Emergency dental care
What we do
Everything we do when something hurts.
A dental emergency is pain, swelling, bleeding, or a broken, loose or knocked-out tooth that can't wait for a regular appointment. Call us first thing. During office hours we do our best to see emergencies the same day, and the emergency exam with limited x-rays is $40. Below: what to do right now for each common problem, what it costs, and when to skip us and go to the ER.
- Emergency exam and x-raysA focused exam and digital x-rays of the problem area. $40, and you hear what's going on before anything is done.
- First aid over the phoneTell the front desk what happened. We'll give you first-aid steps over the phone and find the soonest time we can see you.
- FillingsA filling repairs a cavity, in tooth-colored material made to match your natural teeth.
- CrownsA crown covers and protects a tooth that's cracked, badly worn, or too damaged for a filling.
- Root canalsSaves a tooth whose inner pulp is infected or badly inflamed, from deep decay, a crack, or an injury. Molars included.
- ExtractionsSimple and surgical extractions when a tooth can't be saved. We always look at saving the tooth first.
- Splints for jaw painA custom splint or night guard, made to your bite, that takes the pressure off a sore jaw.
- Denture adjustments and relinesLoose, cracked, or rubbing? Sometimes an adjustment or reline solves it. We'll give you the options side by side.
Typical emergencies
Is this a dental emergency?
Some problems need a dentist today. Others can wait a day or two, as long as you call and get on the schedule. A rough guide:
- Call us right awayA knocked-out or loose adult tooth, a toothache with swelling or fever, a cracked tooth that hurts when you bite, pain that keeps you up at night, or a bump like a pimple on the gum.
- Call the same day, even if it doesn't hurt muchA lost crown or filling, a chip with a sharp edge, a broken denture, or a baby tooth knocked out early.
- Go to the ER firstFacial swelling that is spreading, trouble breathing or swallowing, bleeding that won't stop, or a hard blow that may have broken or dislocated the jaw.
How the visit goes
What happens when you call, and at the visit
Tell the front desk what happened and when. We'll talk you through first aid on the phone and find the soonest time a dentist can see you. During office hours we do our best to make that the same day. We can't promise it every time, and we'll always tell you plainly when the soonest opening is.
At the visit, Dr. Vazquez or Dr. Aldana does a focused exam of the problem and takes digital x-rays of the area. You see the images on the screen, hear what's going on in plain words, and get your options with a price for each before anything starts. If you're hurting, getting you comfortable comes first.
Sometimes the whole fix happens at that visit. Sometimes the first step is relief, like a temporary filling or medicine for an infection, and the repair gets its own appointment. Either way, you'll know the plan before you leave.
- Emergency exam
- $40
- Limited exam and limited x-rays of the problem.
- Same-day visits
- When we can
- During office hours. Call first thing.
- Phone
- (972) 288-3200
Whichever dentist is in that day sees emergency patients.
Before you get here
What to do right now, problem by problem
These first-aid steps get you through until you're in the chair. They don't replace an exam, but they can save a tooth and take the edge off the pain. When you're not sure, call (972) 288-3200 and tell us what happened.
Toothache
Rinse with warm water and floss gently around the tooth, since a trapped piece of food is sometimes the whole problem. An over-the-counter pain reliever, taken as the label directs, helps. Don't hold aspirin against the gum; it can burn the tissue. Swelling, fever or a bad taste with the ache point to infection, so call right away.
Knocked-out adult tooth
Pick it up by the chewing end, never the root. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly without scrubbing. Try to set it back in the socket and bite gently on gauze. If you can't, keep it in milk or tucked inside your cheek, not in tap water. Call immediately. The sooner it's back in place, the better its chance of reattaching.
Chipped tooth
Rinse, save the piece if you find it, and chew on the other side. A small chip that doesn't hurt can usually wait a day or two. If a sharp edge is cutting your tongue, dental wax from the pharmacy covers it.
Cracked tooth
Rinse with warm salt water, skip hard and chewy foods, and call even if the pain comes and goes. Cracks can spread and let bacteria reach the nerve.
Sensitivity that lingers
A quick zing that fades in a second is common. Sensitivity that throbs, lingers or comes with pain on biting can mean the nerve is involved. Avoid very hot, cold, sweet and acidic foods and call.
Lost filling or crown
Put the crown in a small bag and bring it; if it's intact, it can often be cemented back. Temporary dental cement from the pharmacy can cover the spot for a day or two. Never use household glue.
Loose adult tooth
Don't wiggle it or chew on it. A cold compress on the cheek helps swelling. Call right away, because a loose tooth seen early can sometimes be steadied with a splint.
Broken denture
Stop wearing it so the broken edges don't cut your gums. Keep it in water so it doesn't dry out and bring every piece. Skip drugstore repair kits, which can turn a clean break into one that's harder to fix.
Cut lip, tongue or gum
Rinse gently, then press clean gauze or a cloth on the cut for 10 minutes. If it's still bleeding after steady pressure, go to the ER.
Something stuck between teeth
Use floss, gently, and rinse. Don't dig with a pin, toothpick or anything sharp. If it won't come out, call and we'll remove it.
Jaw pain
A cold compress and soft foods help, and jaw soreness alone usually isn't an emergency. If your jaw won't open or close, or the pain started with a blow to the face, go to the ER.
When to go to the ER instead
Go to the emergency room, or call 911, for any of the problems below. They can be serious, and a hospital can treat them in ways a dental office can't. Once you're stable, call us and we'll take care of the tooth.
- Facial swelling that is spreading, especially toward the eye or down the neck
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Bleeding that won't stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure
- A jaw injury: a hard blow, a jaw that may be broken or dislocated, or a mouth that won't open or close
Cost, insurance and after hours
How we treat the most common emergencies
The treatment depends on what the exam and x-rays show. The usual ones:
- Fillings and bonding for chips, small breaks, and cavities that suddenly started to hurt.
- Crowns for cracked teeth and teeth that lost a big piece.
- Root canal treatment when the nerve inside the tooth is infected or inflamed. Both of our dentists do root canals, including on molars.
- Extractions when a tooth can't be saved, with replacement options explained before it comes out.
- A splint to steady a loose tooth, or a custom oral appliance for jaw pain.
- Denture repair when the break allows it, or a new denture when it doesn't.
How much does an emergency dental visit cost?
The emergency exam with limited x-rays of the problem area is $40. That's the visit that tells you what's wrong and what it will take to fix.
Treatment is priced separately, because a broken tooth might need a small filling or might need a root canal and a crown. You'll get a written estimate at the exam, and nothing starts until you've seen the number and said yes. If the problem can safely wait, we'll say so, so you can plan around work and paydays.
Does insurance cover emergency dental care?
Many dental plans cover an emergency exam, then cover treatment by category. Fillings usually count as basic care. Root canals and crowns are often basic or major care, with a smaller share covered after your deductible and up to your yearly maximum. Every plan is different, so we check yours.
We're in network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, MetLife and other major PPO plans. Give us your plan details when you call and your estimate will show what insurance is expected to pay. We also help adult Medicaid patients use the services their plan covers.
No insurance? Ways to pay for emergency care
The Sunshine Membership is a $110 one-time fee with no monthly fees. It includes 2 checkups with x-rays, unlimited limited exams for pain, and 30 to 40% off dental treatment. If your emergency turns into a crown, a root canal or an extraction, that discount can matter. For larger bills, Sunbit and Cherry split the cost into monthly payments, and you can apply in the office in a few minutes.
After hours, Fridays and weekends
Our Mesquite office is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 to 3, and Tuesday 10 to 3. We're closed Friday through Sunday. If something happens while we're closed, call (972) 288-3200 and leave a message with your name, your number and what happened. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Until then, use the first-aid steps above. For most toothaches, an over-the-counter pain reliever taken as directed and a cold compress on the cheek keep things manageable until you can be seen.
How to avoid the next emergency
Not every emergency is preventable, but many start as something small that could have been caught. A few habits cut the odds:
- Keep your checkups. A cavity found early is a filling. Left alone, it can become the toothache that needs a root canal.
- Wear a custom mouthguard for contact sports, and a night guard if you grind.
- Don't open packages or bottles with your teeth, and go easy on ice, hard candy and popcorn kernels.
- Ask about old, worn fillings before they break.
- Brush twice a day and floss once. Most toothaches start with decay or gum disease.
Cost
What it costs.
Published prices only. Anything beyond the visit is quoted in writing first.
Emergency visit
$40Emergency exam
A limited exam with limited x-rays of the problem, so you know what's going on and what it costs to fix.Treatment
In writing
A written estimate before treatment. You see the cost, and what your insurance is expected to cover, before anything starts.Insurance
In network
In network with many major dental plans, and we check your benefits before your visit. We also help adult Medicaid patients use the services their plan covers.Insurance we takeNo insurance
$110one-time fee
The Sunshine Membership: 2 dental checkups with x-rays, unlimited limited exams for pain and 30 to 40% off treatment, with no monthly fees.Membership details
Sunbit and Cherry offer monthly payments on larger treatment.
Questions
About emergency visits
Can you see me today?
How much is an emergency visit?
Do I need an appointment for an emergency?
Does insurance cover emergency visits?
What if it happens on a Friday or weekend?
Should I go to the ER or the dentist for a toothache?
My child knocked out a baby tooth. What do I do?
Will you pull the tooth or try to save it?
Can I get sedation for emergency treatment?
What should a dental first-aid kit have?
Related
Often asked about together
- Root canalsSaving an infected or badly damaged tooth, including molars.
- Tooth extractionsSimple and surgical extractions when a tooth can't be saved.
- Crowns, fillings and bridgesTooth-colored fillings, porcelain and metal-free crowns, and bridges.
- Patient guideWhat a root canal actually feels likeThe numbing, the procedure, the days after, and why the reputation is out of date.
- Patient guideKnocked out or broken tooth: what to do right nowFirst aid for the first hour, when to call us, and when to go to the ER.
Next step
Something hurts? Call first thing, or book now.
You'll see what we see, hear your options in plain language, and get the cost in writing before anything starts.
925 N Bryan-Belt Line Rd, Suite 106, Mesquite. Mon, Wed, Thu 9am to 3pm. Tue 10am to 3pm. Fri to Sun closed.