on the gum, and do not delay — dental infections do not resolve on their own
Our guide to the signs you may need a root canal explains which symptoms point to the inside of the tooth.
Related planned services
Frequently asked questions
I have severe tooth pain right now. Can Merrick Endodontics see me?
Not yet — Merrick Endodontics is still in development, is planned to open in early 2027, and cannot see patients at this time. If you are in pain today, please contact your general dentist or an endodontist currently practicing in your area right away. Facial swelling with fever, or swelling that affects swallowing or breathing, should be treated as an emergency the same day.
Will an emergency visit include treatment?
At a specialty practice, emergency care starts with diagnosis, and treatment to relieve pain often begins at the same visit when the diagnosis is clear — frequently by starting root canal therapy. A completion and restoration plan follows.
Why does tooth pain get worse at night?
Lying flat increases blood flow and pressure around an inflamed pulp, and there are fewer distractions, so pain from an infected or dying nerve often feels stronger at night. Pain that wakes you is a classic sign the pulp is in trouble and should be evaluated promptly.
Can antibiotics alone fix a tooth infection?
Antibiotics can help control spreading infection, but they cannot remove the infected tissue inside a tooth, so they do not cure the source. The tooth still needs root canal treatment or extraction. Antibiotics are not a substitute for dental treatment.