Emergency Dentist – Odessa, TX

How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies

No matter what type of dental emergency you’re facing, one of the first steps you should take is calling our office. Not only can we get you scheduled with our first available appointment, but we can also provide advice specifically for your situation. In the meantime, here are some general tips for dealing with common dental emergencies until you can come in to our Terrell practice.

Toothache

Try to floss around the affected tooth—just in case there is debris between your teeth causing discomfort. If pain persists, call us! Rinse your mouth with warm water to keep the area clean, and use over-the-counter medication and cold compresses to manage any pain. In many cases, we may need to perform a root canal to alleviate your pain and remove tooth decay.

Chipped or Broken Tooth

If possible, locate the larger pieces of your tooth. We may be able to use them to salvage it. If the damage is too severe, we may need to extract the tooth entirely, but if this is the case, we can help you determine the right replacement option that will meet your needs.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Once you find the tooth, pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the root. If necessary, rinse it off with water, but do not scrub it or remove any tissue that may be still attached. Try to reposition the tooth into the socket and gently bite down to keep it place. If that’s not possible, store the tooth in salt water or milk. Get to our office within an hour to have the best chances of successful reimplantation.

Lost Filling or Crown

Unfortunately, dental restorations don’t last forever. If yours comes out, rinse your mouth with warm water and avoid using that side of your mouth for eating until you can come in. Use pain medication to help manage any discomfort, but avoid topical pain relievers because they can damage your tissues.

Preventing Dental Emergencies

Here are some helpful tips for how to minimize your odds of experiencing a dental emergency:

• Remember to schedule a dental checkup and cleaning here at our practice every six months! Many dental emergencies develop gradually over time, which means that our team can spot and treat the warning signs before they ever develop into a serious matter.
• Limit your exposure to foods that are overly sticky, chewy, or tough. This includes hard candy and popcorn kernels. Also, refrain from chewing on the ice in your drink and don’t chew on pencils as a habit.
• Always wear an oral appliance (preferably a custom-made one) if you regularly play sports with physical contact or suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding during sleep).
• Use scissors to open tricky packaging, not your teeth.
• Remember to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once. These are necessary steps for getting rid of decay-causing food particles and plaque.

Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

How we approach and treat each dental emergency is unique, making estimating the cost for emergencies in general very difficult. Before we perform any treatment, we can review the costs associated with it, so that you have fewer surprises down the line. Our team members at Boyles General Dentistry & Implant Center have worked with insurance for years and know how to maximize your plan’s benefits to your advantage. We also offer financing to make those out-of-pocket expenses much more manageable.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you’re in the middle of a dental emergency, a million questions can come to your mind all at once. Well, we want to answer some of those questions for you right here. We hope this information will be beneficial if you or a loved one ever experiences a dental emergency. If you have other questions that aren’t discussed below, feel free to contact our office.

Can I use over-the-counter medication to alleviate dental pain?

You can certainly take this kind of pain medication as directed to manage your discomfort until you are able to come in to our office. However, don’t follow the old wives’ tale of placing aspirin directly on your tooth. It actually can cause damage to your gum tissue. You can also use a cold compress to reduce any swelling and relieve some pain. Keep in mind that these are temporary remedies and that you need to visit us at Boyles General Dentistry to address the source of your dental pain.

Do I need to go to the ER for a dental emergency?

Most of the time, our office can handle treating your dental emergency. However, if you have any broken bones or if you have oral bleeding that doesn’t subside after 10 minutes, you should head to the ER before seeing us. You may have serious medical problems to address before we work on repairing your smile. You can still call our office so that we may be able to collaborate or coordinate your treatment with your physician.

Will I need a tooth extraction?

It depends. In general, we consider every viable treatment option before tooth extraction in order to save the natural tooth. However, if it is too decayed or damaged to support an artificial dental crown, we may need to remove the tooth entirely. If this occurs, we can offer you several tooth replacement options, so you won’t have to live long with an incomplete smile.

What happens if my toothache goes away?

There are cases in which a toothache is caused by something temporary and relatively harmless, such as stuck food debris between teeth or pressure from a sinus infection. If you find that your tooth pain goes away fairly quickly, you likely don’t need to come in, but still keep a close eye on the tooth just in case the pain returns. At your next checkup appointment, be sure tell us about your experience with tooth pain. If, however, the pain is severe and then subsides, you may still want to visit our office as soon as possible to see if something is damaging your tooth.

Do you offer sedation dentistry?

Absolutely! We want you to feel completely at ease when you come to visit our practice, even for unexpected emergency appointments. If you are experiencing high levels of anxiety, just let us know. We offer both nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, allowing us to customize treatment to your needs.

Will My Dental Emergency Get Better on Its Own?

No, oral conditions do not improve without professional treatment. For instance, you cannot regrow enamel after chipping or cracking a tooth. Overall, the sooner you seek help from our team, the better. Otherwise, the situation can only get worse and cause more damage and pain, which is why we strongly urge you to reach out to your emergency dentist as early as possible.

Will My Dental Insurance Pay for Emergency Treatment?

Even in emergency situations, we realize that the cost can be a major concern. Insurance coverage can vary from person to person depending on their plans, but most necessary procedures are at least partially covered. In fact, treatments like root canal therapy, crowns, and the like are usually 50 percent paid for by dental insurance. When you come in, we can talk about what your policy will contribute to the overall cost and explain how much you will be obligated to pay out-of-pocket.

Are Broken Dentures Considered a Dental Emergency?

Yes, you should treat broken dentures like a dental emergency, meaning you should contact us sooner rather than later. Without functioning dentures, you will likely find it difficult to bite and chew food and speak clearly; however, you should not wear your broken dentures until you get new ones or get them fixed. You could end up harming your gums, any remaining teeth, or other soft tissues in your mouth. Leave them out, and get in touch with us quickly so you can get your smile back on track.

Do You Have Same-Day Appointments Available?

We know that dental emergencies are urgent. Every day, we strive to make a little space in our schedule for emergency patients. In many cases, we are able to see you on the same day as your phone call, especially if you call at the beginning of the day. If we are unable to see you immediately, we will provide you with instructions for dealing with your dental emergency until the next available day.

Does Treatment for Dental Emergencies Hurt?

If you are in pain when you come in with your dental emergency, our first priority is relieving it. We’ll give you a local anesthetic to numb the area, so you don’t have to suffer. Then, we can focus on the treatment needed to restore your smile. If necessary, we can also give you a sedative, which not only calms your nerves but also provides additional relief from discomfort. By the time we’re finished with your treatment, you may feel a tiny bit sore, but it should be temporary, and you shouldn’t have nearly as much pain as before.