Emergency Dentistry

Providing the Timely Emergency Dental Care Your Family Needs

Why Choose Creekview Family Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Appointments for Emergency Patients
  • Open Early, Late & On Saturdays for Your Convenience
  • Compassionate & Skilled Team with Decades of Experience

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

A man having his teeth examined at the dental office.

  1. Give Us a Call: The first step you should always take if you find yourself in the middle of dealing with a dental emergency in Lewisville is to call our team. We try to see our patients who are in pain the same day, so we’ll try to plan your visit for as soon as possible. We can also provide you with first aid guidance over-the-phone to minimize additional damage.
  2. Come in for an Examination: When you reach our office, our team will help you get comfortable in a treatment chair and one of our experienced emergency dentists will introduce themselves, ask you about your symptoms, and examine your mouth. If necessary, we may also take X-rays.
  3. Receive Treatment: After your emergency dentist has diagnosed the problem you face and developed a treatment plan to address it, our front desk staff will provide you with a cost estimate and inform you of any relevant insurance information. Depending on the treatment required, we will either complete the procedure that same day or schedule it for a day in the very near future.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Whether it’s a severe toothache or broken/knocked-out tooth, the first thing you should do in any dental emergency is give us a call and head straight to our dental office. Of course, we know that life gets in the way sometimes, so if you’re unable to reach us immediately, the following tips will help you get a handle on some of the most common dental emergencies:

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Man holding his jaw in pain

We personalize our approach with every emergency patient based on their unique needs, and because of this, there is no fixed price for urgent dental care. Our goals are to relieve pain as soon as possible before addressing any damage to the teeth. To make this type of care more affordable, we have three flexible payment options: we accept all PPO dental insurance plans, offer financing, and even have our own In-House Membership Plan for uninsured patients.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Smiling woman in dental chair

Here are just a few ways you can drastically reduce your chances of needing to make a sudden, unexpected dental visit:

  • Wear a mouthguard every time you play sports—up to 40% of all dental injuries are sports-related!
  • Grind your teeth at night? Talk to our team about getting a protective nightguard before you crack your teeth.
  • Your teeth are strong, but not indestructible, so avoid chewing on hard items like ice, popcorn kernels, pens, pencils, fingernails, etc.
  • Maintain your oral hygiene at home and attend regular dental checkups so small problems can be treated before they turn into big emergencies.

Emergency Dentistry FAQs

What counts as a dental emergency?

Since dental pain and discomfort can be fairly common, it’s difficult to deduce whether it’s truly an emergency situation sometimes. You might have a dental emergency if you’re experiencing signs like:

  • Intense pain
  • Bleeding
  • Broken or loose teeth
  • Bleeding
  • Swelling
  • Knocked-out teeth
  • Sores that won’t go away
  • Loose fillings or crowns

Most dental emergencies in Lewisville come in one of two categories: sudden trauma to the mouth and infection that builds over time, usually as a result of poor oral hygiene. At Creekview Family Dentistry, we are more than prepared to handle both!

When should I go to the ER instead of an emergency dentist?

If your dental emergency is also life-threatening, you should definitely visit your local hospital instead of your dentist in Lewisville. If you have a problem like swelling that impacts your breathing, jaw fractures or dislocations, or severe lacerations, then absolutely go to the ER.

Will my insurance cover dental emergencies?

Since every dental emergency, every treatment, and every insurance plan is different, it’s nearly impossible to estimate your coverage. Your plan might cover the majority of some restorative procedures like fillings, and only a small portion of major treatments like tooth replacements. If you come into our practice for an emergency evaluation, our team will work with you to maximize your benefits and minimize the amount you’ll end up paying out of pocket.

What should I do if I bite my lip or tongue and it won’t stop bleeding?

Assess the area to make sure there is no debris. Use a clean piece of gauze or cloth to clean the site, and apply pressure if there’s bleeding. To cut down on potential swelling, apply a cold compress to the area for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. Call our office as soon as you can and we’ll most likely be able to treat you.

What if my child’s baby tooth gets knocked out?

Assess the area to make sure there is no debris. Use a clean piece of gauze or cloth to clean the site, and apply pressure if there’s bleeding. To cut down on potential swelling, apply a cold compress to the area for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. Call our office as soon as you can and we’ll most likely be able to treat you.

Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Possibly! For example, if you experience a sharp, stabbing pain when you bite down, then we do recommend scheduling an emergency appointment with our team at Creekview Family Dentistry.

How You Should Handle a Toothache: To alleviate the discomfort you’re experiencing, we recommend avoiding spicy foods, placing a cold compress against the outside of your cheek, and taking OTC pain medication as directed. However, it’s important to remember that these are just temporary measures. To treat the root of the problem, you need to get the restorative dental care that you need.

How We Treat Toothaches: Toothaches can be alleviated with a tooth-colored filling, a dental crown, or a root canal. Ultimately, we won’t know which one is best for you until we complete a comprehensive oral exam. Only then can we determine what’s wrong and, of course, the best way to fix it.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? The answer depends largely on the size of the chip. If it’s small enough that you aren’t experiencing any sensitivity or discomfort, then you may not need same-day care. Of course, if you’re dealing with persistent pain, then that’s a different story.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth: You should call our team at Creekview Family Dentistry, even if it’s to schedule an appointment a day or two from now. In the meantime, focus on doing what you can to prevent your tooth from breaking further, like not chewing on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth: We can restore the missing structure of your tooth with cosmetic dental bonding or a veneer. Ultimately, the one we recommend for you will depend on the size of the chip, the location of the tooth, and your overall smile goals.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VENEERS

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, a cracked tooth is absolutely a dental emergency. So, whether the damage is visible or you suspect that something is wrong because you’re dealing with persistent sensitivity and discomfort, don’t wait – schedule an appointment with one of our emergency dentists in Lewisville.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth: It’s very important that you don’t chew on that side of your mouth since the pressure could cause the tooth to break further. Instead, stick to extremely soft foods, rinse your mouth periodically with clean, room-temperature water, and, if needed, take OTC pain medication as directed.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth: Fortunately, cracked teeth don’t always need to be extracted. However, if we do need to remove yours, then we will numb your mouth thoroughly to ensure that you don’t feel any discomfort. Then, we will replace it with a custom dental bridge or implant so the appearance of your smile and the strength of your bite are restored as well.

Very Sensitive Teeth  

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Dental sensitivity often arises when something is wrong. So, it’s best to get in touch with our team at Creekview Family Dentistry, even if it’s to schedule an appointment at our office a day or two from now. That way, we can determine the root of the problem (and the best way to treat it!).

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: First, try using a desensitizing toothpaste to see if that helps. You should also avoid hot coffee, ice-cold water, and anything else that could exacerbate your discomfort. Finally, if all else fails, you can take OTC pain medication as directed until your visit.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: For some patients, the culprit is a cavity, which we can treat with a tooth-colored filling or dental crown. For others, it’s an infection in the gums. If that’s the case for you, then your emergency dentist in Lewisville will need to provide gum disease treatment.

Knocked-Out Tooth  

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Unfortunately, it only takes about 15 minutes for your lost tooth in Lewisville to start to die. So, you need to act fast! The first step? To get in touch with our team so we can schedule an emergency appointment and guide you through what to do until you arrive.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: Scheduling an emergency appointment and preserving the root surface cells of the tooth are both crucial. When it comes to the latter, we recommend picking it up by the crown, rinsing it with clean water, and putting it back in the socket. If that would require force, then do the next best thing: submerge it in a container filled with milk or saline solution.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: If you arrive at our office within the hour and your tooth is in good condition, then there’s a good chance that we will be able to save it. Otherwise, we will need to explore the different tooth-replacement solutions that we offer, like dental implants, and help you decide which one is best for you.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown  

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? The urgency of the situation depends largely on the symptoms you’re experiencing. For example, if you’re dealing with considerable sensitivity, then you shouldn’t hesitate to schedule an emergency visit. If that’s not the case, then booking an appointment within the next few days should suffice, as long as you take the necessary precautions in the meantime.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: Remember, your tooth is vulnerable to harm without the restoration securely in place. So, it’s important that you don’t eat anything crunchy (i.e., raw almonds, hard pretzels, tortilla chips) or chew on that side of your mouth. It’s also a good idea to stick to room-temperature water, since your tooth will likely be more sensitive than usual.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: If you lost your dental filling or crown, don’t worry – we can replace it with a new one. If you arrive at our office with a dental crown that’s in good condition, we may be able to re-cement it back in place instead. Ultimately, the solution we recommend will depend on a few factors, including the type of restoration that came loose.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

Broken Dentures  

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Absolutely. After all, continuing to wear a broken denture can lead to several issues, including painful mouth sores. So, even if the damage seems relatively minor, we recommend scheduling an appointment with our team at Creekview Family Dentistry.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: Instead of wearing your denture, put it in its case (this will prevent it from breaking further). While the strength of your bite is temporarily compromised, we recommend sticking to plain yogurt, applesauce, and other extremely soft foods.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: If the damage to your dentures is relatively minor, we may be able to repair it at our office. If it’s more severe, however, then we will either need to have it repaired at the dental lab or begin the process of having a new one made.

Loose Permanent Tooth  

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, a loose permanent tooth absolutely warrants an emergency visit. So, don’t wait – call our Lewisville dental office immediately so we can schedule a same-day appointment and share how to handle this dental injury until you arrive.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Basically, you should avoid doing anything that could cause the tooth to loosen further. That starts with touching it with your finger and extends to chewing on that side of your mouth. If you’re in pain, you can take OTC pain medication as directed until your appointment, too.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: A dental splint can give the loose tooth the support it needs to heal. However, if your tooth cannot be saved, then we will only have one choice: to perform an extraction. After that, we can create a custom dental bridge or implant to fill the open space.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue  

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Soft tissue injuries like these are often minor enough that they can be handled at home. With that said, you should call 911 or head to the ER if the cut is bleeding uncontrollably or you’re experiencing any other potentially life-threatening symptoms.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: First, go to the sink and rinse your mouth with clean, cool water. Then, locate the cut and apply pressure to it with a damp, clean washcloth.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Within 10 minutes of applying pressure, the cut should stop bleeding. If it doesn’t, then you should seek medical attention.

Jaw Pain  

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? That depends on your symptoms! For instance, if your discomfort has persisted for over 24 hours or is progressively getting worse, then we do recommend scheduling an appointment with one of our emergency dentists in Lewisville right away.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: To help ease your discomfort, we recommend placing a cold compress against the outside of your cheek, taking OTC pain medication as directed, and avoiding crunchy foods.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: We won’t know which treatment is necessary until we complete a comprehensive oral exam and pinpoint the root of the problem. If it’s impacted wisdom teeth, for instance, then we will need to extract them to provide the long-lasting relief that you deserve.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

First, rinse your mouth with warm water to try to loosen the object. Next, use dental floss to gently remove it from between your teeth. If you have difficulty, try using a water flosser that uses a pulsating motion to push water out and through your teeth. If you are unsuccessful at removing the lodged item, call our office so our professionals can remove it.

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