When you’re experiencing severe pain or you’ve sustained a broken bone, it’s much more clear cut that you need emergency services right away. In the case of oral injuries, it’s not always so obvious. If you have a bad toothache or it’s become chipped, is it considered a dental emergency? The dentists at Texas Dentistry want you to know that the next best step is to always give us a call. Not only can we get you scheduled, but we can provide valuable advice on stabilizing your condition before you arrive for emergency dentistry in Kaufman!
It doesn’t matter if your tooth is hurting severely as a result of tooth decay or physical trauma, calling us gives you a chance to schedule an appointment. In the meantime, here’s what our dentists recommend you do to improve your condition depending on the type of emergency you’re having.
Dental emergencies come in all different forms, which means the cost to treat them can vary significantly. That’s why our office will perform a detailed evaluation of your emergency before we determine which treatment is needed to manage your symptoms and stop it from getting worse. Typically, the more complex the dental service needed, the higher the costs. We’ll always break down the costs of your treatment before beginning it, ensuring you know exactly what you’ll pay for your care.
The overall cost of your dental treatment can vary depending on the severity of the emergency itself. For example, oral infections may only require antibiotics if they are not severe. However, more extensive treatments may require root canal therapy, which does involve more time and resources to complete. Regardless, the last thing you should do is allow your condition to worsen, which will likely only result in higher overall costs. We’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that’s affordable and manageable. In the case of an orthodontic emergency, small problems with braces or wires can be fixed at a relatively low cost (if any), but major damage will cost more.
In most cases, dental insurance plans do offer some level of coverage for an emergency situation. For example, it’s very common for their most basic coverage to include an emergency exam, a service that’s mostly (if not entirely) covered. Other common dental treatments included in dental coverage include root canal therapy, crowns, and extractions. However, they are covered at a lower percent, which can vary between 80% and 50%. Every plan is unique and annual maximums can certainly affect your overall costs. Make sure to confirm your costs with your insurance company first before committing to any treatment.
If you don’t have dental insurance, there are other options you should consider to make your care easier to afford. For example, Texas Dentistry is happy to offer an in-house membership plan that can make many of your most essential dental services much easier to complete. This includes discounts on services specifically intended to treat dental emergencies.
Dental emergencies can happen when you least expect them, but they typically occur as a result of unchecked infections and untreated existing damage. By staying on top of your routine dental appointments as well as keeping up with your at-home oral hygiene, you could save thousands on potential restorative and emergency dental care.
The moment you become aware of a damaged tooth or oral pain, you should always take care of it as soon as you can. While it’s understandable to be worried about possible costs, your costs only go up the longer you wait to have your issue handled. For example, if your tooth hurts and you get it checked out now, you may only need to have a dental filling placed vs. root canal therapy performed and a dental crown attached.
The dental team at Texas Dentistry wants you to know we’re always here to help. Whether you need a regular cleaning or emergency assistance, your individual needs will always be met with the highest level of quality dental care possible. But wouldn’t it be better if you could prevent dental emergencies in Kaufman from the start? After all, we are always happy to see our patients, but we’d rather you be happy instead of in pain. Let us help you find ways to prevent an accident from occurring but remember, should problems arise, don’t be afraid to contact us as soon as possible.
Continuing to see your dentist every six months for a general checkup and cleaning can lower your risk of developing tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. As a result, you’ll be less likely to show symptoms associated with a toothache or serious infection. Your dentist can easily check your oral cavity before a dental hygienist can remove hardened plaque and tartar that can lead to gum disease.
A good oral hygiene routine is imperative if you want to reduce the chances of a dental emergency. Not only are you removing harmful bacteria and food particles from the surfaces and crevices of your teeth and gums, but if you use fluoride toothpaste, you are also helping to strengthen tooth enamel and combat tooth decay.
Make sure you’re brushing your teeth twice a day for two full minutes as well as flossing in-between your teeth once a day and rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash.
From biting down on a hard piece of fruit or vegetable to chewing ice or consuming too much sugar, what you eat can lead to serious problems for your oral health. If a cavity develops and the infection reaches the inner layer of your tooth (the pulp), you’ll be looking at a root canal to save your tooth and eliminate the pain. But if you chip or crack a tooth because of something you ate that is hard or crunchy, you may be spending time and money to have a dental crown put into place.
Do you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding)? Do you enjoy playing sports? A nightguard or sportsguard are both beneficial oral devices that are designed to protect your teeth from excessive wear and tear and injury. If you discover that you grind your teeth at night, a custom nightguard will help to keep your teeth from coming into contact with each other while you sleep.
If it’s sports you enjoy or other outdoor activities, protect your mouth from a hard hit, sudden slip, or spiked volleyball to the face. By wearing a sportsguard, you can reduce the impact on your teeth, gums, and other oral tissues, lessening your chances of dealing with a serious dental emergency.
Tooth enamel is strong, but not impenetrable or indestructible. When choosing to open packages and containers with your teeth, you put yourself at risk for a sudden trip to the emergency dental office in Kaufman. To minimize your chances of causing serious injury to your teeth or gums, it is best to take a few extra minutes to find the right tool for the job.
Do you still have questions about what you would do if a dental emergency happened? At Texas Dentistry, our team will be here for you during every step of the process. If you have any questions, never hesitate to contact our office first! For your convenience, we’ve also answered some common questions that we receive from our emergency patients below.
Tooth pain can be caused by a variety of problems, including a lodged popcorn kernel, enamel erosion, or even a tooth infection. When you arrive at our office, our emergency dentist will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and gums and take X-rays to determine the source of your pain. If it’s an infection, we’ll likely need to treat it with root canal therapy. Although this procedure has a reputation for being painful, our team uses the latest techniques and technology to make sure that you don’t feel an ounce of discomfort during the process. We also offer a variety of sedation techniques that will help keep you calm and relaxed throughout your treatment.
Unfortunately, our office isn’t equipped to handle all situations. Some life-threatening issues may require medical attention first before we’re able to tend to your teeth. In these cases, it’s important to visit your local emergency room first. Here are some signs that you need urgent medical treatment and should go to the ER:
Once you get the care you need from the hospital, our team of professionals will help restore your oral health and smile at our office, so don’t forget to schedule an appointment as soon as you’re available.
As much as everyone would like to hold out hope that their oral pain will go away on its own and they won’t have to deal with a stressful emergency visit, that rarely happens. In fact, usually, the longer you wait to address oral pain like a toothache, the worse it will get and harder the problem will be to treat. That’s why it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment before it’s too late.
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