Emergency Dentist — Midlothian, TX
Fast, Gentle Care When You Need It
When you’re suffering from the stress and anxiety of a dental emergency, it helps to have a welcoming, caring dental home to turn to. Dr. Nguyen and Dr. DeSimone, your trusted emergency dentists in Midlothian, TX, and the rest of our team will strive to see you as soon as possible when an urgent dental situation comes up. We’ll always put the comfort and safety of your smile above all else. Have you suddenly damaged a tooth or noticed severe oral pain? If so, give us a call immediately!
Why Choose Legacy Dentistry for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Multiple Forms of Sedation
- Wide Menu of Dental Services
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Get a same-day appointment scheduled with a team member: We can give you specific first-aid instructions over the phone while we set up your appointment, which ideally can occur the same day you call. In the meantime, you’ll need to control your pain and care for your injury until you can be seen by our dentists.
- Get an emergency exam from our dentists: After you reach our office, you’ll be brought to one of our dental chairs by a team member and a dentist will be with you shortly. If needed, we’ll get X-rays completed to better understand the source of your emergency.
- Reviewing our findings and providing relief: We will do our best to get you out of any immediate pain when you arrive. This will enable you to make an informed decision on your future care with a clear head. We’ll provide an estimate for the cost of your emergency care to the best of our ability.
- Get the emergency treatment you need: Our team members will create a treatment plan that best fits your dental needs. This may include dental fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, antibiotics, or another service depending on your emergency.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Note that different emergencies have different causes (such as a bacterial infection or sudden physical trauma), so strategies for self-care will vary. To help you swiftly take control of the situation, we’ve listed a few general tips for dealing with common issues. If you experience any of the following, don’t wait to give us a call.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
It’s understandable to be worried about the price of your emergency care but rest assured that we’ll only recommend the treatments that are absolutely necessary to restore the health of your smile. We’ll make sure you fully understand the costs involved and can help you file the necessary claims with your insurance. Remember that every situation is unique and not every patient will pay the same amount for dental emergency care; we’ll only be able to provide an estimate after an examination.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
No two patients are alike, and neither are their dental injuries. Whether it is antibiotics, root canal therapy, dental crowns, or tooth extraction that is required to treat your situation, you can trust that our team at Legacy Dentistry will work to eliminate the immediate symptoms before formulating a personalized plan to treat the underlying problem. Dr. Nguyen and Dr. DeSimone will meet with you during a scheduled consultation to examine your smile and its problem area. Once we’ve identified the issue, we will provide a unique plan and cost estimate to help you better budget for your upcoming treatment.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
When choosing to see an emergency dentist in Midlothian, you might be able to have at least one emergency visit covered by your dental insurance company. This isn’t always the case, so you’ll need to check beforehand. But the important thing to remember is that even if it’s not covered, you should still get in to see us. Forgoing treatment can only cause your problem to worsen over time.
Depending on the type of restorative care you will need to fix your dental injury, your dental insurance may agree to cover anywhere from 50-80% of the total cost. Your deductible must be met, however, and this particular percentage will also be based on how much of your annual maximum you’ve used throughout the year.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
At Legacy Dentistry, we want your focus to be on improving your oral health. Whether you’re uninsured or need help to pay a remaining balance after filing with dental insurance, you’ll be pleased to learn that we offer two different options to help make your dental emergency treatment more affordable:
- Flexible Financing : You can apply for financing through CareCredit, Lending Club, or Green Sky. Each offers various payment plans that allow you to break up the cost of your treatment into monthly installments that fit your budget.
- Dental Savings Plan : Whether you choose to pay monthly or yearly, you can enroll in our Dental Savings Plan that provides you and members of your family with access to preventive care as well as discounts on many of our available services.
Our team at Legacy Dentistry is ready to help you take care of your smile. If you are suffering from a dental injury and need help to better understand how much you can expect to pay for treatment, contact us today and let us help you get back on your feet.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
A sudden knocked-out tooth or soft tissue laceration isn’t necessarily something you can always avoid. However, if you’re suffering from a nagging toothache that isn’t the result of something lodged between your teeth, there’s a good chance it could have been prevented. Maintaining good oral hygiene is imperative if you want to minimize your risk for tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Allowing any of these to worsen will only result in pain, inflammation, and even a serious infection.
No matter how minor the problem might be, it’s always best to seek the help of a trusted professional sooner rather than later. By looking at dental X-rays and determining if there is a cause for concern, it is possible to avoid more timely and costly procedures later on. However, if you put off what you think is a bothersome toothache that will just “go away” on its own, you could be faced with expensive treatments that will require regular maintenance for the rest of your life.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
It pays to take precautions to protect your teeth from potential injuries. Dental emergencies can be very stressful and even painful! It may not always be possible, but you can take some steps to rude your risk of experiencing them. Here are some tips:
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
You may not think that anything’s going on with your smile, but this doesn’t mean that you can skip over your regular dental visits. Tooth decay and oral infections can easily develop, and you may not even notice them right away. It’s recommended that you schedule an appointment to see your dentist every six months for regular cleanings and checkups. This way, your hygienist can clear away plaque and tartar that’s accumulated, and your dentist can rule out possible problems going on with your smile. When minor issues are addressed early on, you can keep painful dental emergencies from developing.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home
You should be brushing twice and flossing each day. These are both great ways to removed food debris and plaque that can lead to cavities and gum disease over time. You should pick out a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste containing fluoride – a natural mineral that can strengthen the enamel of the teeth.
Be Mindful of Your Diet
When it comes to your smile, diet plays a key role. If you consume too many sugary and starchy foods, you are increasing your risk of developing tooth decay. Remember to only enjoy these things in moderation. Instead, fill your place with fruit, veggies, and healthy proteins.
Wear a Mouthguard
Playing sports is a great way for you to get the exercise your body needs, and it’s a fun way to do so. However, you don’t want to end up breaking or knocking out a tooth. Wear a mouthguard to significantly reduce your chances of a dental injury occurring. If you have bruxism, it’s a good idea to ask about getting a nightguard to limit the harmful effects of teeth grinding while you sleep.
Use Tools, Not Teeth to Open Packaging
As convenient as it is, don’t use your teeth to open stubborn packaging. You could easily end up with a cracked or broken tooth. Instead, use some scissors or another tool to help you safely complete your task.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
Handling a dental injury can be painful and anxiety-inducing, especially if it’s your first one. That’s why it’s best to be as prepared as possible. To help, we’ve answered a few frequently asked questions from our patients below. However, if you would like immediate assistance or have a specific question on your mind, don’t hesitate to contact our office!
What Items Should I Include in My Dental Emergency Kit?
Since accidents are bound to happen, being prepared is paramount. Therefore, consider packing a dental emergency kit in your house and car with the below staples:
- Latex-free gloves
- Ibuprofen
- Floss
- Individually wrapped gauze pads
- Orajel
- A container large enough to fit a tooth
- Saline rinse solution
- Our office’s emergency contact information
What Should I Do If I’m Afraid of the Dentist and Need Treatment?
If the sheer thought of visiting the dentist causes your heart to race, you’re not alone. That’s why Dr. Nguyen uses his clinical expertise and genuine patient-centered approach to care to make everyone in his treatment chair feel as comfortable as possible. If his calm disposition doesn’t do the trick, then sedation options are available to you as well. That way, anxiety never stands in the way of getting the high-quality dental care you deserve.
Are knocked-out baby teeth a dental emergency?
Since baby teeth are supposed to come out, you should not try to put them back into your child’s open socket once they do. However, it is possible for baby teeth to come out too soon. That’s why you should schedule an emergency exam if they are experiencing pain or severe bleeding following the loss of a baby tooth. Even if you aren’t sure if there is an emergency present, you’ll want to confirm their permanent tooth did not come out too early. If bleeding does not stop or you believe their jaw is damaged, take them to the emergency room.
Can the emergency room remove a tooth?
Only a licensed dentist can perform a tooth extraction, which means it would be illegal for someone without the training or education required to provide. This is the case even in a hospital setting, where there are rarely any dentists present. At the most, a hospital emergency room may provide antibiotics and pain medication. Unfortunately, this will not address the underlying condition that is causing your toothache. Furthermore, you may not even need a tooth extracted to address your discomfort in the first place, so there’s no reason to jump to conclusions and assume removing it is your only option. The best way to know for sure how to resolve your pain is by visiting a dentist.
What if I can’t afford emergency dentistry?
If you are experiencing dental pain, we won’t deny you treatment during a dental emergency. If you do not currently have dental insurance, keep in mind there are other options available to you to make your care more affordable. For example, we offer CareCredit, LendingClub and Green Sky financing plans so you can fit monthly installments into your budget more easily. The worst thing you can do is avoid getting your dental emergency handled when you know you need care. Not only can this result in you needing to pay more for your dental care later, but it may lead to severe and even deadly consequences to your oral and overall health depending on the type of emergency you have.
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