Emergency Dentist Grand Prairie
If You’re Experiencing Dental Pain, Our Team Can Help
When the unexpected happens, like a knocked-out tooth or a severe toothache that won’t seem to go away no matter what you do, you can count on our team at The Dental Place to be there for you. We offer same-day emergency appointments for our patients in pain so you can return to your daily life as soon as possible, all while making sure your oral health stays on the right track. Don’t hesitate to contact our office to schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist in Grand Prairie.
Why Choose The Dental Place for Emergency Dentistry?
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Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
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In-House Dental Plan for Uninsured Patients
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Convenient Online Scheduling Available
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
If you find yourself in the midst of a dental emergency, the first step you should always take is to schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. Our front desk staff at The Dental Place will give you first aid guidance over the phone to prevent further damage to your smile and plan your examination as soon as possible.
When you arrive, we will take any necessary X-rays and one of our experienced emergency dentists in Grand Prairie will examine the area of your mouth experiencing pain or damage. Based on the findings, our dentists will create a treatment plan to address the emergency. We always try to provide treatment on the same day, but if the treatment needed requires a longer appointment, our dentists will prescribe you any necessary medication and schedule your procedure on a different day.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
It can be difficult to know when you need emergency dental care. That’s why we’ve included a list of some of the most common emergency situations below, along with some helpful tips on how to address the situation until you reach our office. Even if you don’t see your situation, please give us a call anyways if you’re experiencing out-of-the-ordinary symptoms or oral pain.
Toothaches
Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Oftentimes, patients are quick to dismiss their toothache. However, your pain receptors are designed to let you know when something is wrong. So, whether you’re experiencing a dull, persistent discomfort or a sharp, stabbing pain, we recommend calling us to schedule an appointment.
How You Should Handle a Toothache: Until your appointment with us, we recommend doing what you can to alleviate any discomfort you’re experiencing. That starts with avoiding triggers, like acidic and sugary snacks, and extends to taking OTC pain medication as directed.
How We Treat Toothaches: How we treat your toothache in Grand Prairie will depend on what’s causing it. If it’s the result of a small cavity, then a tooth-colored filling may be the solution. If it’s due to a serious infection, however, then a root canal may be needed instead.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
Chipped Teeth
Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? The urgency of the situation depends largely on how substantial the damage is. For instance, if the chip has resulted in considerable sensitivity or discomfort, then you should contact our team at The Dental Place right away to schedule an appointment.
How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth: Handling this dental injury properly really comes down to what you should NOT do. Do not drink hot beverages, chew on that side of your mouth, or eat anything crunchy (i.e., popcorn, tortilla chips, whole apples).
How We Treat Chipped Teeth: Fortunately, we offer a few solutions at our office, including dental bonding and veneers. The one we recommend for you will depend on the size of the chip, your smile goals, and your budget. Rest assured, we will also discuss the pros of each and answer any questions you have so you feel confident deciding how you’d like to proceed.
Cracked Tooth
Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, a cracked tooth is considered a dental emergency. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to us, even if the damage seems relatively minor. That way, we can provide the necessary restorative care before your enamel breaks further.
How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth: It’s important to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth until we have a chance to restore the health and strength of your tooth. You should also avoid crunchy, acidic, sticky, and sugary foods entirely.
How We Treat Cracked Teeth: First, your Grand Prairie dentist needs to complete a comprehensive oral exam to assess the severity of the damage. Although their top priority is always to save your teeth, there are some cases when that isn’t possible. For example, if your cracked tooth is damaged beyond the point of repair, then we will need to extract it before putting a dental bridge or implant in its place.
Very Sensitive Teeth
Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, a cracked tooth is considered a dental emergency. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to us, even if the damage seems relatively minor. That way, we can provide the necessary restorative care before your enamel breaks further.
How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth: It’s important to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth until we have a chance to restore the health and strength of your tooth. You should also avoid crunchy, acidic, sticky, and sugary foods entirely.
How We Treat Cracked Teeth: First, your Grand Prairie dentist needs to complete a comprehensive oral exam to assess the severity of the damage. Although their top priority is always to save your teeth, there are some cases when that isn’t possible. For example, if your cracked tooth is damaged beyond the point of repair, then we will need to extract it before putting a dental bridge or implant in its place.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes. After all, the tooth starts to die after only 15 minutes. So, it’s crucial that you call our team at The Dental Place right away. That way, we can schedule an appointment within the hour and share what to do (and what NOT to do) until you arrive.
How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: First, locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the chewing surface). If there is dirt or any other debris on the surface, then you can gently rinse it with clean water before placing it back in the socket. If it doesn’t slide back into position easily, then do the next best thing: put it in a clean container filled with milk or saline solution.
How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: Ideally, Dr. Lee and Dr. Min will be able to save your tooth. However, if it was lost or badly damaged, then we will need to replace it with either a dental bridge or a dental implant.
LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS
Lost Filling or Crown
Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Not necessarily. For example, if your dental crown fell out, but you aren’t experiencing any sensitivity or discomfort, then same-day care may not be needed. However, even if that’s the case, you do need to come to our office within the next few days since your tooth is vulnerable to damage and infection.
How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: There are a few steps we recommend taking, starting with calling our office to schedule an appointment. We mentioned above that your tooth will be vulnerable to damage and infection, so it’s crucial that you don’t chew on that side of your mouth, especially if you’re eating tortilla chips, hard pretzels, or anything else crunchy.
How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: We have a few options, starting with replacing your old restoration with a new one. We may also be able to recement your existing dental crown back in place if it’s in good condition and it’s relatively new.
Broken Dentures
- Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency?
Continuing to wear a damaged denture can injure your gums, jaw joints, and remaining teeth. Please contact our office as soon as possible after you notice that your denture has been damaged or is not fitting well.
- How You Should Handle a Broken Denture:
Discontinue wearing your denture as soon as you realize it is broken. Do not attempt to fix the device on your own since doing so may damage your appliance further or lead to injuries. Instead, contact our office so we can repair or replace your device as needed.
- How We Treat Broken Dentures:
The best way to address your broken denture depends on how severely it is damaged. If the artificial teeth are cracked or chipped, we may be able to fix them with composite resin, and we can often adjust an ill-fitting denture with a relining. However, an appliance that cannot be saved will have to be replaced.
Loose Permanent Tooth
- Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency?
Loose permanent teeth are at immediate risk of being permanently lost, so it’s essential to promptly contact our office as soon as you realize that your tooth is not secure in its gum tissue.
- How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth:
Refrain from probing at the troubled tooth with your fingers or tongue. It’s best to avoid touching the tooth when brushing or flossing, but you can help your mouth stay clean by rinsing with warm saltwater.
- How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth:
The team at the Dental Place in Grand Prairie will be able to determine the best way to treat your tooth when we see you at our office. We may be able to help it reintegrate with the gum and jawbone tissue with an appropriate restorative treatment, but a tooth that cannot be saved will have to be extracted and replaced.
Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue
- Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency?
Cuts in your soft oral tissues can be quite uncomfortable, and we can usually address small oral wounds at our office. However, please visit the emergency room if your wound is especially large or doesn’t stop bleeding after ten minutes of applied pressure.
- How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue:
Gently rinse the wound with water to flush away debris and bacteria and apply pressure through a piece of gauze or a clean washcloth until bleeding stops. You may be able to address swelling and discomfort with an ice pack or cold compress.
- How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue:
We can usually stitch a small oral wound shut and help you keep the area clean. However, large wounds and wounds that don’t stop bleeding after ten minutes of applied pressure should be treated by the staff at the emergency room.
Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism
Jaw Pain
- Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency?
Jaw pain can be quite frustrating, but it usually isn’t a dental emergency unless it interferes with your daily activities or lasts for several days. Please contact our office if you experience persistent or disruptive jaw pain so we can address the problem and prevent worse discomfort.
- How You Should Handle Jaw Pain:
We’ll be happy to provide you with detailed instructions for reducing your jaw pain over the phone. Please take over-the-counter pain relievers and apply an ice pack or cold compress to reduce discomfort as needed. However, please head to your local emergency room if you believe your jaw is broken or dislocated.
We can usually address teeth grinding with a customized nightguard, and we can often fix TMJ problems with appropriate treatments. In many cases, jaw pain is caused by the emerging wisdom teeth, and we can usually resolve this issue with extractions.
Something Stuck Between the Teeth
If you cannot dislodge a bit of debris stuck between your teeth with a thorough brushing and flossing session, never try to remove it with a sharp tool like a toothpick, needle, or tweezers. Instead, contact our office so Dr. Lee or Min can safely remove the offending object.
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