At Franklin Dental Center, we’re happy to offer same day emergency dentistry appointments for our patients of record. Sometimes, we may even be able to provide same-day emergency appointments for new patients. Regardless of when we fit you in, we work hard to ensure that you are safe and free from pain until your appointment. Call us right away if you think you’re experiencing a dental emergency. We’ll walk you through first-aid and pain management over the phone, then schedule your emergency visit as soon as possible.
An emergency can happen at any time, and if you’ve ever experienced one, you know they usually happen at the worst possible moment. Dental emergencies are no different. Whether you wake up in the middle of the night with a throbbing tooth or bite down on a chewy piece of caramel apple and watch your dental crown come out with it, Dr. Donna Franklin-Pitts and her Tyler, TX dental team are here to help.
Even if you’re not sure that your oral health issue requires urgent care, we encourage you to call our office anyway. We’ll talk to you about your condition, and make recommendations for how soon you should come in for care. For reference, some of the situations we frequently treat as emergencies include the following:
Without completing an emergency exam, we can’t know for sure how much your treatment will cost. Once we have performed an evaluation of your mouth, our team can provide you with a more detailed treatment plan as well as the costs associated with your care. We’ll always be transparent about these costs before moving forward with your treatment. Additionally, we’ll go over your financing options, including insurance and third-party payment plans.
In and of itself, your emergency dental exam shouldn’t be expensive at all. However, the treatments you’ll need to address your emergency can dramatically influence the cost of your care. If, for example, your toothache is caused by a minor cavity that only needs a small filling, you can expect to pay much less than if your tooth needs a root canal or an extraction. Because we won’t know which treatments you’ll need until Dr. Franklin-Pitts has looked at your smile, we can’t give you an accurate estimate for the cost of emergency dentistry in Tyler, TX without your coming into our office.
Dental insurance prioritizes preventing oral health problems over treating them; that’s why most insurance plans provide more coverage for checkups than they do for fillings, crowns, and other treatments for damaged teeth. The good news is that most dental plans do cover these procedures at 50% or more. Of course, this varies based on your specific plan. Our team will be happy to minimize the stress of your emergency by filing insurance claims and following up with them on your behalf.
For patients without insurance or who need a bit of help paying for their care, we offer additional financing options. One of these is Lending Club, a third-party company that allows qualified patients to split up the costs of their dental care into monthly installments. They offer plenty of plans to choose from, most of which have extremely low interest rates. We also accept Medicaid and CHIP, which can make treatment for our younger patients more affordable.
Your smile and your wallet will benefit if you can prevent dental emergencies from occurring in the first place. While this isn’t always possible (especially in the case of sudden injuries or accidents), you can reduce your risk of tooth decay and infections by practicing daily oral hygiene and visiting our office for six-month checkups. You can also save money by calling us as soon as an emergency strikes. Although you might be tempted to wait for treatment, this could result in your problem worsening and ultimately needing more expensive procedures.
It’s impossible to avoid all dental emergencies as they can occur for a variety of different reasons even when taking multiple precautions. However, you can dramatically reduce the chances of having to deal with them going forward by remembering a few key tips. This includes:
Remember, brushing and flossing alone won’t keep your smile free of decay and infection. You also need to come in for a checkup and cleaning twice a year! During these appointments, we can screen for problems like oral cancer, tooth decay, and gum disease while also removing stubborn plaque and tartar from the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. Of course, if you begin to experience any abnormal dental symptoms between visits, you should schedule an appointment sooner.
A good oral hygiene regimen starts with consistent brushing and flossing. If you really want to keep your teeth strong and your gums healthy, however, you need to do a bit more. In addition to replacing your toothbrush every three months, you should be rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash for 30-60 seconds each evening. As always, if you need product recommendations or a refresher on proper technique, you can always ask us for help!
One of the easiest ways to prevent chipped, cracked, and fractured teeth is by not chewing on hard candies, ice cubes, and other extremely crunchy items. Additionally, you should be mindful of your consumption of added sugar. After all, this sweetener is one of the leading causes of cavities. We recommend instead filling your plate with carrots, apples, plain yogurt, oatmeal, eggplant, and other nutrient-dense foods that will benefit your oral and overall health.
If you participate in sports, you should wear a mouthguard. In fact, if you exercise at all you should consider wearing one! Patients often unintentionally clench their teeth while lifting weights or running, which can result in everything from a small chip to a large fracture. Although there are one-size-fits-all ones available online and at sporting goods stores, it’s worth investing in one that fits comfortably and provides your teeth with maximum protection.
If you’ve adopted the habit of using your teeth to open plastic wrapping, remove bottle caps, open tubes of mascara, or hold your keys, now is the time to stop! Putting immense pressure on your teeth in these ways can result in serious damage.
If you need an emergency dentist in Tyler, TX, you likely have a million questions racing through your head. Don’t worry! We’re here to make a stressful time easier. We strive to keep you comfortable by addressing any anxieties or concerns. While you wait for your appointment, here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions to calm your nerves.
Many people believe an occasional toothache is normal, but it’s never a good sign. While tooth sensitivity can come and go, a toothache will unlikely go away on its own. While you could try to wait it out, it’s best to contact your dentist for an appointment to ensure there’s not a serious concern, like an infection. Your emergency dentist will find the source of your discomfort to alleviate your pain while preventing the issue from turning into a bigger problem. In cases where the gum tissue near the tooth is causing the pain, it can resolve on its own for some patients.
A toothache can make it almost impossible to fall asleep, but there are a few tricks you can try to get the rest you need, like sleeping with your head elevated. This prevents the blood from pooling in your head to lessen any throbbing sensations. It’s also best to skip any acidic, cold, or hard foods before going to bed. An OTC pain reliever can also manage your discomfort. You may find a cold compress can dull the pain.
Yes. Although your enamel is the hardest substance in your body, it can’t regenerate. While the tooth may remineralize, even a small chip can leave it vulnerable to bacteria, breaks, or other issues. If you’re not in any pain, you can often wait a day or two for treatment, but don’t put off an appointment for too long. Depending on the severity of the break, your dentist can provide multiple solutions, like dental bonding.
Not all knocked-out teeth are gone for good. With the right steps at home and quick care from a dentist, you may be able to save your tooth. It is preferable to reinsert the tooth back into the socket after rinsing it with water; however, if you’re not successful, it must be kept moist. Place the tooth in milk or a saline solution because water can damage the root surface cells. Your tooth can remain in the solution for up to 1 hour before it is beyond saving.
You rely on your dentures, but don’t use superglue to repair them. It can be toxic and cause allergic reactions in some patients. It can also make your food taste unusual. Although it might seem like a quick fix to a dental emergency in Tyler, TX, the glue won’t hold up well because your mouth is a moist environment. It’s better to leave the mending to the professionals.
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