Emergency Dentist in Hampton, NH

When to Call an Emergency Dentist

Not every dental problem feels like an emergency, but some situations require immediate professional attention. If you are experiencing any of the following, call our Hampton office at (603) 926-4575 right away:

• Severe toothache — persistent, intense pain that does not subside
• Chipped or broken tooth — especially with sharp edges or exposed nerve pain
• Knocked-out tooth (avulsed) — time is critical; act within 30–60 minutes
• Lost crown or filling — leaving a tooth unprotected can cause rapid damage
• Dental abscess or swollen face — a sign of serious infection that must be treated promptly
• Broken denture — affecting your ability to eat or speak comfortably
• Injury to the mouth or jaw — lacerations, fractured jaw, or significant trauma

Important: If you have facial swelling that is spreading rapidly, difficulty breathing, or difficulty swallowing, please go to your nearest emergency room immediately. These symptoms may indicate a serious infection that requires hospital-level care.

What to Do Before You Arrive

While you wait to be seen, the steps you take at home can make a meaningful difference in the outcome. Here is what we recommend for the most common emergencies:

• Knocked-out tooth: Pick up the tooth by the crown (not the root). Gently rinse it with water — do not scrub or use soap. Try to gently reinsert it into the socket and bite down carefully on a piece of gauze to hold it in place. If reinsertion is not possible, keep the tooth moist in a cup of milk or hold it between your cheek and gum. Get to our office within 30–60 minutes — this dramatically improves the chances of successful reimplantation.
• Severe toothache: Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) per label directions. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek for 15–20 minutes at a time to reduce swelling. Avoid very hot or very cold foods and beverages, which can intensify the pain.
• Broken tooth: Rinse your mouth gently with warm water. Save any fragments you can find and bring them to the appointment. If there is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze. Avoid chewing on that side until you are seen.

Same-Day Emergency Appointments at Gentle Family Dentistry

When a dental emergency strikes, the last thing you want is to be put on hold or told the next available appointment is three weeks away. At Gentle Family Dentistry, we take a different approach. We reserve time in our schedule specifically for urgent cases, so when you call, we do everything we can to get you in the same day.

Call us as early as possible at (603) 926-4575. Our front desk team will triage your situation over the phone, advise you on any immediate steps, and get you scheduled. We see emergency patients Monday through Thursday, with extended evening hours on Thursday (until 7:30 pm) that are especially convenient for working patients or school-age children.

If you are calling outside of office hours, please leave a detailed message on our after-hours voicemail. We check messages regularly and will return your call to assist you or get you scheduled first thing when we open.

We also welcome new patients who are experiencing a dental emergency. You do not need to be an existing patient to receive same-day care — just call and let us know what is happening.

Common Dental Emergencies We Treat

Toothache & Dental Abscess

A severe toothache almost always signals an underlying problem — a deep cavity, a cracked tooth, or an infection. Dr. Li will examine the area, take digital X-rays, and determine the cause. If there is an abscess (pocket of infection), we may prescribe antibiotics to bring the infection under control. Depending on the severity, treatment may include a root canal to save the tooth or an extraction if the tooth cannot be preserved. The goal is always to relieve your pain and protect your overall health as quickly as possible.

Chipped or Broken Tooth

Minor chips that do not involve the nerve can often be repaired quickly with tooth-colored bonding resin — a painless, cost-effective option that can usually be completed in a single visit. For more significant fractures that compromise the tooth structure, a dental crown is typically the best solution. Dr. Li will restore the tooth with a custom porcelain crown, designed to look and function like your natural tooth.

Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out (avulsed) tooth is one of the few dental emergencies where minutes truly matter. If you follow the steps above and get to our office quickly, reimplantation is often possible, and the tooth can survive long-term with proper follow-up care. If the tooth cannot be saved, Dr. Li will discuss your replacement options — most commonly a dental implant or a dental bridge — and help you make the best decision for your smile and budget.

Lost Crown or Filling

A lost crown or filling leaves the underlying tooth exposed and vulnerable to further decay, fracture, and sensitivity. We will recement or replace the restoration as quickly as possible. In the meantime, over-the-counter dental cement (available at most pharmacies) can provide temporary protection. Do not leave a lost crown untreated, as the tooth can shift and the original crown may no longer fit properly.

Dental Abscess

An abscess is a bacterial infection that can spread rapidly if left untreated. Symptoms include throbbing pain, facial swelling, fever, and a foul taste in the mouth. Treatment may involve draining the abscess, a course of antibiotics, and either root canal therapy to save the tooth or extraction if the tooth is too compromised. Prompt care is essential — dental infections can spread to the jaw, neck, and beyond if ignored.

Preventing Dental Emergencies

While not every dental emergency is preventable, there are concrete steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk:

• Wear a custom mouthguard for sports. A professionally fitted mouthguard from Gentle Family Dentistry offers far superior protection compared to over-the-counter options. If you or your child plays contact sports, a mouthguard is one of the best investments you can make.
• Avoid chewing ice, hard candy, and non-food objects. These habits are a leading cause of cracked and broken teeth, even in otherwise healthy mouths.
• Keep up with regular cleanings and checkups. Twice-yearly visits allow Dr. Li to catch small problems — early-stage cavities, hairline cracks, early gum disease — before they escalate into painful, costly emergencies.
• Treat small cavities promptly. A cavity caught early requires a simple filling. Left untreated, it can reach the nerve and require a root canal or lead to tooth loss. Early treatment is almost always faster, less expensive, and less uncomfortable.