Worried that you might be faced with a dental emergency and not know what to do? At Care 32 Dental of Fort Worth, Dr. Desai and our team want you to have the confidence and assurance of knowing you can call our office for immediate assistance. Not only do we encourage walk-ins, but we will deliver pain-relieving care as quickly as possible. In addition, you can trust that we will ensure your safety and comfort, offering sedation dentistry should you require it. Call us to learn more about what our Fort Worth emergency dentist and team can do for you when experiencing a dental injury.
Not all dental emergencies should be treated the same way. Although some are less time-sensitive than others, all instances of tooth pain and sensitivity should be seen by a trusted dental professional. If you don’t know whether you should come in right away or wait, check out the list of common dental emergencies our team is here to treat.
If you are thinking about pushing your dental emergency to the back burner because of the potential cost, you should reconsider. After all, putting off emergency dental treatment can lead to more serious symptoms and have devastating effects on your smile. Instead, come in for an appointment so we can intervene with the necessary restorative care ASAP – it’s the best way to protect your smile and your wallet!
Since there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment, there’s no one-size-fits-all price! Every dental emergency – whether it’s a persistent toothache or a completely knocked-out tooth – starts with the same step: conducting a thorough exam. From there, our dedicated Fort Worth dentists can determine important information, including the root of the problem and what treatment or treatments are needed to effectively restore your pain-free smile in the short and long term.
If you aren’t familiar with your benefits or simply aren’t sure where to start when it comes to utilizing your available coverage, allow our team to work with your dental insurance company to help you save. The initial visit is unlikely to cost much, and your insurer may be willing to pay anywhere from 50-80% of the total cost for any restorative dental care you might need. We’re proud to welcome many of the nation’s most popular providers, including Cigna, Metlife, and United Health Care, which means that we can file the claims on your behalf as well!
With us, dental insurance isn’t the only way to make the cost of emergency dentistry more affordable – far from it! To start, we have an in-house dental discount plan, which gives you access to immediate benefits, including two free exams and significant discounts on procedures completed at our Fort Worth dental office. We also are proud to help patients space out their payments into smaller, more manageable chunks with the help of trusted third-party financiers, like Sunbit. Lastly, we offer periodic specials, which can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses considerably.
Did you know that many dental emergencies are avoidable? As a result, good oral health habits can help save you hundreds or thousands of dollars on restorative dentistry over the years! The best place to start is with the basics, like consistently brushing and flossing your teeth. As your dental team, we also recommend wearing a mouthguard during sports, visiting us twice a year for a checkup and cleaning, not consuming added sugar in excess, and avoiding unhealthy dental habits, like smoking.
If you want to avoid a dental emergency, you’ll need to make some lifestyle changes so that you stay out of the dentist’s chair. If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry – this next section is for you! Below, you’ll find some helpful tips designed to protect your teeth and gums from harm.
There are some patients who think biannual dental checkups and cleanings are optional as long as they brush and floss consistently. In reality, that’s not the case! After all, tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, and other issues can develop under the radar. Without your routine exams, the root of the problem can progress to the point where it hurts to bite down or your gums are extremely sensitive, warranting a same-day visit to our office.
Keeping your teeth strong and your gums healthy requires a commitment to a solid at-home oral hygiene regimen. That starts with brushing each morning and evening with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste. From there, you need to floss and rinse with mouthwash once a day – no exceptions! These final two steps are important because they help prevent plaque build-up and decay between your teeth.
Since starchy and sugary foods dramatically increase your risk of developing a cavity, it’s a good idea to keep potato chips, ice cream, and the like to a minimum. Instead, focus on filling your diet with vitamin-rich, and nutrient-dense items, like raw fruits and vegetables. On a similar note, you should avoid chewing on extremely crunchy things, like ice, since the pressure can cause your teeth to chip, crack, or fracture.
If you’re not wearing a mouthguard, then your teeth, gums, and tongue can get seriously injured during a sports-related accident. The good news is that we can provide you with a custom-made mouthguard to help prevent that from happening.
Note: We also encourage patients who chronically grind or clench their teeth to wear a nightguard while they sleep to prevent cracks, fractures, and premature wear.
Simply put, you should never use your teeth to open packages, bottles, containers, or other items. Additionally, you should give up unhealthy habits that can damage teeth and cause decay (i.e., biting your fingernails, smoking, chewing on the back of your pen). Even if you haven’t run into any issues with habits like these in the past, all it takes is one time for it to warrant same-day treatment from our emergency dentist.
After reviewing the information on this page about how to handle dental emergencies, you may still have questions about what you can do at home and what you can expect when visiting our office when a crisis occurs. Below, Dr. Desai has provided the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from our patients. We invite you to review them and call us if you would like to discuss them further.
You may not realize it, but only licensed dental professionals can administer tooth extractions. It is illegal for even a skilled physician in a hospital setting to perform this type of procedure. The only help you can expect to receive at your local ER is that you will receive antibiotics and pain medicine. Unfortunately, this only helps with immediate symptoms, not the real problem. It is best to get in to see Dr. Desai simply because you may not even need to have your tooth removed. Instead, you may only need a root canal. She can determine the best method of treatment once you come in for a visit.
Chipped teeth, no matter how minor or severe, cannot heal on their own. They do require professional treatment from a dentist. Although enamel is known for being the hardest substance in the body, it can still sustain serious damage if you’re not careful. Since it cannot heal without dental intervention, you’ll likely be recommended for a dental crown or cosmetic repair (i.e., veneers or direct bonding).
Yes, you should bring your child in right away if one of their primary teeth is accidentally knocked out. These teeth should remain in place as long as possible, only falling out when it is time. If one is damaged early on, you’ll need to make sure that you don’t try to reinsert it into the vacated socket. Instead, bring your child in for an emergency appointment. We’ll determine if a space maintainer is necessary to prevent dental drift. However, should your child’s mouth not stop bleeding, take them to the ER first for immediate medical care.
It depends. Should you feel throbbing pain or soreness, there is a good chance it is an infection. If you begin to taste something bitter, have bad breath, experience tooth sensitivity, or have red or swollen gums, these can also be signs of an infection. No matter your symptoms, don’t delay in seeking help from our dental team at Care 32 Dental of Fort Worth. We’ll examine your smile to determine if a more serious problem does exist and begin to administer care in a timely manner.
