The expert team at Sonria Dentista of Arlington is highly trained to handle dental emergencies promptly and efficiently. We have the necessary skills and tools to alleviate pain, repair damaged teeth, and address a wide variety of urgent dental issues. Whether it's a severe toothache, a broken crown, or a knocked-out tooth, we can provide immediate relief and treatment to prevent further damage and ensure the best possible outcome. In case of a dental emergency, it is always advisable to seek help from an emergency dentist in Arlington as soon as possible, so contact us today if you need to schedule a same-day appointment.
Why Choose Sonria Dentista of Arlington for Emergency Dentistry?
Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments Available
All Types of Tooth Extractions Performed In-House
Sedation Dentistry Available
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
We handle dental emergencies by first assessing the situation. We will work to diagnose the problem using X-rays and tests and then provide necessary treatment, such as dental fillings, root canal treatment, or tooth extractions. We may provide immediate relief through temporary means like pain medications or antibiotics. If the patient has lost a tooth, we might attempt to re-implant it or provide a replacement.
Before any treatment is performed, we will discuss the financial aspects of the proposed care so the patient won’t be caught off guard by the cost afterward. We’re able to work with dental insurance and Medicaid coverage as well to keep out-of-pocket expenses as low as possible.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
It can sometimes be hard to determine on your own what “counts” as a dental emergency. Basically, if something hurts or is out-of-the-ordinary concerning your mouth, we recommend reaching out to us. Below, you’ll find some of the most common emergencies we handle, but don’t hesitate to give us a call if you need help!
Is my toothache a dental emergency?: To determine if the pain in your tooth counts as an emergency, ask yourself the following questions:
Has the pain persisted for more than a full day?
Does the tooth hurt when you try to bite down on something?
Are you experiencing tooth sensitivity that lasts for 30 seconds or more?
Can you see a small bump on the gum tissue around the tooth?
Is the tooth in question unusually dark?
Have you noticed swelling, fatigue, or other possible side effects of an infection?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above, then your next move should be to call us to schedule an emergency appointment.
How you should handle a toothache: Floss to get rid of any foreign objects that might be trapped between your teeth. Use ibuprofen or another type of over-the-counter pain medication if you need to. If there’s any inflammation, you may want to try a salt water rinse.
How we treat toothaches: We’ll help you figure out what is causing the pain in your tooth and give you our recommendations for treatment based on the situation. Root canal treatment and gum disease treatment are just two examples of solutions that we might suggest. In severe cases, it may be necessary to extract the tooth.
Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?: A chipped tooth isn’t necessarily as urgent as a cracked tooth, and you don’t always need to have it treated right away. That being said, you should still make a point of scheduling an appointment with our team as soon as you can so that we can address the problem before it leads to worse consequences.
How you should handle a chipped tooth: You should bring us any large pieces of the tooth that have broken off; keep them in a safe place until your visit. Do not try biting or chewing with the affected tooth. Sometimes a chipped tooth has a sharp or rough edge, which you can cover with a bit of dental wax.
How we treat chipped teeth: We will need to see how extensive the damage truly is before we can determine the best way to treat your tooth. For example, if the damage doesn’t put the tooth at risk but still leaves you unhappy with the way your smile now looks, we may place veneers to cover the area that was chipped.
Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?: A cracked tooth should always be treated as a potential emergency and warrants calling our office as soon as you can to set up an appointment. Even if the damage is seemingly small and isn’t causing you any discomfort, it could potentially end up causing larger problems if it isn’t dealt with properly.
How you should handle a cracked tooth: Chew with the opposite side of your mouth so that you don’t damage the tooth further. If there’s any pain, take over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or hold a cold compress over the area. Make a point of rinsing with water every so often so that the tooth stays clean.
How we treat cracked teeth: A severely damaged tooth might have to be removed, but rest assured that this is a last resort. Where possible, we will aim to repair the tooth instead. Typically, we will use a dental crown that completely covers the tooth, strengthening it and keeping it safe from further harm.
The cost of treating a dental emergency can vary depending on the severity of the situation and the necessary treatment. Generally, simple procedures such as a filling or extraction will cost less than complex ones such as root canal treatment or dental implant placement. It is important to seek prompt treatment to prevent further damage and cost as waiting will only allow a problem to progress and become worse.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Preventing a dental emergency starts with good oral hygiene habits, including brushing twice and flossing daily. Wearing a mouthguard during sports or physical activity can also help prevent dental injuries. Avoid chewing on hard foods, ice, or non-food items like pens or pencils, and do not use your teeth as tools to open packages. Regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings can help detect and prevent dental problems before they become emergencies.
Dental Emergency FAQs
So far, we’ve covered the factors that impact the cost, how we treat the most common dental injuries, and how to protect your smile from harm. But are there times when you should visit the ER for treatment? Do toothaches ever go away on their own? Can chipped teeth heal? You can learn the answers to these questions and other FAQs right here!
Will my toothache go away on its own?
If you are trying to “wait out” a toothache, we have some not-so-good news: decay, cracks, and other dental damage cannot heal without the necessary restorative care. In other words, the longer you wait to schedule an appointment, the more time the root of the problem has to progress. For that reason, we recommend getting in touch with our Arlington dental team when you first notice abnormal symptoms, like pain when biting down.
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
As we mentioned above, you shouldn’t ignore a toothache. If, however, you have a day or two until your appointment with us, you need to get a good night’s sleep in the meantime. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help alleviate your discomfort enough to sleep, including sticking to soft foods at dinner, taking OTC pain medication as directed, and keeping your head elevated while you sleep.
Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?
Potentially life-threatening symptoms (i.e., a fractured jaw, difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing) absolutely warrant a visit to the ER. If that’s not the case, and you reside in or around Arlington, then you should call us first. After all, hospitals don’t usually have dental professionals on staff, which means that they won’t be able to address the root of the problem. The most they can do is temporarily alleviate your discomfort and refer you back to your dentist.
Do chipped teeth heal?
No, a chipped tooth cannot heal on its own. So, even if the damage seems relatively minor and you aren’t in any pain, we do recommend scheduling an appointment with Dr. Namineni. At this visit, she can thoroughly examine your tooth (as well as the rest of your mouth) to determine if it’s at risk of developing an infection or breaking further. If it is, or you want to fix your tooth for purely aesthetic reasons, she will review your treatment options.
Should knocked-out teeth be placed in water?
Although you can rinse off a tooth with water, you shouldn’t use it to try and preserve the root. Instead, we recommend submerging the tooth in a clean container filled with milk or, if that’s not available, placing the tooth back in its socket. Remember, you need to get to our office within 60 minutes of the incident so we have the highest chance of saving your tooth!
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Where Arlington Comes to Smile
Our dental office is less than five minutes west of the intersection of I-30 and 360, just north of
Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags. We’re also only minutes away from Peach Elementary and Nicholas
Junior High School.