Don’t Panic: Your Guide to Handling Dental Emergencies in Windsor

In pain? Broken tooth? Here is how Dr. Arielle Garfinkle and The Smile Garden team help you find relief fast—without the judgment.

When Life Throws a Curveball

We know how it goes. You are packing for a vacation, sitting down to a Friday night dinner, or waking up on a Sunday morning, and suddenly—it hits you. A sharp pain when you bite down.[1] A throbbing ache that won't quit. Or maybe you crunch down on a piece of popcorn and feel a piece of your tooth crumble away.

Dental emergencies have a funny way of happening at the most inconvenient times. And when they do, the physical pain is often compounded by panic. What do I do? Who can I call? Will it hurt to get it fixed?

At The Smile Garden of East Windsor, we want you to take a deep breath.

"We really want to assure patients that we're here for them, that we want them to be comfortable," says Dr. Arielle Garfinkle (or Dr. Ari, as most of us call her).

Our practice wasn't built just for routine cleanings; it was built for real life. And in real life, emergencies happen. Whether you are dealing with a broken tooth, a lost filling, or severe pain, our priority is simple: We want to get you out of pain as soon as possible, and we want to help you come up with a solution that works for you.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what to do when a dental crisis strikes, and why visiting our office is a completely different experience than the sterile, scary emergency visits you might be imagining.

Part I: The "No Judgment" Zone

Before we talk about broken teeth or infections, we need to address the biggest barrier to emergency care: Shame.

We see it all the time. A patient comes in with a swollen face or a broken tooth, and the first thing they say isn't "it hurts"—it's "I'm sorry." They apologize for not flossing, for missing appointments for five years, or for letting things "get this bad." They are terrified of being lectured.

At The Smile Garden, that old-school "guilt trip" dentistry does not exist.

"I understand that there can be a lot of anxiety and shame around people's dental health," Dr. Ari says. "And I want to assure you that there is no judgment coming from me. I am not thinking any less of you if you haven't been to the dentist for a long time."

We aren't here to grade your past; we are here to secure your future. We understand that life gets in the way. Maybe you had a bad experience as a kid. Maybe you lost insurance for a while. Maybe life just got busy. It doesn't matter to us.

When you walk through our doors in pain, our only focus is providing a safe, calming space to help you feel better. We are on your team, not on your back.

Part II: Is This Actually a Dental Emergency?

Sometimes it’s obvious—a knocked-out tooth is definitely an emergency.[4] But other times, it can be tricky to know if you should call us immediately or wait for a regular appointment.

If you are hurting, we want to hear from you. But to help you gauge the situation, here are the most common emergencies we treat here in Windsor:

1. Severe Pain & Infection
If you have a toothache that is keeping you up at night, or if you notice swelling in your gums or face, this is a red flag.
"We see people unfortunately that are in pain that have a dental infection," Dr. Ari explains.
An infection won't go away on its own. In fact, it can be dangerous if it spreads. If you are swollen, please call us right away. We can help by getting you on antibiotics or treating the source of the infection to stop the pain fast.

2. Broken or Chipped Teeth
Maybe you bit down on a cherry pit or slipped and fell. If a tooth is broken, it might be sensitive to air and cold, or it might just be sharp and cutting your tongue. We see patients with broken teeth all the time, and we try to get a crown started for them to help fix that tooth right away.

3. Lost Fillings or Crowns
If an old filling pops out, it leaves a hole that catches food and exposes the sensitive inner layers of your tooth. It can be incredibly annoying and painful. We like to get that fixed up as quick as we can so you can eat comfortably again.

The Golden Rule:
If you are in pain, if you can't eat, or if you are worried—call us. Even if it’s just to ask a question. We will help walk you through it and make sure that you get the care that you need quickly.

Part III: The Smile Garden Protocol — Comfort First, Decisions Second

When you are in severe pain, your brain goes into survival mode. It is really hard to make complex decisions about your health when all you can think about is the throbbing in your jaw.

Dr. Ari recognizes this. That is why our emergency protocol is a little different.

"We want to make sure that you feel heard and respected," she says. "And we understand that sometimes you're coming in with pain. And so, we want to just take it slow."

Step 1: The Assessment
We will get you in as quickly as possible. We’ll take some X-rays and look to see exactly which tooth is the problem.

Step 2: The Pause Button (Numbing)
This is where Dr. Ari’s approach shines.
"We might just numb you just to get you out of that pain," she explains.
Before we launch into a big lecture about treatment plans or costs, we might simply numb the area. Why? Because once that throbbing stops, you can finally take a deep breath. You can think clearly again.
"Then we can have a more coherent conversation with each other and figure out what plan is right for you," Dr. Ari adds.

We don't want you agreeing to a procedure just because you are desperate for relief. We want you to feel good moving forward and be able to think long-term about what you really want for your smile.

Part IV: How We Fix It (The Solutions)

Once you are comfortable and we have identified the issue, we have a toolbox full of solutions to fix it.

1. Taking Out the Tooth (Extractions)
Sometimes, a tooth is too damaged or infected to save.While losing a tooth sounds scary, for a patient in severe pain, it can actually be a blessing.
"I am grateful that I have the skills to take out teeth immediately right there," Dr. Ari says.
When a tooth is causing a massive infection ("pus coming out," as Dr. Ari frankly puts it), removing it removes the source of the problem. Patients often feel an immediate wave of relief knowing the infection is gone and they won't be dealing with it later that day.

2. Root Canals
If the tooth can be saved, we might start a root canal. This removes the infected nerve (the source of the pain) while keeping your natural tooth structure in place.

3. Antibiotics
If there is significant swelling, we might start you on antibiotics to calm the infection down before we proceed with treatment.

4. Restorative Work
For broken teeth or lost fillings, we can prep you for a crown or place a new filling to restore the shape and function of the tooth.

Whatever the solution, our goal is the same: Get you out of pain immediately.

Part V: Prevention — The Best Way to Avoid the Weekend Panic

While we are always here for you in an emergency, we would much rather see you for a relaxing cleaning than a frantic emergency visit!

Dr. Ari notes that while accidents happen (biting the wrong thing), a lot of emergencies are the result of "neglect over the years."

Again, this isn't about blame. It’s about biology. A small cavity doesn't hurt. But if that small cavity grows for five years, it eventually hits the nerve—and boom, you have a dental emergency.

"A great way to prevent dental emergencies from occurring is to come see me every six months," Dr. Ari advises. "So we can talk about things when they're small and treat them early so that we don't have big blowups later."

We know that fear keeps people away. That is why we have worked so hard to make The Smile Garden feel less like a clinic and more like a sanctuary. We want to help you feel better about coming to the dentist so you don't feel scared. If we can make your regular visits comfortable, we can catch problems early and keep you out of the emergency chair.

We Are Here to Listen

If you are reading this while holding an ice pack to your cheek, or if you are frantically Googling "broken tooth" at 2:00 AM, we want you to know two things:

1. It is going to be okay.
2. We can help.

"First of all, I am so sorry that you're going through that," Dr. Ari says. "And I want you to know that I am here to help you."

Don't let shame or fear keep you in pain. You don't have to tough it out. Give us a call, or text us if that’s easier for you, at (970) 460-8725. Let us know what is going on. We will get you in, get you relief, and help you find a solution that fits your life and your budget.

We are here to listen, and we are here to help.