It’s a normal day when, suddenly, a dental emergency in Houston rears its head. In addition to being inconvenient, dental emergencies can be painful and leave your oral health compromised. At our dental office, whether you have a severe toothache, a broken tooth, or a lost restoration, we can provide comprehensive and effective care to restore your happy, healthy smile. To get relief for any type of urgent dental need, contact us to request a visit with your emergency dentist in Houston, TX, Dr. Gray or Dr. Newman, today!
While dental emergencies are typically sudden and alarming, we encourage you to keep your cool! It’s important to stay calm and act quickly and correctly to keep the issue from getting worse. Take a deep breath and follow these steps:
Dental emergencies usually result from one of two things: prolonged, inadequate oral hygiene, which can cause infections and terrible toothaches. Or, the cause could be sudden trauma or injury, which can result in a broken or knocked-out tooth. While our dentists are capable of treating any type of dental emergency, it’s essential that you know how to handle your situation until you can reach us. Here is some important information on the most common types of dental emergencies.
Because the scope of potential dental emergencies is so vast, there is no set price for treatment. When you visit, either Dr. Gray or Dr. Newman will carefully examine you, which may include capturing X-ray images and assessing the severity of your situation. Based on the treatment necessary to restore your oral health, we’ll generate an estimate for you from there.
An emergency visit to the dentist is not as expensive as you’d think. At your appointment, our team will closely examine your mouth in order to confirm your oral health needs and the best treatment to resolve your emergency symptoms. Without an exam from a professional like Dr. Gray or Dr. Newman, we cannot know for sure how much your emergency dentistry will cost. While some issues can be treated with relatively quick treatments, such as dental fillings, other services we may recommend include:
In some cases, dental emergencies are unavoidable. For example, if you experience a bad fall or bite into food that contained something inedible, it can crack or damage a tooth. However, the majority of dental emergencies can be prevented when you keep some key habits in mind. This includes professional checkups at our office once every six months and consistent at-home brushing and flossing. These steps alone could save you hundreds of dollars in avoided oral healthcare costs every year.
Furthermore, you should never put off care for a dental issue once it makes itself apparent. Your costs are only likely to increase the longer you go without dedicated treatment. For example, a tooth that only needed a dental filling today could need a dental crown or root canal therapy six months from now.
In most cases, dental insurance plans will offer some level of coverage for a dental emergency situation. This includes one annual emergency exam depending on the plan you have. Additionally, most common emergency services like root canal therapy and tooth extractions receive partial coverage (or anywhere between 80% and 50%) depending on the insurance provider and plan. Keep in mind that annual maximums tend to come into effect as well, so always contact your insurance company directly before starting a treatment.
If you’d prefer to avoid dental insurance or you simply find it too expensive, there are other options available to you. One common option people utilize is third-party financing, such as CareCredit. When you sign up for CareCredit, you can pay for your emergency dentistry over the span of several months in smaller installments, rather than all in one lump sum. These payments generally come with little to no interest attached as well, making them perfect for those paying for dentistry on a budget. No matter how you intend to pay for care, our team will be ready to answer your questions and navigate costs.
Hands down, the best form of treatment for any type of dental emergency is prevention. A simple way to go about this is to practice excellent oral hygiene, which should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least two times a day. This, coupled with six-month preventive care appointments, helps to fortify your oral health. If you’re involved in any type of sport, we highly recommend you wear a mouthguard to protect you in the case of a sudden blow to the mouth.
Believe it or not, one of the easiest ways to protect your smile from a dental emergency is to visit your dentist. The American Dental Association recommends everyone sees their dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup, but many people feel these appointments are a waste of time and money, but this isn’t true.
Research shows every $1 spent on preventive dental care can reduce your restorative and emergency costs by as much as $50. Regular visits allow your dentist to remove harmful buildup while also benefiting from the power of early detection. This ensures hidden issues that can lead to bigger problems aren’t hiding below the surface, like an infection or cavity.
Besides care from your dentist, you can protect your smile at home with a good oral hygiene routine. It’s best to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to clean your teeth for 2-minutes twice a day. It’s also important to floss your teeth each night before going to bed to remove anything left behind by your toothbrush.
If you like to chew on ice or hard candies, you might want to reconsider your habit. You shouldn’t bite down on anything hard, including foods, pencils, or your nails. If you do, you significantly increase your risk a broken or fractured tooth.
Many dental emergencies could be prevented with 1 simple piece of protective gear. An athletic mouthguard is essential for anyone who plays sports, such as football, biking, or soccer. It provides protection to reduce trauma or injury to your mouth. Research also shows it can decrease your risk of concussion.
If you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, it’s best to speak to your dentist about another form of protection. A nightguard provides a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to protect your smile and reduce unnecessary jaw pain.
We’ve all torn open a bag of chips or pulled off a bottle cap with our teeth. While it’s convenient when you can’t find the right tool for the job, it can damage your smile. It’s best to avoiding opening any packages or containers with your teeth to prevent an unexpected trip to your dentist.
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