Emergency Dentist Little Elm
Get Out of Dental Pain Fast
A dental emergency is a health emergency, which is why we do everything we can to see patients in pain as fast as possible. At Parklane Family Dentistry, we leave time open every day for emergency walk-ins. That means if you experience a toothache or your child knocks out a tooth, you can get the immediate, professional attention you require. Need emergency dentistry in Little Elm right now? Give us a call to schedule an appointment right away.
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Initial Call: The fastest way to get in touch with our team is to call. After we ask about your situation, we’ll let you know if you need to come in right away, and we’ll also offer first-aid guidance.
- Emergency Exam: After you arrive, we’ll perform a detailed evaluation and take X-rays so we fully understand the scope and nature of your emergency.
- Treatment Plan: We’ll discuss your options as well as the associated costs and timeline so you can make an informed decision.
-
Relief: Our primary goal will be to stop your pain, and then we’ll do any repairs we can. If needed, we’ll schedule a follow-up appointment.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
What counts as a dental emergency? Below are some of the situations we routinely see, but we always recommend giving us a call if you experience anything out of the ordinary when it comes to your teeth!
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
Whether your dental crown came loose, you’re struggling with a painful toothache, or you’ve knocked out a tooth, one thing is for certain: you want to focus on getting the care you need. For many patients, that’s difficult because they are worried about the price. That’s why our team at Parklane Family Dentistry goes above and beyond to make navigating the cost easy. We’ve even covered some helpful information on that topic in the next section, including the financial solutions available outside of dental insurance.
Why Every Dental Emergency is Different
In short, the cost of emergency dentistry in Little Elm is different from patient to patient because no two situations are exactly the same. In fact, even if two patients visit us with a toothache, there’s a chance that they will need two completely different treatments. With all of that said, you don’t have to worry – we won’t leave you in the dark about something as important as the cost. Once we’ve completed the exam, we will review your treatment options, create a custom treatment plan, and provide you with an estimate of the price.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Oftentimes, dental insurance providers do cover a portion of the cost of restorative treatments, like tooth-colored fillings, dental crowns, and root canals. So, if you are insured, but you aren’t familiar with your benefits, it’s definitely worth taking the time to read through the fine print on your plan. As always, if you need any help, we’re here to do just that! We’re even in-network with many popular dental insurance plans, which makes understanding and utilizing your available benefits even easier.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, that’s okay – there are two other ways you can save at our office:
- Join Our In-House Dental Membership Plan – Signing up grants you immediate access to several benefits, including a year’s worth of preventive care and a 20% discount on several other treatments completed at our office.
- Sign Up for Flexible Financing – With CareCredit, you can break up the cost of your care into smaller, more manageable chunks instead of paying for the entire thing in one lump sum.
How Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Remember, dental injuries are largely preventable with the right best practices in place. So, if you want to protect your smile from harm, do your best to incorporate healthy habits into your routine, like brushing and flossing consistently. Of course, it’s equally important to break any existing bad ones, including smoking, biting your nails, and using your teeth as tools to open things.
Important reminder: Your biannual dental exams allow us to catch tooth decay, gum disease, and other common oral health problems in the early stages (before they result in immense pain and discomfort). So, make each one a priority!
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
After years of serving our patients, we know how painful dental injuries can be to experience and how stressful they are to handle. That’s why – even though we’re always just a phone call away if you need us – our Frisco dental team wants to help you avoid needing same-day care. With this in mind, keep reading to learn what you should do (and a few habits you should break) to protect your smile from harm.
Schedule a Dental Visit Every Six Months
All too often, patients dismiss their biannual dental visits as optional. The truth is that they are crucial, especially when it comes to maintaining a healthy, happy smile. So, if you want to keep your teeth decay-free and your gums infection-free, schedule an appointment with us every six months. That way, we can periodically scan for common oral health problems, like gingivitis and cavities. If these or any others arise, we can provide the restorative care necessary, saving you from an emergency visit in the process.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
Another great way to prevent dental emergencies in Frisco is by taking great care of your smile at home. That starts with the basics: brushing and flossing. However, it doesn’t end there. You also need to rinse with mouthwash, clean your tongue, and replace your toothbrush (or toothbrush head) every quarter.
Tip: If you aren’t sure which toothpaste you should be using, you need a refresher on how to floss properly, or you have any other questions related to your at-home oral hygiene regimen, you can always give us a call!
Eat Lots of Nutrient-Dense, Well-Balanced Meals
Remember, your diet impacts your oral health. So, it’s important that you exercise caution with crunchy foods and that you don’t overindulge on drinks that are loaded with added sugar. Instead, do your best to eat lots of nutrient-dense, well-balanced meals. It’s also a good idea to drink plenty of water throughout the day since it’s sugar-free and helps prevent dry mouth.
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
Wearing a mouthguard during sports is crucial, even in non-contact ones, like tennis. After all, it takes just one rogue ball, a bad fall, or an accidental elbow to the face for you to wind up with a painful dental injury. If you don’t have a mouthguard already, that’s okay – we can have a custom one made. That way, it’s the appropriate thickness and fits comfortably.
Break Bad Habits, Like Smoking
Since smoking can negatively impact everything from the health of your gums to the smell of your breath, it’s important to quit. You should also avoid doing anything else that can negatively impact your smile, like using your teeth as tools to open things. Although it may be inconvenient in the moment to try and find the right tool, it’s much better than dealing with a painful dental injury!
Dental Emergency FAQs
How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?
Although we don’t recommend trying to “sleep off” a toothache, we also know that getting to our office the same day for treatment isn’t always possible. If that happens to you, it’s important to know what to do to alleviate your discomfort in the short term. We recommend rinsing with warm saltwater periodically, using a cold compress, taking OTC pain medication as directed, and keeping your head elevated while you sleep. Of course, it’s also important to do what you can to avoid exacerbating your symptoms, like eating crunchy foods.
What if My Toothache Suddenly Disappears?
If your toothache suddenly disappears, you might assume that the decay or infection is gone. Since your teeth cannot heal themselves, that’s rarely the case. More often, the change in symptoms is due to the nerve dying, so it’s important you schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Little Elm right away. The sooner you do, the sooner they can complete a comprehensive oral exam, assess the severity of the damage, and help you decide which treatment (or combination of treatments) is needed to truly restore your healthy, pain-free smile.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
If you are experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding, you should call 911 or head to the ER immediately. If that’s not the case, then your first call should be to our dental office. After all, hospitals don’t typically have dentists on staff, so they can’t treat knocked-out teeth, cracked restorations, and other common dental injuries. Usually, the most they can do is alleviate any pain you’re experiencing before referring you back to your dentist.
Can a Chipped Tooth Repair on Its Own?
Unfortunately, your teeth cannot regenerate. So, if you chip a tooth, it’s important that you give us a call. Over the phone, a helpful member of our team can determine the urgency of the situation and, if needed, schedule a same-day appointment at our office. If that’s not necessary, then they will schedule an appointment within the next few days and share what to do to protect the tooth from breaking further in the meantime.
How Long Can a Tooth Last After It Has Been Knocked Out of Your Mouth?
It takes roughly 15 minutes for the tooth to start to die. That’s why it’s so important that you act quickly! Call us right away so we can schedule an emergency appointment at our office within the hour. We will also give you helpful instructions on what to do in the meantime, like placing the tooth in a clean container filled with milk to help preserve the root surface cells.
Will My Tooth Sensitivity Eventually Go Away on Its Own?
That depends! For instance, if you recently got a filling, then sensitivity is to be expected and should subside within the week. Of course, if you can’t pinpoint what’s triggering your symptoms or they seem to be getting worse with each passing day, then that’s a different story. In that case, we recommend calling us ASAP.
I Need a Checkup & Cleaning I Need a Dentist for My Child I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I am Missing One or More Teeth I Want to Enhance My Smile I Want a Straighter Smile View Our Services