Emergency Dentist — Denton, TX
Fast, Dedicated Emergency Care When You Need It
Dental emergencies can happen in the blink of an eye, or they may build and build over time until the patient is scared and in serious pain – whatever your or your family member’s unique situation is, you can trust in Denton Dental Center to be there for you during these difficult times. Dr. Todd Balington has plenty of experience with treating urgent situations, and he and the rest of our team will make time for emergency cases as soon as we possibly can so that you can experience fast relief.
Why Choose Denton Dental Center for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Highly Experienced Dentist and Team
- Sedation Dentistry for Anxious Patients
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Scheduled a same-day visit with our team : In many cases, we’re able to see patients on the same day they call. If we’re unable to treat you right away or your emergency does not necessarily require immediate treatment, we’ll walk you through at-home care over the phone to ensure you are safe and pain-free until you reach our office.
- Complete an emergency exam with Dr. Balington : After you arrive at our office, we’ll get you seen right away so we can complete a dental exam. This typically includes capturing digital X-rays so we can locate the source of your symptoms.
- Review findings and recommend treatment : We’ll go over our findings with you, then recommend a treatment plan to ensure your emergency does not worsen or come back. We’ll always break down the estimated costs so you aren’t caught by surprise fees.
- Get the care you need fast : Whether you require a dental filling, root canal therapy, dental crowns, or another service, we’ll work quickly to get you the treatment you need so you can continue living your life free of dental discomfort.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Many patients hesitate to pick up the phone to call us because they’re not sure a situation is considered an emergency. We would much rather have you call our team and not need emergency care than need urgent treatment and not contact us. It’s always best to start repairing dental damage right away. What exactly constitutes a dental emergency? Here are some of the most common situations we see:
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
When you need a dentist quickly, the last thing you should be worried about is how you’re going to pay the bill. We offer the financial solutions you need to stop your pain and save your smile without draining your bank account. Various factors influence the cost of emergency dentistry in Denton, TX, but we strive to keep our services affordable for everyone.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
Dental emergencies can come in many forms. As a result, every situation is unique, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. After examining your mouth and addressing your pain, your emergency dentist in Denton, TX will create a personalized strategy to rehabilitate your smile. Although every case differs, common emergency treatments include:
- Gum disease treatment
- Dental crowns
- Root canal therapy
- TMJ therapy
- Tooth extractions
- And more
We’ll provide you with a personalized estimate during your consultation and explain all your payment options to find the solution that fits your budget. Rest assured; you’ll know exactly what you’ll have to pay before committing to anything.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Most dental plans offer coverage for emergency services; however, the amount will depend on your policy. Often, you can use your dental insurance to offset the cost of certain steps in your treatment plan, like the consultation, imaging, or restorations. We know dental insurance is confusing, but we are here to help. A member of our team will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your annual allowance to lower your out-of-pocket expenses.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Besides using your dental insurance, we have several options to keep your care within your budget, including:
- Traditional Payments: We accept all forms of traditional payments, including cash, checks, and credit cards.
- Financing: Pay for your treatment using monthly installments through a third-party financing company.
- Patient Specials: Ask us about any current patient specials.
We will review all your options to ensure nothing stands in your way of getting the treatment you need, even if money is tight.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
You can’t always stop a dental emergency from occurring, but there are several things you can do to lessen your risk of one. Many patients end up in the dental chair from an untreated issue that has progressed into a big problem. A cavity doesn’t have to turn into an infected tooth. The best way to keep dental emergencies at bay is through a focus on prevention. Besides a solid oral hygiene routine at home, visit your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. If you have any dental concerns, don’t wait to have them treated.
Besides keeping your mouth clean and healthy, avoid anything that may damage your smile, like using your teeth to open packages. If you play contact sports, protect your mouth with an athletic mouthguard to avoid knocked out, broken, or dislodged teeth. If you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, ask your dentist for the protection of a nightguard.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can never be completely avoided, however there are some steps you can take to safeguard your smile. It’s always better to be proactive rather than reactive, which is why we’ve included some simple tips for preventing dental emergencies below. Read on to see how you can protect your smile.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
The American Dental Association recommends biannual trips to the dentist because these visits are vital to your oral health. During routine dental appointments, a trained hygienist will clean away tough tartar that can weaken your smile. Also, your dentist will check your oral health, catching any issues before they turn into true dental emergencies. This prevents you from more extensive and expensive dental treatments down the road.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
Make sure that you’re brushing and flossing each day. Brush twice a day for two minutes each session, paying close attention to your gumline. Angle your brush at 45-degrees and gently massage each tooth in a circular motion for the best results. Additionally, floss once a day to remove lingering food debris and plaque between the teeth. The right way to floss is to give yourself enough string to work with. Then, create a “C” shape and slowly move the floss up and down in between each tooth. Daily brushing and flossing will keep plaque and bacteria away from your teeth, lowering your risk of infection and decay.
Eat a Nutritious Diet
The foods you eat every day have a direct influence on the condition of your oral health. Extra sugary and starchy foods can weaken your teeth, which increases your risk of emergencies. The sugar in junk food interacts with the bacteria in your mouth to create acids that eat away at your smile. Thankfully, this can be avoided by choosing healthier foods like fruits, veggies, and items rich in calcium. These will strengthen and protect your teeth while lowering your risk of decay. Plus, fruits and veggies act as natural toothbrushes, scrubbing your teeth of plaque while stimulating saliva.
Wear a Mouthguard
One of the most common causes of dental injury is sports. Even if you don’t participate in a traditionally physical sport, like baseball or figure skating, accidents can still happen. It’s best to wear a mouthguard, which reduces the risk of dental injury while also limiting concussive force, allowing you to avoid a trip to the emergency dentist in Denton. Our mouthguards are custom-made to fit better and last longer than store-bought products.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Bad habits like chewing on ice cubes and pens can crack or damage your teeth. Opening packages and bottles can be especially dangerous, putting your smile at risk of breaking. Avoid these bad habits at all costs and use scissors and bottle openers instead. As a rule of thumb, only use your teeth for smiling, chewing, and speaking to prevent dental emergencies in Denton.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
Dr. Todd Balington understands that accidents happen, and when they do, you need a trusted emergency dentist in Denton who can calmly address the situation and offer a reasonable solution. Luckily, at Denton Dental Center, you can receive the assistance you need whether you are in our office or with us on the phone. We know it can sometimes be hard to tell if what you’re experiencing is an actual emergency, if you should go to the hospital, or what you should do about the pain. To help, our team has compiled a list of dental emergency FAQs. Should you have additional questions or would rather talk to a professional, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.
How do I know if it’s an emergency?
There are a few ways you can tell if the accident or injury you just experienced is a real emergency:
- Moderate to heavy bleeding that will not stop
- Swelling in the area of your cheeks, chin, lip, or gums
- Pain that is so intense, you have difficulty eating or sleeping
- If you have a broken tooth or filling
- A tooth has been knocked out
It is always best to call our office no matter the injury. What you might consider as a non-emergency could, in fact, be a serious situation that needs to be addressed immediately.
What should I do about pain?
Any time pain occurs and continues with a dental emergency, you should call your dentist in Denton. Until you can get in to see us, we suggest taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, but avoid aspirin. Do not place this directly on the gums as it can burn and damage the tissue. The severity of the pain is important for us to know. This will help us in determining how best to treat the situation.
When should I go to the hospital vs. the dentist?
Oftentimes, patients are unsure if their dental emergency warrants going to the dentist or the hospital. An accident happened, and more times than not, people associate an injury with the hospital. However, it is highly probable that your mouth-related emergency can be treated by a dental professional.
To help you determine if a trip to the hospital is necessary, here are a few instances that should have you hopping in the car and driving to your local ER:
- Bleeding continues for 15 minutes or more after you’ve started applying pressure
- You have a jaw that is fractured, broken, or dislocated
- You need stitches to address lacerations on your face
- A tooth is knocked out and you cannot see the dentist within the hour
- Swelling that is not reducing
Why should I address a dental emergency immediately?
When trauma occurs in or around the mouth, you should call our office immediately. The reason is that even though you may or may not feel pain or discomfort as a result of a busted lip, there could be other problems or other damage to areas of your mouth. Also, certain emergencies require immediate treatment if you want to keep your natural teeth (i.e. knocked-out tooth).
As we mentioned earlier, it is always best to call us and explain the situation. From there, we will be able to offer assistance over the phone that will help you find relief until we can see you in our office.
My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?
Since your tooth cannot regenerate on its own, it’s possible for the chip to get larger, and there’s a chance that an infection can develop, the answer is “yes.” So, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to schedule an emergency appointment – even if you aren’t in pain. After all, our goal is to restore the look, health, and function of your smile before that happens.
What is causing my jaw pain?
The only way we’ll know for certain is by conducting a comprehensive oral exam. That said, chronic jaw pain is typically the result of one of three things: teeth grinding, impacted wisdom teeth, or TMJ disorder. Fortunately, our Denton dental team can help with both pinpointing and treating the root of the problem.
Are knocked-out baby teeth a dental emergency?
Some parents assume that any damage that happens to baby teeth – from minor decay to a tooth being completely knocked out – isn’t serious. After all, they will fall out eventually anyway, right? Not exactly. Although baby teeth aren’t meant to last a lifetime, they do serve several important purposes. In addition to helping your little one chew, speak, and smile, they prevent the surrounding teeth from moving out of position. Simply put, a knocked-out baby tooth does warrant a visit to our Denton dental office, so contact us right away.
What does throbbing tooth pain mean?
Throbbing tooth pain is often the result of an infection. Of course, it could be due to a cavity, a crack, or inflammation as well. That’s why it’s best to come to our office for an emergency exam when you first notice that your tooth hurts. We want to determine what’s causing it, review your treatment options, and intervene with the necessary care while we can still save your tooth.
Can superglue be used to repair broken dentures?
Although superglue is a powerful adhesive, it shouldn’t be used to repair your broken dentures. That’s because, like other household products, it contains chemicals that are not safe to ingest. So, instead of trying to use something you have on hand or ordering a DIY denture repair kit, we recommend calling us to schedule an appointment; we will start the process of repairing or replacing your denture ASAP.
What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?
Having an emergency dentistry kit might seem unnecessary… until you find yourself handling a painful dental injury. That’s why we strongly recommend having some essentials on hand, like a small storage container for teeth or restorations, gauze pads, dental cement, over-the-counter pain medication, and floss.
Are toothpicks safe to use?
We recommend using floss instead of a toothpick for a few reasons. The first is that toothpicks can be deadly if they are swallowed, and the second is that the sharp edge could end up pushing the debris further into position. Ultimately, toothpicks should be your last resort and used with extreme caution.