Emergency Dentist Waco
Urgent Dental Care Right When You Need It
Dental emergencies are inconvenient, stressful, and often frightening. It can be hard to keep your cool during any urgent situation, but remaining calm and calling your emergency dentist in Waco are the keys to successful treatment. At Heart of Texas Smiles General & Cosmetic Dentistry, we are equipped to provide same-day emergency care. When you call our office with a dental injury, we’ll get you a prompt appointment and then provide important advice for handling your situation in the meantime.
Why Choose Heart of Texas Smiles General & Cosmetic Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Two Forms of Dental Sedation Available for Anxious Patients
- Innovative Technologies & Techniques to Help Patients Out of Pain
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Get an appointment scheduled today: Dr. Lassetter, Dr. Rivacoba, and Dr. Dhaon have years of experience practicing dentistry, and they take a lot of continuing education courses at every opportunity. In short, whatever your emergency might be, you can trust that they have the skills and expertise to handle it with ease. Once you call our office, a team member will take note of your symptoms and get you scheduled as soon as possible.
- Complete an emergency exam: After you arrive at our office, we’ll perform a detailed exam and confirm if digital X-rays are needed to determine the extent and severity of your emergency. If you are in immediate pain, we’ll get you relief so you can relax and have a clear head.
- Reviewing our findings: We’ll go over our findings with you directly so you can make an informed decision on your future care. We’ll also recommend a treatment plan and break down the costs and timeline associated with it.
- Get the emergency care you need: Our team will work diligently to resolve your symptoms and emergency issues, which may include dental fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, or another dental service.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
From a knocked-out tooth to chipped, broken, and aching teeth, we see a range of situations in our office. Not sure how to know if you’re dealing with a dental emergency? In general, if your tooth is aching or broken, or if you’re bleeding from the mouth, you should seek urgent attention from your dentist in Waco. With that said, you can read about the many other types of emergencies we handle as well as learn a few tips below to manage your situation before you arrive.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Without performing an exam, we can’t really know what treatment would best meet your needs. Therefore, your estimated costs will be discussed after we’ve completed your emergency exam. Thankfully, the exam portion of your visit is relatively inexpensive. You’ll always know what your costs will be before we begin any treatment, ensuring you can make an informed decision on your care ahead of time. What we do not recommend is putting off the care you need, as this can cause the emergency to worsen, resulting in higher costs anyway.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Dental problems are much easier to handle when you catch them earlier, rather than reacting to them once they turn into dental emergencies. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to keep the preventable tips below in mind:
- Visit our office regularly for dental checkups and cleanings
- Maintain good oral hygiene at home (i.e., brushing and flossing)
- Never use your teeth as a tool
- Wear a nightguard if you grind your teeth
- Wear a mouthguard if you play contact sports
Dental Emergency FAQs
Will My Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
Toothaches are usually the result of untreated dental problems, like cavities, which do not get better on their own. That’s why we strongly advise against taking the “wait and see” approach. Remember, the more time that passes, the worse the root of the problem will get. And the worse the root of the problem gets, the more costly the care that’s needed is. In short, the best thing to do if you’re struggling with a toothache – even a minor one – is to call our Waco dental team to schedule an exam.
Do I Need to Worry About a Chipped Tooth If It Doesn’t Hurt?
Patients often assume that – as long as they aren’t struggling with severe discomfort – they don’t need to schedule an appointment. That’s not the case! In fact, scheduling an exam when you first notice that something is wrong can benefit both your smile and your wallet. With chipped teeth specifically, getting the care you need sooner rather than later will reduce the chances of an infection developing and the enamel breaking further.
Should I Visit the ER for Emergency Dental Care?
If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort stemming from a dental injury, like a knocked-out or cracked tooth, you might think you should head to the ER. However, hospitals don’t usually have dentists on-staff, so they can’t save or repair your tooth. That’s why we recommend calling our emergency dentist in Waco first. In addition to alleviating any pain you’re experiencing, they will address the root of the problem, restoring your healthy, beautiful smile in the process.
Important note: We do recommend going to the ER or calling 911 if you’re experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms, like trouble breathing or uncontrollable bleeding.
What Should I Do If I Knock Out a Tooth?
If you knock out one of your teeth, it’s important that you act quickly. First, call our Waco dental team to let us know what happened. In addition to scheduling an appointment for you within the hour, we will guide you through what to do – from picking the tooth up by the crown to placing it in a clean container filled with milk (this will help preserve the root surface cells).
What Does Chronic Bad Breath Mean?
If you’ve been struggling with a persistent odor on your breath, you might assume it’s due to an untreated oral health problem, like gum disease. While that’s possible, it also could be due to your diet or dental care regimen. So, it’s a good idea to eliminate garlic, fish, and other pungent foods from your diet. Simultaneously, focus on brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently. If that doesn’t help, then don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us so we can take a look at your teeth and gums.
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