Toothaches, lost teeth, a notably cracked tooth – all of these issues are considered dental emergencies. Ignoring them is not an option; if they go unaddressed for too long, they will grow worse, causing more pain and further damage. At Buda Dental Professionals, we can make arrangements to see you on the same day for an emergency appointment, so you aren’t left waiting for relief when it counts the most. Call us immediately when you need urgent dental care, and our trusted emergency dentist in Buda, TX will see you as soon as possible.
Why Choose Buda Dental Professionals for Emergency Dentistry?
Same-Day Emergency Care Available
IV Sedation Available In-House
Transparent, Detailed Treatment Plans
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
You can call us immediately to set up a same-day appointment so that we can address your emergency as quickly as possible. A comprehensive examination will be performed, and afterward, we’ll explain what treatment options are available. Our recommendations will depend on the source of your emergency and how severe it is, and you’ll be given an estimate of the cost along with a timeline.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can take many different forms. It’s always best to call our dental office if you’re not sure whether a particular issue counts as an emergency or not; we can advise you on what to do next based on your symptoms. Below, you’ll find some examples of particularly common emergencies that we see as well as tips on how to handle them.
Just as the term “dental emergency” can refer to many different things, the cost of emergency treatment
isn’t set in stone. The amount you end up paying depends on what treatments are needed as well as how complex
your issue is. You can count on our team to be transparent
about how much you can expect to pay for treatment as well as our reasons for making specific recommendations.
Every Dental Emergency Is Different
While emergency dental visits are relatively inexpensive, they are usually more costly than routine exams and
cleanings and involve our team assessing your needs to determine an appropriate future treatment. We can only give
you an estimate of the cost once we’ve examined your mouth and narrowed down the root of the problem, as the
prices of different treatments can vary considerably. Our team will make every effort to ensure you understand the
costs associated with the care you need. We commonly treat dental emergencies with procedures such as:
Root canal therapy
Dental crowns
TMJ treatments
Extractions
And more!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Most dental insurance plans offer at least some coverage for dental emergencies. Some plans fully cover one emergency
dental exam every year, and common emergency dental services such as root canal therapy, extractions, fillings, and
dental crowns may be covered from 50% to 80% in many cases. Since every dental insurance plan is different and your
final bill will probably be affected by yearly maximums, our team will be happy to help you understand what your
insurance company offers before you commit to treatment. If you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
While many dental emergencies cannot be anticipated, they often happen due to preventable issues such as poor oral
hygiene, untreated infections, or bad habits. Practicing excellent oral hygiene at home while seeing your dentist
regularly for routine exams and cleanings can save you thousands of dollars as well as much miserable oral pain over
the years.
Once you notice your dental emergency, it’s important to take care of the problem immediately. While emergency
dental treatments can seem costly, they will only get more expensive if you procrastinate about dealing with them.
For example, delaying seeing your dentist for a severe toothache can make the difference between getting a root
canal that can save your tooth or needing to have it extracted and replaced with a costly denture, bridge, or dental
implant.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Our team at Buda Dental Professionals takes pride in being here for our patients when they need us most. That said, we also want to help them prevent dental damage however possible since dental injuries can be both painful to experience and stressful to handle. For that reason, we’re sharing some helpful tips on how to prevent toothaches, bleeding gums, damaged restorations, and the like.
Visit Our Dental Office Twice a Year
Coming to our Buda dental office twice a year is important when it comes to preventing small cavities, large fractures, and everything in between! That’s because we screen for oral cancer, examine each tooth, take X-rays, and assess the condition of your gums. If we see anything concerning, then we can address the root of the problem at the earliest possible stage as well. Simply put, visiting us semi-annually for a checkup and cleaning is of the utmost importance, even when it comes to preventing dental emergencies.
Brush and Floss Every Day
Simply put, if you don’t take good care of your smile, then your chances of developing oral health problems like tooth decay and gum disease goes through the roof. That’s why it’s crucial that you commit to brushing your teeth for a full two minutes each morning and evening with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste. You should also floss daily (this plays a crucial role in removing plaque and preventing tooth decay from forming between your teeth).
Don’t Overindulge on Added Sugar
Remember, sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. For that reason, it’s important not to overindulge on foods and drinks that are packed with added sugar. Instead, make a conscious effort to eat a well-balanced diet that’s filled with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that benefit your oral and overall health, like fresh fruits, lean proteins, and raw vegetables.
Wear a Mouthguard If You Play Sports
It’s often assumed that a mouthguard is only needed during contact sports. That’s not the case! Now, runners, surfers, skateboarders, and those who participate in other solo sports are encouraged to wear one as well. That way, the chances of sustaining a knocked-out, cracked, chipped, or fractured tooth are significantly less.
Note: Don’t have a mouthguard? That’s okay – we can have one made for you that’s the perfect size and appropriate thickness for the sport you participate in!
Break Bad Habits
Chewing on ice cubes may seem harmless, but it can easily result in a chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth, which is why we recommend steering clear of this habit entirely. It’s also important not to bite your fingernails, use tobacco products, chew on the back of your pen/pencil, or use your teeth as tools to open things.
Dental Emergency FAQs
If you need an emergency dentist in Buda, don't panic! Our caring team at Buda Dental Professionals is here to make a stressful day easier. We will explain everything to calm your nerves after addressing any pain and creating a personalized treatment plan. While you wait for your appointment, here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions.
How Should I Sleep with Dental Pain?
Believe it or not, dental pain can get worse at night, which can make it difficult to get the rest you need. There are fewer distractions at night, causing you to focus on your pain. Not to mention, certain habits before bed or the way you sleep can enhance your discomfort. You can avoid tossing and turning all night by skipping hard, crunchy, or chewy foods for dinner. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever and apply a cold compress to numb the area. You can also rinse your mouth with salt water to reduce pain, inflammation, and bacteria. Sleep with your pillow elevated to prevent blood from pooling in your head. This will ensure a throbbing toothache doesn't keep you awake.
Do I Need to See a Dentist If My Chipped Tooth Doesn’t Hurt?
A chipped tooth is a dental emergency in Buda. Even if your tooth doesn't hurt, you still need to see a dentist. Not all broken teeth are painful, but that doesn't mean your tooth isn't severely damaged or at risk of additional complications, like an infection. We will examine your tooth to determine the extent of the break to create a personalized treatment plan to fix it, like dental bonding, a veneer, or a crown.
Will a Chipped Tooth Heal?
Although your enamel is the hardest substance in your body, it cannot regenerate. Once it is gone, it has been lost for good. Therefore, a chipped tooth won't grow back. At most, it can remineralize, but it will be at risk of additional breaks, infections, or decay if it is not treated. If the break is minor and you aren't having any pain, you can often wait a day or two to see your dentist, but don't put the appointment off for too long. If you delay treatment, you may lose your tooth.
Is a Broken Denture a Dental Emergency?
Yes, a broken denture is a dental emergency because you rely on it to get through your day. Although no one has time for an unplanned dental appointment, leave the mending for professionals. Using superglue or home remedies can damage your denture even more or lead to oral injuries. Instead, it's better to use an old denture if possible and put your current one in a safe place until your appointment. We will get you into the office and examine your denture to determine if it can be repaired or if you'll need a replacement. We'll provide the quick care you need to restore a complete, beautiful smile because we know you can't go without any teeth.
Toothaches
Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Although many patients think that toothaches are nothing to worry about, there are several symptoms that indicate that’s not the case, such as a sharp pain when biting down and a pimple-like bump on the gums near your tooth. Even if your symptoms aren’t severe, you should schedule an appointment with our Buda emergency dentist so we can treat the root of the problem before it requires same-day treatment.
How You Should Handle a Toothache Of course, the first step is scheduling an appointment with our team. Until your appointment – whether it’s a few hours away or several days away – there are some short-term solutions that will help keep you comfortable. We recommend placing a cold compress against the outside of your cheek to alleviate swelling, rinsing with warm saltwater to help prevent infection, and taking an OTC pain reliever to keep you comfortable.
How We Treat Toothaches The treatment we recommend will depend entirely on the source of your toothache, which we will determine with X-rays and an oral exam. Oftentimes, the look and function of your tooth can be restored with a tooth-colored filling, dental crown, or root canal therapy.
Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Remember, pain isn’t the only symptom of a dental emergency. If the chip is large enough, then your tooth is at risk of splitting further and developing an infection. That’s why we recommend scheduling an appointment with our Buda dental team within a day or two of the incident, even if you aren’t experiencing any discomfort.
How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth Properly handling this dental emergency really comes down to three steps: rinsing your mouth with clean water, covering the sharp edge of your tooth with dental wax (or sugarless gum), and calling our team to schedule a time for you to come in for treatment.
How We Treat Chipped Teeth There are several factors that go into the treatment we recommend, including the location of the tooth and how large the chip is. With that said, cosmetic bonding and veneers are used most often to restore chipped teeth.
Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Definitely! In addition to causing you pain, a cracked tooth can develop an infection, taking a serious toll on your oral health. Plus, your now weak tooth is vulnerable to splitting further. In short, a cracked tooth absolutely warrants a call to our Buda dental office.
How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth To prevent the tooth from additional damage, we highly recommend avoiding crunchy foods. If you do get hungry, don’t chew on that side of your mouth and stick to soft, low-sugar foods, like oatmeal. If you’re in pain, you can also take an OTC pain reliever as instructed until your appointment.
How We Treat Cracked Teeth Once we’ve examined the tooth and determined how severe the crack is, we will review your treatment options, including dental crowns. However, it’s worth noting that there are some cases where the best choice for your oral health is to have the tooth extracted and replaced with a dental bridge or implant.
Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? You might think that dental sensitivity is nothing to be concerned about. However, this could be a symptom of something serious, like a large cavity. For that reason, we recommend reaching out to our Buda dental team if the sensation persists for more than a few hours or is present in tandem with other abnormal symptoms, like a pimple-like bump on your gums.
How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth First, steer clear of all hot/cold foods and beverages (this will help prevent the sensation from worsening). If the sensation persists, then try switching to a desensitizing toothpaste. If that doesn’t work either, then give us a call to schedule an exam with one of our dedicated dentists.
How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer since dental sensitivity could be the result of multiple problems – from the early stages of gum disease to a large cavity. Either way, it’s best that you schedule an appointment sooner rather than later so we can address the root of the problem as quickly as possible.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Without a doubt, the answer is “yes.” After all, there’s only about a 60-minute window of time where an emergency dentist can save the tooth. So, it’s important that you act quickly.
How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth Although this dental emergency can be scary, do your best to take a few deep breaths and remember to call us right away. Over the phone, a knowledgeable member of our Buda dental team will walk you through what to do next, including placing your tooth in a clean container filled with milk to preserve the root.
How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth You’ll be happy to hear that there are times when a knocked-out tooth can be saved. If for any reason that’s not possible with your case, then we will restore the look, health, and function of your smile with the next best thing: a dental implant.
Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Both a lost dental filling and a lost dental crown are considered dental emergencies. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Buda dental team to schedule an appointment and get further details on how to handle this situation.
How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown We mentioned one important step above: calling us. If you have a few hours until your appointment, then don’t chew on that side of your mouth, stick to room-temperature water, and avoid crunchy, hard, and sticky foods entirely. If you’re dealing with considerable discomfort, you also have the option of taking OTC pain medication (as directed on the label).
How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns Usually, a lost dental filling is replaced with a new one (a process that can be handled entirely in one visit). As for a lost dental crown, we have the option of replacing it or, if your current one is in good condition, re-cementing it back in place.
Is a broken denture a dental emergency? If you continue wearing your denture after breaking it, it can cause problems with your gums, jaws, soft tissues, and remaining natural teeth. Call our office immediately after the false teeth or the base of your denture break.
How to handle a broken denture: Denture repair kits cannot completely repair your denture. It’s important to schedule an appointment at our office to have your broken denture repaired as soon as possible.
How we treat broken dentures: Depending on the situation, we may repair your false teeth with composite resin or adjust your denture so it fits properly again. However, your appliance will need to be replaced in cases of severe damage such as the denture snapping in half.
How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: Loose teeth can be caused by severe gum disease or physical injury, and they are always in danger of falling out regardless of pain. Call our office as soon as you realize that your permanent tooth is loose. Avoid touching or chewing with the tooth, and while it isn’t advised to brush or floss in this case, you can clean your mouth by swishing warm water.
How we treat loose permanent teeth: Loose teeth can often be saved through dental splits, and we may be able to save a loose dental implant with bone grafts. If the tooth cannot be saved, we may need to extract it.
Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? Our office may be able to help you if you have minor bleeding due to oral injuries in the gums, lips, or tongue. Give our office a call if you have such an injury to tell us about the problem and learn what to do next.
How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Begin by gently rinsing with water to wash away any debris. Then apply gauze or a clean washcloth to the wound until the bleeding stops. You can also use a cold compress to reduce swelling or discomfort.
How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: If your wound is small, we may be able to stitch it shut. However, if the wound is large or if the bleeding continues after ten minutes of applied pressure, head to the ER.
Jaw Pain
Is jaw pain a dental emergency? While jaw pain is not typically considered a dental emergency, call our office to schedule an appointment if the problem doesn’t go away. This can prevent serious oral health issues later.
How you should handle jaw pain: Our team will be happy to provide you with guidance over the phone before your appointment. We generally suggest that patients use over-the-counter pain medication and an ice pack to relieve discomfort or swelling. However, head for the ER if you believe your jaw is broken or dislocated.
How we treat jaw pain: If your jaw pain is the result of grinding your teeth at night, we may recommend a custom nightguard. This will prevent your teeth from grinding against one another at night, which is often the cause of jaw pain. If your pain is caused by your wisdom teeth emerging, we may recommend extraction. If it is caused by a distressed jaw, we may recommend TMJ therapy.
While having something stuck between your teeth isn’t usually a dental emergency, it can be if it’s especially painful. Call our office so we can confirm the issue and schedule you for an upcoming appointment. Try to dislodge the debris with dental floss or by rinsing with water, but never use tweezers, toothpicks, or another sharp object. Our dentists are trained to safely remove foreign debris from between teeth if necessary.
