When you’re in severe pain or you’ve broken a bone, determining whether to seek emergency services right away is typically a no-brainer. However, oral injuries or pain can be much less obvious. Does a bad toothache or a chipped tooth qualify as a dental emergency? Our dentists and compassionate team at Texas Dentistry invite you to always give us a call in these situations for same-day emergency dentistry in Terrell. Not only can we get you scheduled as soon as possible, but we can also give you helpful guidance to handle your circumstances before you arrive to increase your chances of having a positive outcome.
If you think you have a dental emergency on your hands or you’re unsure if your symptoms are indicative of an urgent dental issue, give our Terrell dental office a call. We can schedule an appointment for you and provide more specific advice. However, here’s what our dentists generally recommend that you do in these common situations.
Encountering a dental emergency is already stressful enough to deal with, even without having to worry about the financial aspect of your visit. At Texas Dentistry, we take pride in making dental care accessible, which is why we offer in-house savings plans, additional financing options, and do everything we can to maximize our patients’ insurance benefits. We want to make sure that in your stressful time of need, you can count on our team to deliver high-quality emergency treatment without having to worry about spending your entire monthly budget. If you have any questions about the cost of your treatment, we’re more than happy to answer them if you contact our office.
There are a variety of factors that we take into account when determining the price of an emergency dental appointment. That’s why it’s impossible to name a singular cost for an urgent visit. Here are some considerations that can impact the price of your treatment:
Before we start any type of treatment, we’ll discuss all of your options with you, as well as the price and any necessary follow-up visits that they may require. We’ll also be sure to answer any questions you may have so you feel comfortable and at ease about the dental care you’re receiving.
At Texas Dentistry, we proudly accept several of the most popular PPO dental insurance plans, including:
Our team always strives to maximize your benefits and make sure that you don’t let any go to waste. If you have any questions about whether or not we accept your insurance plan, you can always contact our office directly to ask.
Even if you don’t have dental insurance, we welcome you to visit our office for emergency dental treatment! We have in-house membership plans as well as additional financing through CareCredit. This allows you to make manageable monthly payments that fit with your budget. Plus, CareCredit offers our patients little to no interest, meaning you can restore your smile without worrying about still paying the bill for years to come.
The best way to deal with a dental emergency is by avoiding it altogether! While preventing them completely is impossible, there are some steps you can take to minimize your risk of dental emergencies. However, if one does in fact happen, call our office right away for treatment. We have a team of emergency dentistry specialists ready to provide you with relief. Until then, remember these helpful tips for a safe and healthy smile.
While dental emergencies are never 100% preventable, the best way to set your smile up for safety is to practice a consistent oral healthcare routine. Brush your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each session. Additionally, be sure to floss once a day to remove lingering plaque and bacteria in between your teeth. Lastly, ensure that you’re coming to our office for biannual checkups and cleanings. We are experienced in preventing and detecting oral health issues before they become more serious.
While problems like toothaches may seem sudden, they’re usually caused by poor dental hygiene. Cavities can easily turn into infection, which is why it’s important to watch out for certain foods that put your smile at risk for tooth decay. This can be easily done by cutting down on sugary foods like candy, ice cream, pastries, and other sweets. Of course, you can indulge every now and then, but you should be especially wary of extra hard or sticky candy that stays in your mouth for long periods of time. You can also sip sugary drinks through a straw to avoid unnecessary contact with your teeth.
Additionally, be careful about biting down or chewing extra hard foods like peppermints or ice cubes. Lastly, avoid bad habits like chewing on nonfood items such as toothpicks, pencils, plastics, and other materials that can damage your enamel.
Sports like football, hockey, and martial arts can be dangerous for your smile, putting you at risk of loose, broken, or knocked out teeth. Even other activities like baseball, figure skating, or playing around on the playground (for children) can cause broken teeth, lost teeth, and other dental injuries. If you participate in physical activity, be sure to wear a mouthguard for protection.
You may also need protection for your teeth while you sleep in the form of a nightguard. Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, can weaken your dental structure. This will eventually lead to cracked and broken teeth if they aren’t shielded. A nightguard can provide your teeth and jaw with some relief while you sleep.
Even after reading all the information above about dental emergencies, you might have some questions. The last thing you want during an urgent dental situation is more confusion. Fortunately, we have gathered some of the questions we get asked the most often about dental emergencies, and answered them down below for your convenience. If you have a question that is not answered here, feel free to contact us and ask away.
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency that is also life-threatening, like swelling that hinders your ability to breathe, then you should absolutely visit the emergency room of your local hospital. Jaw fractures, deep cuts, jaw dislocations, and serious infection may also require a hospital visit. For a dental emergency that is not life-threatening, call and schedule an appointment with your emergency dentist.
As with a dislodged permanent tooth, call us right away and we’ll get you in for an appointment as soon as possible. Whatever you do, do NOT try and replant the baby tooth back in the socket like you should for a knocked-out adult tooth. If you do, there is the possibility that you could damage the underlying permanent tooth and cause irreversible damage. Depending on how close your child was to losing the tooth naturally, we may have to use a space maintainer to prevent other teeth from drifting into the gap created by the lost tooth.
When you have a dental emergency, it’s crucial that you seek treatment as soon as humanly possible, even if you’re uncertain whether it’s an emergency or not. It’s much better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to dental care. This is even truer for those with damaged or knocked-out teeth, as the sooner you can come see us, the higher chance we have of saving your tooth. In addition, most dental emergencies have some degree of pain associated with them, so you’ll want to come see us to alleviate your discomfort as soon as you can.
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