Emergency Dentistry – Sachse, TX

Easing Your Pain & Repairing Your Smile

Woman in need of emergency dentistry holding cheek in pain

Broken teeth, excruciating toothaches, and other dental emergencies always seem to happen at the worst possible times. However, if you want to prevent the problem from getting worse, you should see an emergency dentist like Dr. Robert G. Wiese right away. When you call us with an emergency, our team will schedule you an appointment as soon as we can, and then Dr. Wiese can get to work easing your pain and repairing your smile with emergency dentistry in Sachse, TX.

 

Why Choose Wiese Dental for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Calming Sedation Dentistry Options Available
  • Empathetic Dentist with 35+ Years of Experience
  • Most Emergency Dental Treatments Performed In-House

 

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

dentist and dental patient looking at x-rays during emergency dentistry visit

If you find yourself dealing with a sudden dental emergency, try to stay calm. Take some deep breaths, and then call our dental office. From there, here’s how you can expect our team to help you with a dental emergency:

  • Over the phone, one of our team members will ask you about the details of your emergency, schedule an appointment for you, and provide first-aid tips for managing your symptoms until then.
  • As soon as you arrive at our dental office, Dr. Wiese will examine your mouth and take any necessary X-rays.
  • Wiese will share his findings with you and explain his recommendations for treatment.
  • Once we have agreed on a treatment plan and gone over the estimated cost and timeline, we can begin healing your smile.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can be stressful, especially if you’ve never been in that specific situation before and have no idea what to do. We recommend calling Wiese Dental first so that a member of our team can guide you until your appointment. In the meantime, please read through these tips for handling some of the most common dental emergencies we see.

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency?

There are all sorts of different reasons why you could be experiencing a toothache. It may be the result of something minor, or it could be a more problematic issue that needs to be addressed right away. If you have a toothache that is sharp, throbbing, or accompanied by a small, pimple-like bump on the gums, you should schedule an appointment with us immediately.

How you should handle a toothache:

If you have a toothache, start by rinsing your mouth with water and flossing around the tooth. You may want to swish around with some salt water to disinfect the area and reduce swelling. To numb any soreness, try using an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed and apply a cold compress. Give us a call to schedule your appointment.

How we treat toothaches:

Before we can treat your toothache, we need to find out why you are experiencing pain. In many cases, a toothache can be treated with a filling or dental crown. In more severe situations, gum disease therapy, root canal therapy, or an extraction may be necessary. We will determine the best way to treat your smile when you visit our practice.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?

Chipped teeth aren’t usually an urgent dental emergency, but you should still schedule an appointment within a few days. Even if your chip is small and not very noticeable, if you leave it without treatment, you could ensure additional damage.

How you should handle a chipped tooth:

Start by rinsing your mouth out with water. Collect larger pieces of your tooth if you can. When you come to the dental practice, bring them with you. In the meantime, avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the chip is located. If your tooth is sharp or jagged, apply some dental wax so you don’t accidentally cut your lip or cheek. You can find this in the dental section of your local drugstore.

How we treat chipped teeth:

Chipped teeth can often be repaired with dental bonding in a single appointment. However, if your chip is large or on a more visible tooth, like one of your front teeth, you may want to consider a longer-lasting cosmetic option, like a veneer.

 Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?

Cracked teeth can be very painful, and they leave your mouth vulnerable to bacteria. In some cases, it can be difficult to see cracks in your teeth, but if you notice that you have increased sensitivity or discomfort after biting down on something hard or taking a blow to the face, you may have cracked one or more of your teeth, so you should seek treatment as soon as you can.

How you should handle a cracked tooth:

You should begin by rinsing your mouth with water. This helps to keep the area clean until you receive treatment. Next, give us a call to schedule an emergency visit. If you notice any swelling or are experiencing pain, this can be lessened with a cold compress and/or over-the-counter pain reliever.

How we treat cracked teeth:

The treatment we use for cracked teeth depends on how badly the tooth has been damaged. Minor cracks can sometimes be resolved with dental bonding, but more serious ones may require a tooth extraction. Many times, cracked teeth can be treated by concealing them with dental crowns.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Very Sensitive Teeth  

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency?

If the pain has persisted for more than 24 hours, the discomfort is stemming from a specific tooth, there is a bump on your gums, or there are any other abnormal dental symptoms present in conjunction with dental sensitivity, then it does warrant a call to our Sachse emergency dental office.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth

No matter what the source of the problem is, there are a few things you can do at home for short-term relief. In addition to avoiding spicy, acidic, and sugary foods, don’t drink extremely hot or cold beverages. We also recommend switching to oral hygiene products designed with sensitive teeth in mind, like a desensitizing toothpaste.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth

Once you arrive at our office, Dr. Wiese will pinpoint the root of the problem by asking about your experience, taking X-rays, and conducting an oral exam. From there, he can share his treatment recommendations. For example, if a large cavity is the source of your sensitivity, you may need a dental crown. If advanced stages of gum disease are the source, then gum disease treatment may be the solution.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

Knocked-Out Tooth  

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency?

It is! Not only that, but it’s a dental emergency where you need to act fast. For Dr. Wiese to have the best chance of saving your tooth, he needs to see you within 60 minutes of the incident. So, call our Sachse emergency dental office right away.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth

First, do your best to locate the tooth. If it got knocked into the mud or is dirty in any way, then you can gently rinse it with clean water. After that, place it in a cup of milk or saliva. You can also place it back in its socket for safekeeping, but you should only do that if it slides into position without force.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth

Our top priority is always saving your natural teeth whenever possible. If for any reason that’s no longer an option, like the tooth is in poor condition, then we will need to explore other options for filling the gap in your smile, like a dental implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown  

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency?

Yes, both lost fillings and lost dental crowns are considered dental emergencies. Remember: the tooth is now vulnerable to damage as well as infection, so it’s important that you call us for an appointment ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown

First, do what you can to keep your mouth clean (this will help prevent infection). While you may not be able to complete your oral hygiene routine as usual, you can rinse with water periodically and not chew on that side of your mouth. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help keep you comfortable until we restore your tooth.

Note: if your dental crown has fallen out, do your best to find it. If you do, bring it with you to your appointment.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns

Replacing a lost filling is a quick and painless process. The road to restoring a dental crown depends. If you were able to locate your dental crown and it’s in good condition, we may be able to recement it in place. Otherwise, we can have a replacement made and secure a temporary crown in place in the meantime.

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency?

Yes. In fact, even if your denture has a small chip or is missing a little piece, you should call our Sachse dental team to schedule an appointment.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture

We recommend gathering the pieces of your dentures in a small container and bringing it with you to your appointment. What we don’t recommend, however, is trying to repair your restoration at home with an adhesive like super glue.

How We Treat Broken Dentures

After assessing the damage, we will be able to determine if repairing your denture, having a replacement made, or upgrading your smile with dental implants is the best option.

You may be able to remove the object on your own. Take a piece of dental floss and tie a knot in it. Insert the floss between your teeth and move it back and forth, bumping the knot against the object in order to dislodge it. It might also be helpful to rinse with warm saltwater. Whatever you do, do not use a sharp object, such as a knife or toothpick, to try to get the object out. Doing so might harm your gums or teeth.

If you find you cannot remove the object yourself, do not hesitate to get in touch with us right away for assistance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS BUTTON

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency?

A loose permanent tooth is not only at risk of falling out entirely, but it can also become infected. For these two reasons, we recommend scheduling an appointment with us right away.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth

There are a few things you should avoid to prevent additional dental damage, like chewing on that side of your mouth. Until you arrive at our office for treatment, rinse your mouth periodically with clean water and take an OTC pain reliever if necessary.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth

In short, we have a few options. In some cases, we can save the tooth by providing it with the support it needs. In other cases, we need to carefully extract the tooth and put a dental bridge or implant in its place.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS BUTTON

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency?

Cuts to your gums, lips, or tongue need to be handled right away, but not necessarily by our Sachse dental team.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

The first thing we recommend doing is rinsing the cut thoroughly so you can remove bacteria from the area and get a better idea of how large it is. Then, use a damp washcloth to apply pressure to the area. If the wound continues to bleed after 10 minutes of applying pressure, go to the ER.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

If you sustain a soft tissue injury at home, you can always give our team a call. From there, we can guide you through what to do and, if necessary, instruct you to go to the hospital for medical attention.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency?

Even if you can’t visit us the very same day, we do recommend giving our team a call if your jaw pain persists for more than 24 hours.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain

For short-term pain relief, we recommend placing a cold compress against the outside of your cheek in 10-minute intervals and not chewing anything crunchy or hard. If this doesn’t work, you can also take an OTC pain reliever as directed.

How We Treat Jaw Pain

Jaw pain could be the result of everything from TMJ dysfunction to an impacted wisdom tooth or chronic teeth grinding. Once we determine the source of yours, we’ll create a treatment plan designed to provide you with long-lasting relief.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TMJ THERAPY BUTTON

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Although having something stuck between your teeth doesn’t typically necessitate a visit to our office, it should be handled right away. To do so, rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm saltwater to loosen the debris. Then, use some floss to carefully clean between your teeth. If you don’t have success with these two steps, then call us to schedule an appointment.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Dental team member discussing the cost of emergency dentistry

Since the cost of treating a dental emergency will depend on multiple factors, we cannot give you a reliable cost estimate until Dr. Wiese has had the chance to evaluate your smile and determine which course of treatment is best. We can, however, provide you with some helpful information on the topic, including how you can make the price more affordable. So, read on to learn more!

Every Dental Emergency is Different – This Is Why

At your consultation, Dr. Wiese will learn all about your symptoms, including how long they’ve persisted, and conduct a comprehensive oral exam. From there, he can determine the root of the problem, the extent of the damage, and the procedure(s) required to heal your smile. At that point, we can provide you with an estimate of the price and review your payment options. That way, there aren’t any unwanted surprises and the process of navigating the financial side of your care isn’t stressful.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Some do! So, if you are insured, take a look at your plan to familiarize yourself with your benefits. If you need any help, let us know! Our dental office is in-network with Delta Dental, and we can file claims for other dental insurance plans as a courtesy to you. We can also provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses, help you utilize your coverage to the fullest, and answer any questions you have about your benefits.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

What if you don’t have dental insurance? Are there any other financial solutions available? Fortunately, the answer is “yes!” At our Sachse dental office, we happily welcome payment plans with CareCredit, which is a third-party financier. It’s easy to sign up too, so you really only need to do one thing first: determine what your monthly budget is. Then, you can take a look at the options they offer, select the one that works best for you, and pay for the cost of your emergency dental care in smaller, more manageable chunks.

Remember, Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

They may seem small, but habits like brushing and flossing consistently will go a long way in keeping your smile healthy. If there does come a point in time where you start to experience abnormal dental symptoms, like pain when biting down, it’s important that you call us ASAP. Otherwise, the root of the problem will continue to progress, wreaking havoc on your oral health. We want to intervene with the most conservative care and alleviate any pain you’re experiencing in the process.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Mother and children brushing teeth to prevent dental emergencies

You can’t always predict when a sudden injury is going to damage a tooth, but you can prevent most other types of dental emergencies if you take a few simple precautions. These include:

  • Brush and floss every day to reduce plaque buildup.
  • Visit Dr. Wiese at least twice a year for routine exams and cleanings.
  • Wear a nightguard if you grind your teeth while you sleep.
  • If you play sports, protect your teeth with an athletic mouthguard.
  • Maintain a balanced diet and don’t overindulge in sugary foods.
  • Avoid using your teeth to open bottles or packaging.

 

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