Emergency Dentistry – Lewisville, TX
Relief is Just a Phone Call Away
No one ever plans on experiencing a dental emergency, but roughly 1 in 6 Americans will this year alone. For people who have bad toothaches or dental injuries, they can take solace in the fact that the fast, professional care they need is waiting for them at Sehnert Precision Dentistry. If you’re in pain and need help, you can just call us, and we’ll work to see you right away so we can fix the problem with emergency dentistry in Lewisville, TX.
Why Choose Sehnert Precision Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
- Dentist Who Has Served Lewisville for Over 20 Years
- Sedation Offered to Ensure a Comfortable Visit
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Initial Call: When you reach out to us over the phone, we’ll let you know whether you should come see us, plus we’ll provide first-aid tips to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible before we’re able to get you in, which will most likely be later that same day.
- Emergency Exam: Once you arrive, our team will give you an exam to determine the exact nature of your emergency.
- Treatment Options: Our team will go over your treatment options so you know what to expect.
- Relief: We’ll provide the agreed-upon treatment, stop any pain, and try to repair as much damage as we can in a single visit. Based on your situation, a follow-up visit might be necessary.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
What counts as a dental emergency? Lots of situations! Below, you’ll find a list of the most common emergencies we treat, but we recommend giving us a call if you even think you’re experiencing an urgent dental problem. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your smile!
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
If you’re in the middle of a dental emergency, the last thing you want to have to worry about is whether you can afford the services required to address it and/or alleviate your pain. It’s natural to have questions about what you can expect to pay, but it depends significantly on your individual circumstances.
Once Dr. Sehnert examines your condition, he will discuss potential solutions with you, including the cost, for your approval. Continue reading to learn more about how the final amount is determined, and feel free to contact us for additional information.
Every Dental Emergency is Unique
Although our Sehnert Precision Dentistry team in Lewisville would love to be able to provide an estimated cost for your emergency visit before you arrive, the truth is that it’s nearly impossible to determine until we’ve seen you and know what we’re dealing with. Some concerns can be handled relatively easily, like providing a prescription mouthwash to counter sensitivity or filling minor cavities.
However, more severe issues tend to require more complex treatments, like an emergency root canal to alleviate the painful pressure in an infected tooth. Once we identify the underlying problem, we will provide treatment suggestions and their anticipated rates so you can make an informed decision.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies
Dental insurance policies are typically designed to promote proper preventive care, so many patients wonder if they help with emergency visits. Although every plan is different, many do cover certain aspects of an urgent appointment. For instance, most include 100% of preventive services, including exams and imaging, that might be required. Then, they tend to cover 50% to 80% of additional services, like root canals or dental crowns, provided in the office.
Please let us know if you’re unsure what your insurance allows and are struggling to find the information. Our friendly office staff are familiar with various policies and can help you maximize your available benefits.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you’re concerned that you won’t be able to afford the services necessary to save your smile, we’ve got your back! Our team believes that everyone in Lewisville deserves top quality care they can count on in times of trouble, and we don’t want your finances to keep you from addressing your urgent issue.
We offer the following options to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for emergency visits:
- Flexible financing. We offer flexible payment plans through a third-party financer, CareCredit. If your application is approved, this program allows you to break up your final invoice into more manageable installments over a designated period.
- In-house memberships. We offer a two-tiered KLEER® membership plan for a low monthly fee that includes standard services, an emergency exam, and an additional 10% to 20% discount on other procedures completed in the office.
How Maintaining Your Smile Prevents Emergencies
Some oral emergencies happen because of circumstances beyond your control, but many common concerns can be prevented. Taking care of your teeth and gums consistently strengthens them so they’re more resistant to chips, cracks, cavities, gum disease, or other damage. Brushing and flossing twice daily regularly removes plaque and bacteria that contribute to tooth decay and periodontal problems.
You should also schedule a routine checkup and cleaning with Dr. Sehnert every six months so he can identify and address any areas of concern before they progress into emergencies. This can save you potential discomfort, time, and even improve your budget. It costs much less to invest in regular care now than to pay for treatments to address serious dilemmas later!
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Although some issues, like physical trauma, are out of your control, many other common oral issues that lead to urgent appointments, like cavities and gum disease, can be averted. That means practicing proper preventative care is a safe, easy, and effective way to avoid dental emergencies. Taking steps to strengthen and protect your grin helps your teeth and gums resist injuries or decay.
Continue reading to learn more about several proactive ways to avoid dental emergencies, and feel free to contact our Sehnert Precision Dentistry team with additional questions!
Implement a Consistent At-Home Dental Hygiene Routine
If you don’t already have a twice-daily dental hygiene routine, there’s no time like the present to implement one! Brushing and flossing both morning and night consistently removes plaque, bacteria, and leftover food that can accumulate and contribute to periodontal problems or cavities. It might help to set a timer to ensure that you scrub your enamel for two full minutes as recommended by the American Dental Association.
Eat a Wholesome Diet
You might not think your diet has a major impact on your dental condition, but it can play a major role in your oral health. For instance, eating overly sugary foods attracts germs that produce acids that erode your enamel. Limiting your consumption can keep your teeth and gums happy and clean.
Not only that, but you need to consume a variety of healthy ingredients to supply your body with nutrients it needs to function at its peak. For example, eating dairy products with calcium, like milk, yogurt, or cheese, can remineralize your enamel. Also, many citrus fruits and leafy greens have vitamin C to support your connective tissues.
Wear a Mouthguard
Athletes and other individuals who participate in close-contact sports or activities are more likely to sustain physical trauma that results in an emergency dental appointment. A single blow to the face during a game or match can knock out a tooth or lacerate the tender tissues in your mouth.
Dr. Sehnert can provide a custom-fitted mouthguard to provide an extra layer of cushion over your arches to absorb the force of an injury to avoid hurting your teeth or gums.
Don’t Use Teeth as Tools
You’re not alone if you’ve ever felt tempted to tear open a piece of mail or plastic packaging with your teeth. Unfortunately, many patients who have used their chompers in this capacity accidentally chip, crack, or break their enamel.
Taking a few extra moments to locate the appropriate tool for the job, like a pair of scissors, helps keep your grin in good condition.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Scheduling a routine dental checkup and cleaning with our team every six months allows us to monitor your condition so we can catch and address any areas of concern, like thinning enamel or swollen gums, before they progress into real problems.
Dental Emergency FAQs
What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?
Throbbing tooth pain is usually the result of an infection, but it is possible that a substantial crack in the enamel is the culprit as well. Ultimately, it’s a warning sign that something is wrong and warrants a call to our Lewisville office. Once we know more about your symptoms, including how severe they are and when they started, we can determine how urgent the situation is.
What if My Toothache Suddenly Disappears?
If your toothache suddenly disappears, you might assume that’s because the decay or infection has gone away. Usually, the opposite is true: it has progressed to the point that it “killed” the nerve, rendering it unable to register pain. So, don’t wait – get in touch with us to share your symptoms (or lack of symptoms) and schedule an appointment. That way, Dr. Sehnert can complete a comprehensive oral exam, pinpoint the root of the problem, assess the extent of the damage, and review your treatment options.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
Since hospitals don’t usually have dentists on-staff, you shouldn’t go to the ER if you’re struggling with a toothache, your dental crown is loose, or your gums are a little tender. You should, however, call 911 or head to the ER if you’re dealing with any potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding. Once you get the medical attention you need, you can come to our office so we can restore your healthy, pain-free, and beautiful smile as well.
How Can a Dental Abscess Be Treated?
It’s important that we first mention that you should NOT try to pop a dental abscess. Instead, you should come to our office so we can complete a comprehensive oral exam and determine how far the infection has spread. Then, Dr. Sehnert can share his recommendations, from carefully opening and draining the abscess to providing root canal therapy.
Should You Put a Knocked-Out Tooth in Water?
Since water can damage the root surface cells of your teeth, we don’t recommend it. Instead, place the tooth back in its socket or – if it doesn’t slide back into place easily – place the tooth in a clean container filled with milk.
Is It Safe to Use A Toothpick?
If you have something stuck between your teeth, you might be tempted to reach for something sharp, like a toothpick. However, that can push the debris further into position and irritate the area even more. That’s why we recommend a different approach. First, dissolve some salt in warm water and swish the mixture around in your mouth (this will help dislodge the debris). Then, gently floss between your teeth. If the debris remains firmly lodged in place, give us a call.
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