Emergency Dentist — Allen, TX
Don’t Let Your Dental Emergency Go Ignored!
Unlike other issues, such as a cut, bruise, or common cold, things will not get better on their own following a dental emergency. That’s why it’s so important that you see us the moment a tooth is damaged, knocked out, or in pain, whether it’s from a physical injury or from long-standing oral health issue. Dr. Lewis and her team have the expertise to get you out of discomfort and protect your oral health, so don’t wait; call now for emergency dentistry in Allen, TX!
Why Choose Allen Smile Design for Emergency Dental Care?
- Caring and Friendly Dentist and Team
- Same-Day Appointments for Emergencies
- Nitrous Oxide Dentistry Available for Comfort
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Step 1: Give us a call right away! We do everything in our power to see emergency patients the same day they call us, so don’t wait to reach out!
- Step 2: Follow our first-aid instructions. Over the phone, one of our experienced team members will walk you through exactly what you need to do to manage your dental emergency until you can reach us for treatment.
- Step 3: See Dr. Lewis for an exam. Your Allen emergency dentist Dr. Lewis will see you right away when you arrive. She’ll focus on relieving pain and evaluating your emergency.
- Step 4: Review the findings and make a plan. After reviewing the findings of your evaluation with you, Dr. Lewis will fully explain all your treatment options and work with you to create a custom treatment plan.
- Step 5: Get the fast dental care you need! As soon as you’ve agreed to a treatment plan, our talented team will get to work right away to protect your teeth and repair your smile. We always prioritize patient comfort and safety, and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a strong, pain-free smile once again!
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Most dental emergencies need to be handled by a dentist, which is why we recommend that you give our dental office a call so we can get you scheduled for an appointment as soon as possible. Calling us also gives you a chance to ask any questions you have and get tips on how to best manage your situation before you arrive. Below, you can find some of the most common emergencies our patients find themselves in and how to handle them before you arrive.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
While the cost of your dental emergency will likely vary depending on the complexity of your case, it’s incredibly important that you don’t put it off. Whether you need basic antibiotics to treat an infection, a crown to cover a fractured tooth, or root canal therapy to remove decayed pulp and tissue, your costs won’t be determined until you see us for a closer exam. No matter what, Dr. Lewis is prepared to help build a treatment plan that’s within your budget and gets you out of discomfort as soon as possible.
Different Emergencies Require Different Treatments
Once you arrive at our office, your emergency dentist in Allen must first examine your mouth. As we capture X-rays and assess the extent of the damage, our team will do their utmost to minimize any pain you’re feeling and make you feel as comfortable as possible. Then, we can formulate a treatment plan based on Dr. Lewis’ findings.
In general, treatments that are less invasive, like fillings, will cost less than procedures that are more extensive, such as root canal therapy or tooth extractions. As soon as our team develops a customized treatment plan to meet your needs, we can discuss the pricing information in great detail, just so there are no unpleasant surprises!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Most dental insurance companies provide some level of coverage for emergency care. Many treatments that are commonly used to treat dental emergencies, such as dental crowns and root canal therapy, are eligible for partial coverage – usually between 50% and 80%. However, each plan is different.
At Allen Smile Design, we’re in-network providers for most PPO dental insurance plans. We’ll even handle the claims process on your behalf to help you make the most of your benefits.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you don’t have insurance, our team has other ways of making the cost of emergency dentistry in Allen fit into just about any budget. Our easy-to-navigate in-house dental plan includes one emergency exam per year and discounts on most of our services. We also offer convenient, low-interest payment plans through CareCredit and Lending Club.
Save Money With Preventive Dental Care
Dental emergencies often spring up out of nowhere. Maybe you tripped and broke your tooth on the sidewalk, for instance. However, the majority of dental emergencies are actually caused by long-term oral health problems. A common example is when a patient has an intense toothache due to an infection at the tooth’s center. If the patient had come in for a routine dental checkup, the problem may have been solved with a filling or crown instead of a root canal, which costs substantially more.
By visiting our office at least twice a year for preventive care, you could end up saving thousands of dollars over the years by stopping dental emergencies in their tracks!
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Naturally, it’s better to avoid dental emergencies than to manage them. The former scenario involves much less time, money, and effort. That said, maybe you’re not sure how to do so. As it happens, though, avoiding these urgent oral issues isn’t too tricky – you just need the proper habits. We at Allen Smile Design can even help you get started. To that end, you’ll find several ways to prevent dental emergencies listed below. Just keep reading to learn all about them, or call our office for the details.
See Your Dentist Regularly
Truthfully, regular dental checkups aren’t a waste of time. They’re actually one of the best ways to keep oral emergencies at bay.
You see, these visits with your dentist offer top-quality oral care. They diagnose and treat minor dental issues before anything gets worse. In doing so, the checkups keep more severe problems – tooth infections, gum disease, etc. – from occurring. They thus work to prevent things like dental emergencies.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
Teeth cleaning at home does more than freshen your breath and help your smile look nice. In fact, practicing good oral hygiene makes dental emergencies less likely.
In particular, twice-daily brushing and once-daily flossing are key examples. When brushing your teeth twice daily, you remove harmful plaque and bacteria. Similarly, flossing between your pearly whites removes food bits and other debris. Together, these habits protect you from urgent cavities, gum disease, tooth infections, and worse.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
Poor nutrition isn’t just bad for your overall physical health; it can also cause dental emergencies. For instance, excess sugar can lead to painful cavities and even tooth infections. Also, overly acidic items like soda and energy drinks erode enamel and make teeth sensitive. As such, going overboard on sweet treats will lead you straight to the emergency dentist.
Still, you can avoid such things with a more nutritious diet. Foods like lean proteins, dairy products, and green veggies won’t decay teeth. On the contrary, their nutrients will strengthen your enamel and your gums.
Wear a Mouthguard
All in all, it’s surprisingly easy to injure your teeth. Playing a contact sport can lead to a collision or fall that chips a tooth. Alternatively, you might grind your teeth and cause them to crack or chip.
However, it’s possible to prevent such incidents with mouthguards. A sports-type model can stop mouth injuries from occurring. A “nightguard,” meanwhile, would keep you from grinding your teeth at night.
Use Tools, Not Teeth, to Open Packages
You may consider using your teeth when you want to open a package quickly. Unfortunately, this is a bad move – biting containers, bags, and other packaging will wear down enamel. As a result, doing so repeatedly could chip, crack, or fracture your teeth.
In light of these effects, don’t use your teeth as tools. Your pearly whites should only be used for eating and smiling, not as a way to rip up cardboard or tape.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
You can’t always predict when a dental emergency is going to occur. However, if you’re prepared beforehand with lots of information on the subject, it can help lessen the damage. That’s why your emergency dentist in Allen has chosen to answer some of the questions we get asked the most often about emergency dentistry.
SHOULD I GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM?
When faced with a sudden dental problem, your first instinct might be to call the emergency room of your local hospital. However, in most cases, this should only be done as a last resort. This is because most hospitals don’t have a dentist on staff. As such, they aren’t equipped to deal with dental emergencies. At best, they might be able to write you a prescription for antibiotics or pain medication, but that often won’t address the root of the problem like your dentist can.
Instead, it’s usually best to contact us for treatment during a dental emergency. If you have uncontrollable bleeding, extreme swelling, or a broken jaw, then you’re better off going to the ER first. We’ll be here for you after you receive immediate treatment.
MY TOOTHACHE WENT AWAY. DO I STILL NEED TO SEE A DENTIST?
Many people are under the impression that the occasional toothache is normal, but it’s actually anything but. As a rule of thumb, healthy teeth don’t hurt. Since toothaches don’t get better on their own, a toothache should be treated by us as soon as possible to avoid the problem becoming worse. If your tooth pain has suddenly gone away, it could be a sign that the decay or damage has spread to the nerve, rendering the tooth “dead.” At this point, you likely need a root canal to save the tooth from needing an extraction.
I CAN’T AFFORD TO GO TO THE DENTIST. CAN I WAIT FOR TREATMENT?
We understand that no one wants a large dental bill. Unfortunately, waiting too long to receive emergency treatment could put your oral health in even greater danger. Especially in the case of a knocked-out tooth, waiting could ultimately cost you your tooth. We understand that you’re concerned about the cost of treatment, which is why we’ll work with your insurance carrier to maximize your benefits. We also partner with third-party financing options CareCredit and Lending Club to help you fund the care you need.
HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
You might think that it’s never going to happen to you, but the unfortunate truth is that one out of every six Americans will face a dental emergency this year. You don’t want to be caught off guard should one strike. That’s why it helps to create a dental emergency kit with the following items:
- Saline solution
- Small bottle of acetaminophen
- Small container with a secure lid
- Handkerchief
- Gauze
- Piece of paper with our contact information
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