A dental emergency doesn’t wait for a convenient moment. When a tooth gets knocked out, a crown breaks, or a toothache becomes unbearable, getting to the right provider quickly can mean the difference between saving the tooth and losing it. Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics offers prompt emergency dental care in Boynton Beach, with same-day scheduling prioritized for urgent situations involving pain, trauma, or damaged restorations.
What sets Ocean Breeze apart in a dental emergency is what sits behind every appointment: Dr. Nicholas Goetz, a maxillofacial prosthodontic trained dental professional and one of only approximately 150 in the United States with that level of training. For patients with implants, dentures, bridges, or other restorations, that background makes a significant difference when something goes wrong.
Not every dental problem requires emergency care, but some situations genuinely cannot wait. If you are unsure, call our office — we would rather you call and find out it can wait than delay care you actually need. The situations below all require immediate attention to prevent further damage, relieve severe pain, or address a spreading infection.
Common dental emergencies we treat include: knocked-out or loose permanent teeth, severe or persistent toothaches, cracked or fractured teeth exposing inner structure, lost crowns or fillings leaving the tooth unprotected, abscessed teeth with swelling or fever, soft tissue injuries involving significant bleeding, and broken or damaged implants, dentures, or bridges. If you experience any of these, call our Boynton Beach office right away.
Each emergency presents differently, and the right response in the first few minutes can significantly affect the outcome. Here is what to know and do for the most common situations we see:
Most emergency dental providers can handle a knocked-out tooth or a severe toothache. Fewer are equipped to manage the complex emergencies that affect patients with implants, dentures, or extensive restorative work. Because Ocean Breeze is a prosthodontic practice with a maxillofacial prosthodontic trained dentist, our emergency care extends to situations that general dentists refer out — making us a more complete resource for Boynton Beach patients with complex dental histories.
Patients with existing implants, dentures, bridges, or other restorations face unique dental emergencies that require a prosthodontic hand. A loose implant crown, fractured denture, or dislodged bridge are situations where visiting a general dentist can mean a referral and a delay — at Ocean Breeze, these cases land directly with the specialist who is trained to handle them.
Our office uses digital X-rays and CBCT scanning technology to get a complete picture of what is happening beneath the surface during a dental emergency. For cases involving implants, bone, or complex anatomy, that three-dimensional imaging gives Dr. Goetz the information needed to make the right call quickly — rather than guessing based on two-dimensional images alone.
When you call with a dental emergency, our team works to get you seen as quickly as possible. We prioritize same-day scheduling for patients in active pain or with acute dental trauma. While you wait, we will provide first-aid guidance over the phone so you can manage your situation before arriving.
Emergency treatment stabilizes the immediate problem, but many dental injuries require one or more follow-up visits to complete the restoration. Because Ocean Breeze handles both general and prosthodontic care, you can move from emergency treatment into whatever comes next — a crown, an implant, or a full restoration — without switching providers. That continuity matters when the case is complex.
A toothache is one of the most common reasons patients call our office for same-day care — and one of the most misunderstood. Pain that feels manageable on Monday can become unbearable by Wednesday. Toothaches are almost always a symptom of an underlying problem that will not improve without treatment: decay that has reached the nerve, a cracked tooth, an abscess, or gum disease that has advanced to the root surface.
Taking over-the-counter pain relievers may temporarily reduce discomfort, but they do not address the source of the pain. If your toothache is severe, has been present for more than a day or two, is accompanied by swelling, or is keeping you awake at night, it qualifies as a dental emergency. Call our Boynton Beach office and we will prioritize getting you seen. Dr. Goetz will diagnose the underlying cause, relieve your pain, and outline the appropriate treatment — whether that is a filling, a root canal, or another intervention — so you leave with a clear plan and real relief.
Dr. Nicholas Goetz completed a Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Fellowship at UCLA before serving as a civilian maxillofacial prosthodontist for the U.S. Army and the VA Medical Hospital — settings where complex oral trauma and emergency rehabilitation were routine. He is one of approximately 150 maxillofacial prosthodontists in the United States, and his background in complex reconstruction means Boynton Beach patients dealing with difficult emergencies are in particularly capable hands.
When you arrive, Dr. Goetz quickly assesses the nature and severity of your emergency, takes any necessary X-rays or CBCT imaging, and takes immediate steps to stabilize the situation and get you out of pain before any further decisions are made.
After the initial assessment, Dr. Goetz explains your diagnosis clearly and outlines your treatment options before any procedure begins. Whether your situation calls for a filling, crown, root canal, extraction, or more complex restorative intervention, you will understand the full picture and associated costs before we proceed.
Once you have approved the treatment plan, Dr. Goetz proceeds with the appropriate emergency procedure — whether that is a same-day filling, an emergency crown, a root canal, an extraction, or stabilization of a damaged restoration. Comfort is prioritized throughout, and every step is performed with the same level of clinical precision we bring to planned procedures.
Many dental emergencies require follow-up visits to complete the restoration after the immediate crisis is resolved. Because Ocean Breeze handles the full spectrum of care from general dentistry through complex prosthodontics, your follow-up treatment — whether a permanent crown, implant placement, or full restorative rehabilitation — happens in the same office with the same provider who managed your emergency.
A cracked, chipped, or fractured tooth requires prompt evaluation because the severity of the break determines whether the tooth can be saved and how. A minor chip may need only smoothing or bonding. A larger fracture that extends toward the pulp may require a crown or root canal. A split tooth that extends below the gumline may not be salvageable — which is why time and an accurate diagnosis matter.
Rinse your mouth with warm water, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling if present, and call our Boynton Beach office. Do not chew on the affected side until Dr. Goetz has evaluated the tooth. Avoid aspirin applied directly to the gum, which can cause tissue damage. The sooner you are seen, the more treatment options remain available.
A crown that comes off leaves the prepared tooth underneath vulnerable to sensitivity, further decay, and fracture. In many cases, a crown debonds because there is new decay at the margin — which needs to be addressed before recementation. Do not attempt to glue the crown back with household adhesive. Over-the-counter dental cement can provide temporary protection for the exposed tooth until you are seen, but this is a stopgap, not a fix.
Call our Boynton Beach office as soon as the crown comes off. Dr. Goetz will evaluate the underlying tooth, address any decay or structural issues, and recement or replace the crown with the correct material for that tooth’s function and location. Patients with existing prosthodontic restorations — implant crowns, bridge abutments, or full arch prosthetics — should call immediately, as the management differs from a standard crown.
A lost filling leaves a cavity in the tooth open to food, bacteria, and bite pressure — all of which can accelerate decay and cause significant sensitivity. The area may feel rough with your tongue, become sensitive to hot or cold, or cause pain when chewing. Temporary filling material available at pharmacies can protect the area until your appointment, but it does not bond to the tooth the same way a proper restoration does and should not be left in place indefinitely.
Call our office promptly. Dr. Goetz will clean the area, evaluate whether the underlying tooth structure has changed since the original filling was placed — which is common, particularly with older restorations — and restore it with an appropriate tooth-colored composite filling. If the cavity has expanded significantly or if a crack is present beneath the old filling, a crown or other restoration may be indicated.
Dental trauma includes knocked-out teeth, teeth that are displaced or loosened without being fully avulsed, jaw injuries, and lacerations to the lips, cheeks, or tongue. A fully knocked-out tooth is the most time-sensitive dental emergency: reimplantation within 30 to 60 minutes gives the best chance of saving the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown only — never touch the root. Rinse it gently with water without scrubbing, try to reinsert it into the socket if possible, and if reinsertion is not possible, keep it moist in milk or the patient’s own saliva and get to our office immediately.
For jaw injuries with a suspected fracture, significant swelling, or major soft tissue trauma, go to the emergency room first to rule out fracture and address any acute bleeding. Then follow up with our Boynton Beach office for a complete dental evaluation and restoration planning. As a maxillofacial prosthodontist with experience treating trauma patients in U.S. Army and VA Medical Hospital settings, Dr. Goetz is equipped to manage complex dental trauma cases that general emergency providers cannot.
Dental swelling is a sign that infection is present — and infection that is left untreated does not stay contained. A dental abscess is a bacterial infection at the root tip or in the gum tissue that can spread to the jaw, neck, and airway if not treated. If swelling is spreading rapidly, you are running a fever, or you are having difficulty swallowing or breathing, this is a medical emergency. Go to the emergency room immediately.
For localized dental swelling without these systemic symptoms, call our Boynton Beach office for same-day care. Do not wait for it to improve on its own — dental infections do not resolve without treatment. Dr. Goetz will evaluate the source of the infection, drain the abscess if indicated, prescribe antibiotics to control the spread, and outline the definitive treatment — which in most cases is either root canal therapy to save the tooth or extraction if the tooth cannot be restored. Pain relief begins at the appointment, not after a week of antibiotics alone.
Some dental emergencies cannot be resolved by saving the tooth. When a tooth is severely fractured below the gumline, when advanced infection has destroyed too much supporting bone for root canal therapy to succeed, or when a failed implant is causing acute pain and tissue breakdown, extraction is the appropriate emergency treatment. Delaying an extraction in these situations does not preserve the tooth — it allows the infection or damage to spread to adjacent teeth and bone.
Emergency extractions at Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics are performed with full local anesthesia for your comfort. Dr. Goetz will not proceed until the area is completely numb. Following the extraction, Dr. Goetz will discuss tooth replacement options at the same appointment or immediately after — including dental implants in Boynton Beach — so you leave with a clear plan for restoring the space, not just instructions for what happened.
We understand that an unexpected dental emergency can also be an unexpected financial event. Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics offers flexible financing options so cost does not stand between you and necessary care. While we are not in-network with insurance companies, we file claims on your behalf and help you maximize any reimbursement your PPO plan allows.
Browse real results from restorative and emergency dental treatments performed at Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics.
Call our office as soon as possible. We prioritize same-day appointments for dental emergencies. If you are unsure whether your situation is urgent, call and describe your symptoms — we would rather you call and find out it can wait than delay care you actually need.
Handle it by the crown only — never touch the root. Rinse it gently with water without scrubbing. Try to reinsert it in the socket if possible. If reinsertion isn’t possible, keep it moist in milk or saliva and get to our office immediately. Time is critical — the sooner you arrive, the better the chance of saving the tooth.
Not necessarily. The ER can address life-threatening concerns like uncontrolled bleeding, severe swelling affecting breathing, or jaw trauma, but cannot treat the underlying dental problem. For most dental emergencies, you are better served by calling a dental office that can provide same-day care and treat the actual tooth or infection causing the issue.
No — a toothache will not resolve on its own. The pain may temporarily subside, but the underlying cause — whether it is decay, an abscess, a crack, or an infection — will not disappear without treatment. In many cases, a toothache that stops hurting has simply progressed to a point where the nerve is too damaged to signal pain, which is actually more concerning. Do not wait to have it evaluated.
Coverage varies by plan. While we are not in-network with insurance companies, we file claims on your behalf and help you maximize any reimbursement your PPO allows. Many plans offer some coverage for emergency exams and treatment, though the amount depends on your specific policy. We review your benefits and provide a cost estimate before any treatment begins so there are no surprises.
When a dental emergency strikes in Boynton Beach, the right provider makes all the difference. Dr. Nicholas Goetz brings fellowship-level maxillofacial prosthodontic training to every emergency case — from a straightforward cracked tooth to a complex implant failure or post-surgical complication. Same-day scheduling is prioritized for patients in pain, and flexible financing ensures cost does not stand in the way of care you need right now.
Don’t wait to be seen. Contact Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics immediately by completing our contact form or calling our Boynton Beach office at (561) 265-1998.
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