Dental emergencies always happen at the most unexpected moments, which is why it’s so important to be prepared.
If you ever have to deal with a surprise toothache, broken tooth, lost restoration, or anything else that
constitutes a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to call our team at Hulen Crossing Family Dental. Drs. Buck and
DeSimone can help get you out of pain and restore the health and structure of damaged teeth with emergency dentistry
in Fort Worth, TX. For urgent dental care when you need it most, don’t hesitate to call Hulen Crossing Family Dental!
Why Choose Hulen Crossing Family Dental for Emergency Dental Care?
In-House Oral Surgeon & General Dentist
Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
3 Types of Dental Sedation for Maximum Comfort
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
In the face of a dental emergency, it’ll be important to act fast and be prepared. The first step
you should always take is to call our dental office immediately. One of our team members can help
minimize your discomfort and prevent additional oral damage by providing over-the-phone first-aid guidance for
your specific situation. We’ll then schedule an appointment for you to get you out of pain and protect
your smile, often within the same day you call.
When you arrive, your Fort Worth emergency dentist Dr. Buck or Dr. Desimone will see you right
away for an exam. Their first priority will be to stabilize your condition if necessary and get you out of any
pain you may be experiencing. Then, they’ll evaluate your situation to learn the extent and source of your
emergency. Once they’ve explained their findings to you, they’ll review all your treatment options
and help you choose the one that’s best for you. Once you’ve created a treatment plan, our talented
and experienced team will get to work right away to get your oral health back on track.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, from broken teeth to severe toothaches. No matter what the
situation is, it’s important to seek help sooner rather than later. Taking a “wait-and-see”
approach could allow the problem to get worse and require a more extensive treatment than if it had been caught
early. That’s why even if you’re unsure if your situation qualifies as an emergency, we want you to
call us right away. We can help you determine what you need to do next to keep your smile safe, happy, and
healthy. Below, you’ll find some important information on the most common dental emergencies we treat here
at Hulen Crossing Family Dental.
The cost of emergency dentistry in Fort Worth will depend on which treatment you need to restore the health and
function of your mouth. For example, a simple cavity filling to reduce dental sensitivity will cost
significantly less than tooth extraction and restoration. When you arrive at our dental office, we’ll get
you out of pain and conduct a thorough examination of the situation at hand. Once we come up with our treatment
recommendation, we’ll walk you through it, along with any pricing details, so you know exactly what to
expect.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
If you chip your tooth, there’s a good chance your treatment will be vastly different than someone who
knocks out a tooth and requires replacement. This is just one of the reasons our team at Hulen Crossing
Family Dental cannot provide a cost breakdown before an appointment. Once you
call our office
and alert us to your problem, we will work to get you in as quickly as we can.
From there, we will examine the problem area and provide a personalized treatment plan to get your smile
back on track. Only then will you be able to fully understand how much you can expect your treatment to
cost.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
If you review your policy, there may be mention of your insurance company covering one emergency exam each
year. While this is not the case for all insurance plans, you are advised to review your policy to better
understand its rules. Fortunately, even if you are not covered for an emergency exam, these visits are often
not very expensive.
The majority of the cost comes from the type of treatment you need. Since most insurers agree to cover
50-80% of the total cost of minor or major restorative care, you can breathe a sigh of relief.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
But because dental emergency treatment can be costly, we want to make it as affordable as possible, which is
why we offer our patients two additional payment options:
Kleer Membership Plan
: Whether you choose to pay a one-time annual fee or month-to-month, you can receive access to basic
dental care as well as discounts on all other available services offered in-house.
Flexible Financing
: Through CareCredit, you can apply for low or zero interest financing. This makes it possible for you
to stay within your budget while making your monthly payments toward the care of your smile.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
While it is impossible to avoid all dental emergencies, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk
and prevent certain problems from occurring (i.e., nagging toothaches, gum disease, cavities, etc.). Not to
mention, it is your responsibility to seek help from an emergency dentist in Fort Worth the moment you begin
to notice a problem. The longer you wait, the greater the risk for more advanced and extensive dental
procedures.
By choosing to be proactive about your oral health (i.e., oral hygiene routines, eating healthy foods,
avoiding bad habits, keeping regular six-month appointments), you can spend more time enjoying your smile
instead of having work done to fix it.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
While dental emergencies can never be completely avoided, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the
likelihood of dental disaster striking. With a little know-how, you can remain proactive and keep your smile healthy and
happy. Read on to learn how you can help prevent dental emergencies in Fort Worth.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
One of the easiest ways you can safeguard your smile is to visit our office at least twice a year for routine
checkups and cleanings. Our skilled hygienists will clean away plaque and tartar that can weaken and infect your
smile. During the checkup portion of your visit, one of our friendly dentists will carefully examine your mouth to
catch any issues while they’re still small. This protects your smile from more serious, painful, and costly
dental problems down the road.
Maintain a Good At-Home Oral Health Routine
While dental visits are vital, it’s up to you to take care of your smile day in and day out. Practice good
dental hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each session. This removes daily plaque and bacteria
that can cause infection and damage. You should also be sure to floss once a day to clean away bits of pesky food
stuck between teeth. Without flossing, you’re putting the sides of your teeth at risk, and increasing your
chance of gum disease.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
While you may not think about it, your diet matters. Overly sugary, acidic, hard, or sticky foods can damage, crack
or break your smile if you’re not careful. Instead of a diet full of candy, sweets, and other risky foods,
choose fruits, veggies, and items that are rich in calcium. Fruits and vegetables act as natural toothbrushes,
scrubbing away lingering plaque and stimulating saliva flow, which in turn helps wash away problematic acids and
sugars. Low-fat dairy products are also great items to have on hand because they fortify your smile, which lowers
your risk of common dental injuries like chips or cracks.
Wear a Mouthguard
Do you play sports or participate in physical activity? If so, you must protect your teeth with a mouthguard! We
offer custom-made mouthguards that are longer lasting and more comfortable than store-bought products. Mouthguards
reduce the risk of breaking or losing a tooth due to trauma. They also lower the force of concussion that can occur
when you experience a blow to the head or face. If you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), you should wear a
nightguard to prevent extra wear and tear that weakens the smile.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Stay away from bad habits that put your teeth at risk. Do not use your smile to open packages or bottles – this
is an easy way to crack your teeth. Only use your teeth for eating, speaking, and chewing. Additionally, avoid
chewing on non-food items, including ice cubes. To prevent this habit, you can chew on sugarless gum instead.
Is my toothache a dental emergency?: With so many potential causes for toothaches, it’s never a good idea to assume yours will get better on its own. This is especially the case if you notice severe pain, facial swelling, pimple-like bumps on the gums, or develop a fever as these are signs an infection is present. If these symptoms develop, you should call our office immediately.
How you should handle a toothache: Use dental floss to remove any food debris that may be stuck in between your teeth. Take painkillers if this does not help. Use a cold compress to bring down any swelling. Apply the compress in 10-minute intervals (10 minutes on/off) for up to one hour. Do not pop any pimple-like bumps on your gums.
How we treat toothaches: We’ll need to examine your tooth more closely to know for sure which treatment will best address your toothache. Based on the cause, we could recommend a dental filling or crown, antibiotics, prescription for a specific mouthwash, gum disease treatment, root canal therapy, or an extraction as a last resort. Our top goal will always be to save the tooth whenever possible.
Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?: A chipped tooth is not typically a dental emergency if no pain is present. However, you should still give our office a call so we can not only repair it, but prevent the chip from getting worse (which can happen quickly). You should also get it handled to prevent the risk of decay developing.
How you should handle a chipped tooth: Avoid touching the tooth and bring any pieces of it you can to our office. Use dental cement to cover the tooth temporarily if it appears sharp or jagged. Take painkillers as needed and use a cold compress to bring down any swelling.
How we treat chipped teeth: Chipped teeth can typically be fixed with a tooth-colored composite resin. More visible chips in teeth may be better covered with a veneer, depending on how concerned you are with the esthetics of your smile.
Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?: Minor damage to teeth is not typically a dental emergency, but more severe damage (large cracks or cracks that extend beneath the gum line) should be handled immediately. Keep in mind that you can easily have cracked teeth without seeing any visible damage, especially if you notice pain or sensitivity while biting down.
How you should handle a cracked tooth: Avoid biting down on or touching the damaged tooth until you can get examined by our office. Take painkillers as needed and use a cold compress to bring down swelling if it appears. Rinse your mouth out with warm water to keep the tooth clean.
How we treat cracked teeth: When damage is minimal, cosmetic bonding may be enough to restore its functionality and prevent the crack from worsening. More severe damage will need to be restored with a dental crown. Significantly damaged teeth may require an extraction.
