When a dental emergency happens, you can bet it will be inconvenient and sometimes even scary! If you contact Distinguished Dental immediately to speak with a member of our team, we can help make your situation less stressful. Your emergency dentist in Fort Worth is committed to providing same-day urgent care for dental emergencies, so you can return to good oral health and well-being as quickly as possible. If you or a loved one experiences a dental emergency, give us a call right away so we can do our best to get you in.
Why Choose Distinguished Dental for Emergency Dentistry?
Call and get a same-day appointment scheduled: Upon calling the office, a team member will
take note of your symptoms and provide first-aid tips over the phone. We are open five days a week (Fridays
by appointment), so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you feel something is wrong.
Stop discomfort and perform an emergency exam: Once you arrive, we’ll get you seen by
Dr. McIntosh as soon as possible. If needed, we may capture digital X-rays to gain a better understanding of
your emergency.
Review findings and create a plan: We’ll break down our findings with you directly
and recommend a treatment plan we believe will best address your symptoms.
Get the care you need quickly: Whether you need a dental filling, same-day crown, root
canal therapy, or another service to resolve your emergency, we’ll work quickly to ensure you’re
no longer in pain and your oral health is back to a healthy state.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Even if you’re unsure that you’re experiencing a true dental emergency, our trusted emergency
dentist always encourages patients to call right away because, without prompt treatment, many oral health issues
can become dramatically worse. Some of the most common dental emergencies we treat include:
When facing a dental emergency, the last thing you should be worried about is how you’re going to pay the
bill. Don’t let the cost of emergency dentistry in Fort Worth prevent you from getting the care you need.
Although there’s no set fee, we strive to keep our services affordable for everyone. After addressing your
pain and examining your mouth, we’ll provide you with a personalized estimate and review your payment
options.
Every Dental Emergency Is Different
No two situations are the same, so there’s not a cookie-cutter treatment plan. As a result, various
factors will affect the amount you’ll pay, such as the severity of the issue and the required treatment.
Your emergency dentist in Fort Worth will create a customized strategy to save your smile. While every case
differs, common treatments for emergency issues include:
Tooth extractions
Root canal therapy
Gum disease treatment
Dental crowns
TMJ treatment
And more!
Rest assured; you’ll know exactly what you will have to pay before agreeing to any treatment. You’ll
have the peace of mind you need to focus on your road to recovery.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Most dental insurance offers coverage for emergency dentistry, but you’ll need to review your policy. Many
plans can be used to offset the cost of certain steps in your treatment, like the consultation, X-rays, or
restorations. A member of our team will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your annual
coverage. We’ll explain how your benefits are being used to pay for your treatment, and if there’s
any remaining balance.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Besides using your dental insurance, our office also accepts multiple financial methods to keep your care within
your budget, such as:
Traditional Payments: We accept cash, checks, and credit cards.
Third-Party Financing: Pay for your treatment in monthly installments through a third-party
financing company.
If you have any concerns about your payment options, contact our office today to speak with a member of our
dental team.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
You can’t always stop a dental emergency from occurring, but there are several steps you can take to
lessen your risk of one. Many issues requiring urgent attention result from an untreated dental problem, like a
cavity. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy can prevent common oral health concerns from occurring in the first
place. Besides a solid oral hygiene routine at home, don’t forget to visit your dentist at least twice a
year for a cleaning and checkup. Research shows every $1 spent on prevention can save up to $50 on restorative
and emergency expenses.
Your emergency dentist also recommends protecting your smile from damage, like wearing an athletic mouthguard if
you play sports. If you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, ask your dentist for a nightguard. You
can also lower your risk by breaking any poor oral habits, like using your teeth as tools or chewing on inedible
objects.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
From enamel erosion to decay, prevention is crucial when it comes to dentistry. Fortunately, you can prevent
your teeth from injury by following these best practices:
Brush and floss your teeth twice a day
Wear a mouthguard when you participate in sports-related activities
Practice precaution when eating hard foods, like popcorn
Limit sugary foods and beverages, like soda and candy
Visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning
Dental Emergency FAQs
The moment a dental emergency occurs, your mind floods with a million questions. Where should I go for help? Can
I make a same-day appointment? What could I have done to prevent this? Our team at Distinguished Dental
understands how anxiety-inducing it can be, which is why we have listed a few frequently asked questions below.
However, if you need immediate assistance, contact our office right away.
What Happens If My Toothache Goes Away?
When a once problematic tooth goes radio silent, your first reaction may be to turn on your happy music.
But, before you do, it is important to remember that decay and cavities cannot heal by themselves. On the
contrary, a newly asymptomatic tooth often means the problem has gotten much worse. Therefore, make sure to
contact our office right away if your toothache suddenly subsides.
What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies are non-life-threatening injuries that require immediate treatment from a dentist to stop
bleeding, alleviate pain, or save your tooth (like a knocked-out, cracked, or painful tooth). If you are
ever unsure, don’t hesitate to give our knowledgeable team a call. From there, we can help you
determine whether you need to come in for an urgent visit or if you can schedule one at your earliest
convenience.
What Should I Take for Dental Pain Relief?
For long-term pain relief, you should visit our office so Dr. McIntosh can treat the root of the issue.
However, if you have a few hours or days until your appointment, you can take an over-the-counter
anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen. You can also swish with warm salt water or apply a cold
compress to the outside of your cheek to alleviate swelling, prevent infection, and numb the area.
Do I Need a Tooth Extraction?
For Dr. McIntosh, our emergency dentist, saving your natural teeth is a top priority. So, just because you
need urgent treatment doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have an extraction! That being said, if the
decay is severe and can no longer be treated with a filling or root canal therapy, then she may recommend
removing the tooth to restore your oral health and pain-free smile. Either way, she will discuss each of
your options extensively so you can confidently make the decision that is best for you.
Toothaches
Is my toothache a dental emergency? Some toothaches are related to minor issues while others
are caused by severe oral health problems. It’s generally a good idea to schedule an appointment as soon
as possible so that the underlying source of the pain can be identified quickly, which is critical for
determining what kind of treatment is needed.
A toothache is always an emergency if it lasts more than a day. Other signs that urgent care is needed include
experiencing sharp pain when you bite down, a small bump appearing on your gums, the tooth in question having a
darker appearance than the teeth around it, and any symptoms that could indicate the presence of an infection.
How you should handle a toothache: If the pain is caused by something stuck between your teeth,
flossing is often enough to solve the problem. In other cases, you can reduce your discomfort with an
over-the-counter painkiller and by holding a cold compress over the area. Rinsing with salt water is often a
good idea, as it can ease any inflammation you might be experiencing.
How we treat toothaches: The possible treatments for toothaches include fillings, crowns, root
canal therapy, periodontal treatment for gum disease, and more. We can determine which service is right for you
after we have evaluated your mouth.
Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Compared to cracked teeth, a chipped tooth isn’t
always as urgent. It’s usually okay to wait a few days before having it treated. You should never wait too
long, though, as even a minor chip could eventually lead to further problems.
How you should handle a chipped tooth: Rinse out your mouth with water and collect the
broken-off pieces of the tooth (if you can find them). You don’t want the damage to the tooth to grow any
worse, so for the time being don’t use it to bite or chew your food. Cover any rough or sharp edges with
sugarless gum or dental wax.
How we treat chipped teeth: The first step is to examine the tooth and figure out the extent of
the damage. To restore the tooth, we may suggest bonding, which means covering the affected area with composite
resin. Veneers might be recommended instead if you have a chipped tooth that most people will see when you
smile.
Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Teeth are unable to repair themselves, so it’s a
very serious issue if they ever become cracked. Even if the damage seems minor and isn’t causing you any
pain, it could still lead to bigger problems if it’s left alone for too long. Contact our office
immediately when you notice a cracked tooth.
How you should handle a cracked tooth: A crack could leave the tooth vulnerable to infection,
so rinse with water at regular intervals to ensure that the affected area stays clean. When eating, always chew
with the opposite side of your mouth to keep the injured tooth safe. If there’s any discomfort, you can
take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
How we treat cracked teeth: We’ll take a look at the crack to see what kind of
restoration would be best for addressing it. For minor cracks, it’s often possible to perform the
necessary repairs with bonding. Meanwhile, larger cracks typically require a crown. A tooth that can’t be
repaired will most likely need to be removed altogether.
Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency?: Tooth sensitivity that goes away after a few seconds
isn’t generally considered an urgent oral health issue. But if it lasts for days, causes significant pain,
and/or seems to affect just one or two teeth, you will likely need to see an emergency dentist in Fort Worth so that
they can determine the cause of the problem.
How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: Avoid eating or drinking anything that might aggravate
sensitive teeth, such as foods and beverages that are particularly hot or cold. There may be other steps you can
take to manage your sensitivity depending on the situation; our team will be happy to give you first-aid tips when
you call to set up your emergency appointment.
How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: Tooth sensitivity can be the result of an untreated cavity,
advanced gum disease, or other oral health issues. Once we’ve determined the source of your sensitivity, we
can point you toward an appropriate solution, such as tooth-colored fillings, root canal treatment, or gum disease
treatment.
Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency?: Yes. No matter what the cause is, losing an adult tooth
is always an emergency. If a tooth is ever knocked out of your mouth, you should make arrangements to visit our
office as soon as you can. The window of time to save a lost tooth in Fort Worth is very brief; ideally, the
reimplantation should be attempted within an hour after the initial injury in order to maximize the chances of
success.
How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: When handling a knocked-out tooth, only touch the end
used for chewing; avoid making any contact with the root. If there’s any dirt or debris on the tooth, gently
rinse it off with lukewarm water while making sure to leave any remaining tissues alone. Once the tooth is clean,
you can try to put it back in its socket. If you can’t, preserve it in a container filled with milk or saline
solution.
How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: Naturally, we will try to save your knocked-out tooth whenever
possible. But if we discover that the tooth is no longer viable or is too badly damaged, then we might have to
replace it instead. Fortunately, we can point you toward multiple options for rebuilding your smile, including
dental bridges, dentures, and dental implants.
Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency?: It’s actually normal for an older filling or
crown to fall off the tooth. This type of dental issue doesn’t necessarily require immediate attention, but
it’s important to remember that the exposed tooth will be at a greater risk for infection until it’s
repaired. As such, you should call our office as soon as possible in the event that a dental restoration falls off.
How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: Save the restoration if possible so that you can
bring it with you to our office. You might be able to reattach a lost crown to your tooth with dental cement, which
can be bought over the counter; however, this is only a temporary solution and should not be seen as a substitute
for professional treatment.
How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: If need be, our team can replace your lost filling or
crown with a new one. Before we do so, though, we’ll take a closer look at your current restoration; if
it’s still in good condition, we may be able to simply reuse it.
Is a broken denture a dental emergency?: Dentures are quite durable, but it’s still possible for them to break. This might not seem like a major issue on the surface, but wearing a broken denture can cause serious problems for your gums and your remaining teeth. Please let us know right away if your denture has been damaged.
How to handle a broken denture: You should not wear a broken denture or attempt to repair it on your own. Your best option is to keep it somewhere safe until you’re able to pay our office a visit.
How we treat broken dentures: Severely broken dentures in Fort Worth may need to be replaced altogether. However, in some cases, it may be possible for us to repair your current prosthesis so that you can continue wearing it.
Is a loose permanent tooth a dental emergency?: Your permanent teeth should never come loose. Even if a loose tooth isn’t causing you any pain, there’s a good chance that it could end up falling out of your mouth in the future. You should therefore make arrangements to see our team as soon as you can.
How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: When you have a loose tooth in Fort Worth, it’s important to avoid doing anything that could exacerbate the problem until you can see a dentist. Be sure not to touch the tooth or chew with the affected side of your mouth. Instead of brushing, keep the tooth clean by rinsing with warm water.
How we treat loose permanent teeth: Our team will identify and address any oral health issues that may have caused your tooth to come loose. We’ll try to save the tooth whenever possible, but in some cases, removing and replacing it may be the only option.
Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency?: Some oral injuries are more severe than others. However, our team may be able to help if there’s an injury on your gums, lips, or tongue that is causing only minor bleeding.
How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Use warm water to rinse the affected area, then gently press down on the injury with a piece of gauze; the bleeding should stop after about 10 minutes. If there’s any swelling, you can use a cold compress to alleviate it.
How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: An oral injury that’s particularly large or won’t stop bleeding is best handled by the nearest emergency room. That said, our team may be able to treat a smaller wound by suturing it shut.
Is jaw pain a dental emergency?: Jaw pain isn’t always an emergency, but it may be linked to a larger problem that requires attention. It’s typically best to call our office if you’re experiencing jaw pain that has turned into a chronic issue.
How you should handle jaw pain: If you reach out to our team, we can give you tips for managing your jaw pain based on the symptoms you’re experiencing. Note that we may recommend going to the nearest emergency room if there’s any reason to think your jaw is broken or has become dislocated.
How we treat jaw pain: The best treatment for jaw pain depends on the cause of your discomfort. For instance, we may recommend wearing a nightguard to protect your teeth and jaw from bruxism, or we may give you an oral appliance to treat a TMJ disorder.
Sometimes when you’re eating, a piece of food may get trapped between your teeth. This is an issue that you can often resolve on your own by flossing or rinsing with water. However, if you can’t get rid of the foreign material by yourself and/or are experiencing significant pain, please give us a call.
Once you get to our office, our team will have a chance to take a look at the tooth and the object causing the issue. We’ll then take whatever steps are necessary to carefully remove the material.
