At a Glance
- Service: Same-day emergency dentistry with PPO insurance accepted and financing available
- Serving: Lakewood and Garden State Parkway commuters from the Toms River office, about 12 to 15 minutes away
- Office hours: Monday and Tuesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday by appointment
- Accepting new patients: Yes, same-day emergencies welcome
- Differentiator: An insurance coordinator who works to maximize your benefits, plus financing so cost does not delay urgent care
Do not let the cost question delay care
The most expensive dental emergency is the one you put off. When people hesitate to call, cost is often the reason, so it helps to put the money picture up front. The office near Lakewood accepts most major PPO dental plans, files the claims for you, and has an insurance coordinator whose job is to get the most from your benefits. For treatment insurance does not fully cover, financing spreads the cost into monthly payments. The insurance coordinator handles the paperwork side so you can focus on the pain rather than the claim, and they will tell you what your plan covers before you commit to anything.
That matters because delay changes the math. A toothache treated while it is a cavity is a filling. The same tooth left until the nerve is infected becomes a root canal and a crown, at several times the cost. Acting fast is not only easier on your body, it is usually easier on your budget.
Getting to the office from Lakewood
From Lakewood, the fastest route is the Garden State Parkway south to the Toms River exits, then onto Route 9 or Hooper Avenue toward the office. Follow Hooper south and turn onto Oak Avenue; the office is at 222 Oak Avenue, Suite 8, with on-site parking. You can also take Route 9 the whole way if you prefer to avoid the Parkway.
The trip runs about 12 to 15 minutes and roughly 8 miles. Lakewood is one of the fastest-growing towns in the region, and its own emergency slots fill quickly; the short drive south often means a faster appointment. The Wednesday and Thursday hours until 6 p.m. help if a problem flares after work.
Who should call now, and who can wait
Call the same day for severe toothache, swelling, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, bleeding that will not stop, or a lost crown or filling that leaves a tooth exposed. Swelling with a fever or bad taste points to infection and should not wait. A knocked-out permanent tooth is the most time-sensitive case of all. A short phone call costs nothing and often saves a wasted trip or catches a problem while it is still cheap to fix.
A minor chip without pain or brief cold sensitivity can usually wait for a scheduled visit, though it is still worth mentioning at your next appointment so it does not develop into something larger unnoticed. Lakewood is a large, busy community, and many families are managing care for several people on one budget; a quick call helps you decide which problems need a same-day chair and which can be planned, so you spend on what actually needs attention now.
Meet the dentists who will treat you
Dr. Rakhee Patel and Dr. Monica Patel lead the practice, and both see emergency patients themselves. Dr. Rakhee Patel trained in emergency dentistry, oral surgery, and root canals during her hospital residency, which is the right background for acute pain. Dr. Rakhee Patel was born and raised in Texas and graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin before earning her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, where she was named Best Dental Student of the Year. Her general practice residency at Lutheran Medical Center gave her hands-on experience in root canals, oral surgery, and emergency dentistry. She has practiced since 2012 and holds advanced training in occlusal therapy and full-mouth rehabilitation from the Pankey Institute.
Dr. Monica Patel adds surgical training for complex cases. Dr. Monica Patel was born and raised in New Jersey and earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, following a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers and a Master's in Biomedical Sciences. She completed a general practice residency at Stony Brook Dental School, where she handled hospital-based dentistry, surgical extractions, root canals, and implant placement. She is surgically trained in implant placement and periodontal treatment using minimally invasive techniques. Both work to keep emergency care affordable by treating what is urgent now and planning the rest, rather than pushing everything into one costly visit.
After the emergency: the affordable path forward
Once your pain is handled, the cheapest long-term plan is preventive. The doctors will talk with you about finishing any needed follow-up, such as a crown after a root canal or a replacement for an extracted tooth, and about getting onto a regular checkup schedule so small problems get caught early.
For patients without insurance, an in-house membership plan makes preventive and restorative care more affordable year-round, without annual maximums. Combined with financing for larger work, it gives Lakewood patients a way to handle both the emergency today and the care that keeps the next one from happening.
The true cost of delay, explained
It is worth being concrete about how delay drives up cost, because the pattern is predictable. A cavity caught early is a filling. Once decay reaches the nerve, the same tooth needs root canal treatment and a crown, which involves more visits and more expense. If infection sets in and spreads, treatment becomes more involved still, and in the worst cases the tooth is lost and needs replacing with an implant or bridge.
Each stage costs more than the one before it, so the cheapest version of almost any dental problem is the early one. That is the practical case for calling the same day rather than waiting to see if the pain passes. The insurance coordinator and financing options exist to remove the money barrier to acting early, so a treatable problem does not grow into an expensive one while you wait.
Click on a link below to learn more about our other General & Preventive Dentistry services
What emergency care does not replace
Emergency visits solve the immediate problem, but leaning on them alone is the most expensive way to keep your teeth. A pattern of treating crises without regular checkups means problems are caught late, when they cost the most. The doctors are candid about this: they will handle your restorative, prosthetic, and full-mouth needs when an emergency calls for it, and they will also point you toward prevention.
Regular six-month checkups and cleanings catch small issues before they become painful and expensive ones. For Lakewood families budgeting across several people, that preventive rhythm is the single best cost control available, and the in-house membership plan is built to make it affordable for patients without insurance. The emergency gets you in the door; prevention keeps you from coming back for the same reason.
Lakewood emergency dental questions
How much does an emergency dental visit cost near Lakewood without insurance?
A: The exact cost depends on what treatment the emergency needs, from a straightforward filling to a root canal, a crown, or an extraction with a later replacement. The team explains the price before starting any work, so you decide with clear numbers, and financing can spread larger costs into monthly payments. Uninsured patients can also ask about the in-house membership plan for ongoing care.
I have PPO insurance. Will you maximize my benefits for an emergency in Lakewood?
A: Yes. The practice accepts most major PPO plans, files the claim for you, and the insurance coordinator works to get the most from your benefits. The team reviews the estimate with you before treatment so you know what your plan covers and what it does not.
I commute on the Garden State Parkway. Can I stop for emergency care on my way?
A: Yes. The office sits just off Hooper Avenue near the Parkway corridor, about 12 to 15 minutes from Lakewood, so it fits into a commute rather than adding a long detour. Same-day emergency time is available, and evening hours run until 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
Is it cheaper to wait and see if my toothache goes away?
A: Usually not. A tooth cannot heal on its own, so a problem treated early as a small cavity is far less expensive than the same tooth after the nerve becomes infected and needs a root canal and crown. Calling the same day tends to protect both your comfort and your budget.
Do you offer a payment plan for a large emergency bill?
A: Yes. Financing with monthly payments is available for treatment that insurance does not fully cover, which helps when an emergency turns into a larger repair. The team sets this up before treatment so you can move forward without delay.
Dentistry with a Woman's Touch
222 Oak Ave # 8, Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 518-3088
Have a question? We have answers.
New Patient Specials
New Patient Exam & Healthy Mouth Cleaning
$189
No insurance? We offer a $189 Comprehensive New Patient Exam, X-Rays, and a Healthy Mouth Cleaning.
New patients only. Cannot be combined with insurance. Includes a Healthy Mouth Cleaning in the absence of periodontal disease.
No Insurance?
The Dentistry with a Woman's Touch Friends & Family Membership Plan
With our membership plan, you can receive the quality care you need at a discounted price.
Cannot be combined with insurance.
Our Toms River Dental Practice Location
Office Hours:
Monday: 9 am-5 pm
Tuesday: 9 am-5 pm
Wednesday: 10 am-6 pm
Thursday: 10 am-6 pm
Friday: limited clinical hours by appointment only**