Emergency Dentist – Arlington, TX

Urgent Dental Care When Your Family Needs it the Most

If you find yourself dealing with a severe toothache, dental damage, or another type of dental emergency in Arlington, know that you can rely on Dr. Atluri, our dedicated emergency dentist in Arlington, TX, to provide you with timely, comfortable care. With over 12 years of experience, including ample practice providing urgent dental services like root canals and tooth extractions, Dr. Atluri can quickly ease her dentistry patients’ pain. Please give our dental office a call if you require emergency dental treatment so we can schedule an appointment for you as soon as possible.

Why Choose We Smile Dental of Arlington for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Dentist with 12+ Years of Experience
  • We See Patients of All Ages
  • In-House Membership Plan Available

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman in pain before emergency dentistry
  1. Call Our Dental Office: The first step you always want to take if you’re experiencing any out-of-the-ordinary oral pain or dental damage is to call our dental office. We’ll provide you with first-aid guidance to prevent any additional damage from occurring to your mouth and schedule a time for you to come to our dental office.
  2. Receive an Emergency Examination: Once you arrive at our dental office, Dr. Atluri will examine your mouth, collect any necessary diagnostic images, like X-rays, and determine the extent of your damage or the cause of your discomfort.
  3. Go Over Your Treatment Plan: Based on Dr. Atluri’s findings during your examination, she’ll outline a treatment plan for you and get you out of pain.
  4. Get the Expert Care You Need: Atluri will carry out the agreed-upon treatment plan to restore your oral health and address your discomfort. Many people who come to us for emergency dental care often come back to see us as long-term patients because they feel so comfortable with our team!

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

It can be difficult to think on your toes in an emergency, which is why our team is available to help walk you through your situation and provide over-the-phone emergency guidance. Whether you’ve broken or knocked out a tooth, have a severe toothache, or accidentally damaged your denture, know that our team is here for you.

Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Simply put, toothaches should never be ignored. We recommend giving our Arlington dental team a call if the pain has persisted for more than 24 hours so we can learn more about your symptoms and schedule a time for you to come in. If you have a pimple-like bump on your gums near the tooth, you’re experiencing symptoms of an infection, or you’re experiencing pain when biting down, then we may recommend coming in for same-day treatment.

How You Should Handle a Toothache Handling a toothache properly starts with a phone call to our team. Until it’s time for your appointment, do your best to prevent additional dental damage by rinsing with warm saltwater periodically and not eating anything especially hard or crunchy. You can also place a cold compress against the outside of your cheek for 10 minutes at a time and take an OTC pain reliever to minimize discomfort.

How We Treat Toothaches How we intervene will depend largely on two things: the cause of your toothache and the severity of the damage. Typically, a tooth-colored filling, dental crown, or root canal therapy are the answer.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL THERAPY BUTTON

Chipped Tooth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? There are some cases where a chipped tooth does require same-day treatment, like if the damage is significant or you’re in pain. If that’s not the case, then we still recommend scheduling an appointment with our team, although you may be able to wait a day or two to come in.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth The last thing you want is for the tooth to split further, become infected, or result in severe sensitivity. To prevent that from happening, rinse your mouth with clean water before covering the tooth with dental wax. If you don’t have dental wax, then you can use a piece of sugar-free gum.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth As always, the treatment we recommend will be tailored to your specific dental needs, considering factors like the size of the chip and the location of the tooth. With that said, dental bonding and veneers are two of the most common fixes for chipped teeth.

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, a cracked tooth does warrant a call to our Arlington emergency dentist. We need to intervene before the tooth becomes infected or splits further, so get in touch ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth Again, handling this dental injury from home is largely about preventing additional damage. To prevent bacteria from collecting in the area, and potentially resulting in an infection, you should rinse with room-temperature water periodically. We also encourage patients not to chew on that side of their mouth and take OTC pain medication as instructed.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth If the damage is relatively minor, we may be able to protect the tooth and restore its function with a dental crown. Unfortunately, however, it’s not always possible to save a cracked tooth. In some cases, we need to remove it before filling the open space with a tooth-replacement solution, like a dental implant.

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Very Sensitive Teeth  

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? They can be! The best thing to do in this scenario is to take note of any other symptoms you’re experiencing. For example, if you’re experiencing pain when biting down, there is dark discoloration around one or more of your teeth, or there is a pimple-like bump on your gums near the tooth, don’t wait – call our Arlington dental team ASAP.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth Remember, long-lasting relief requires a visit to our dental office. With that said, there are a few things you can do in the meantime, like using a desensitizing toothpaste. Additionally, you should avoid hot beverages as well as crunchy and cold foods.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth First, we need to pinpoint what’s causing your sensitivity. Then, we’ll determine how severe the root of the problem is. While a small cavity can be addressed with a dental filling, a larger one may require root canal therapy and a dental crown.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL THERAPY

Knocked-Out Tooth  

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? A knocked-out tooth is one of the most serious dental emergencies because our Arlington dental team needs to provide treatment within 60 minutes to save your tooth! We recommend giving us a call as soon as you can so we can set aside a time for you to come in and provide you with instructions on what to do until then.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth Although this dental injury can feel overwhelming, handling it properly really boils down to giving our team a call and placing the tooth in a container of milk to preserve the root. If you don’t have a container of milk available, you can try to put the tooth back in its socket, but only if it slides into place without force.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth If you are able to get to our office within the hour, you have your tooth, and the tooth is in good shape, then there’s a chance that we can save it. Otherwise, we will restore the look and function of your smile with a dental bridge or dental implant.

Lost Filling or Crown  

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Yes, both of these are dental emergencies! Although you might not be in any pain, your tooth is now unprotected and vulnerable to damage.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown For both, we recommend calling our Arlington dental team, storing your restoration in a clean container, rinsing your mouth periodically with room-temperature water, and not eating anything crunchy, especially on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns In most cases, lost fillings are simply replaced with new ones, which is a quick and painless process. If you have your dental crown and it’s in good condition, then we may have the option to recement it back in place. Of course, if that’s not feasible for any reason, then we will have a new one made and put a temporary crown over your tooth in the meantime.

Broken Dentures  

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? If you don’t think broken dentures are a dental emergency, think again! This can pose numerous problems – from difficulty chewing to gum inflammation – so it’s important that you schedule an appointment with our Arlington dental team as soon as you can.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture Although it may be tempting, you shouldn’t wear your dentures if they are broken. Instead, gather all of the pieces you have into a clean container for safekeeping and call our office to schedule an appointment.

How We Treat Broken Dentures First, we need to examine your dentures. If there is a small crack or chip, then there’s a chance that we can repair them. If the damage is more extensive, however, then we need to replace them or provide you with implant dentures.

Loose Permanent Tooth  

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Absolutely! Whether your tooth is loose from a sports-related accident or advanced gum disease, it warrants a same-day appointment to our Arlington dental office for treatment.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth Since your tooth is at risk of falling out, it’s important not to wiggle it with your tongue or fingers. Additionally, don’t chew on raw nuts, peanut brittle, or any other chewy foods that will place pressure on your tooth.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth Sometimes, we can use a dental splint to help your tooth heal in place. In cases of more severe dental damage, however, we may need to extract it instead. The good news is that the new gap in your smile won’t be there for long – we can use a dental bridge or implant to fill it!

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue  

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Even a small cut can produce a lot of blood, which is why many patients panic. However, soft tissue injuries can usually be handled at home and, therefore, aren’t considered a dental emergency.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Start by rinsing the cut with clean, room-temperature water. Then, use a damp washcloth to apply pressure. After the bleeding subsides, remove the washcloth and put a cold compress in its place.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Usually, soft tissue injuries don’t require treatment from our Arlington emergency dentist. With that said, you should go to the ER if the cut continues to bleed, even after 10 minutes of applying pressure.

Jaw Pain  

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Jaw pain definitely shouldn’t be ignored, but it doesn’t usually require a same-day appointment. Once the discomfort has persisted for more than 24 hours, give us a call. That way, we can schedule an exam to determine what’s causing it.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain From home, ice your jaw with a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time. Additionally, don’t chew anything crunchy, hard, or sticky, and take OTC pain medication as directed until your appointment.

How We Treat Jaw Pain Once we conduct an exam, we’ll be able to determine what’s causing your jaw pain. Then, we can discuss the next best steps, such as extracting impacted wisdom teeth or giving you a mouthguard to prevent premature wear from chronic teeth grinding.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

While having something stuck between your teeth may not seem like the most urgent situation, it is important that you are proactive. After all, the last thing you want is for the debris to stay there, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease with each passing day. So, try rinsing with warm saltwater and using floss to remove it. If this doesn’t work, call us.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Family smiling at dental office reception desk

We completely understand that patients have concerns about the cost, especially for unexpected dental services. One of the cornerstones of our office is providing ethical care, so don’t worry – we will present you with a detailed cost estimate before moving forward with any treatments. We are also happy to offer an in-house membership plan as well as accept and maximize all PPO dental insurance to help minimize your out-of-pocket cost. If you want to learn more on the topic of the cost of emergency dentistry, keep reading!

Every Dental Emergency is Different

Woman smiling while sitting in treatment chair

Since no two dental emergencies are the same, there’s no set price tag associated with visiting our emergency dentist in Arlington. When you come in for your appointment, we will conduct a detailed exam, determine the type of procedure you need, and review the associated costs. If we can, we will restore your healthy, pain-free smile the very same day too. However, there are some cases where more planning is needed, which may be the case if we need to extract your tooth and replace it with a dental implant. Rest assured that we will be here to help you every step of the way.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Patient calculating cost of treatment on desk with computer

Although it’s rare for dental insurance providers to cover the entire cost, they may cover the price of the emergency exam. Similarly, many plans have a 100-80-50 benefits structure, which means that 50% or more of the restorative care you need (i.e., tooth-colored filling, dental crown, tooth extraction) may be covered. Since factors like yearly deductibles, annual maximums, and waiting periods need to be considered, we recommend reviewing the fine print on your plan in-depth. Our team is also here to help since we welcome many of the nation’s leading providers, including Aetna, Ameritas, and Anthem.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Dental assistant smiling while handing patient form

If you are currently uninsured, then ask our Arlington dental team about our in-house membership plan! For one low, annual fee, you can enjoy discounted preventive care, 20% off select treatments, and 1 complimentary emergency exam.

If you are currently uninsured, then ask our Arlington dental team about our in-house membership plan! For one low, annual fee, you can enjoy discounted preventive care, 20% off select treatments, and 1 complimentary emergency exam.

Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Young woman smiling while holding green handheld mirror

Of course, accidents aren’t 100% preventable. The good news is that there are still several ways you can help protect your smile from harm and, in turn, a painful dental injury. A few examples include visiting us twice a year for a checkup and cleaning, brushing and flossing consistently, and quitting unhealthy habits, like smoking. We also strongly recommend investing in a mouthguard if you play sports (even non-contact ones) or grind your teeth while you sleep.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Man smiling while talking on phone at home

The best way to prevent dental emergencies from arising is to be proactive about taking care of your smile. In other words, adopting good habits could save you thousands of dollars in emergency dental services as well as stress! With this in mind, keep reading to learn some practical ways you can protect your teeth and gums from harm.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Closeup of woman smiling during dental checkup

Has it been more than six months since your last dental checkup and teeth cleaning? If so, it’s time to get your next appointment on the calendar! These routine visits are crucial for a number of reasons, including that they ensure our dental team catches tooth decay, gum disease, damaged restorations, and similar problems in the early stages – before they require emergency treatment.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

One of the best ways to keep your smile healthy is to commit to a good oral hygiene regimen at home. That means brushing twice a day (or after each meal, if you can), flossing daily, and using an antimicrobial mouthwash to rinse your mouth at the end of the day. If you’re ever unsure of what products to use or you need a refresher on proper technique, don’t hesitate to ask – we’re here to help!

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

Smiling woman eating healthy snack at home

When it comes to maintaining a healthy smile, patients often forget that their diet matters. After all, over-indulging on sugary and starchy foods can dramatically increase your risk of developing tooth decay. That’s why we encourage our patients to eat a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet. In other words, it’s important to fill your plate with plain yogurt, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, and other smile-friendly foods.

Wear a Mouthguard

Patient holding blue and white mouthguard

An athletic mouthguard can protect your teeth from several injuries, including a partially dislodged or completely knocked out tooth. So, make sure to wear one during games and practices! In fact, children and adults who participate in solo sports, like surfing, are also encouraged to wear one, just in case.

Note: If you clench your teeth throughout the day or grind your teeth at night, then a nightguard may be the best way to protect your teeth from chips, cracks, and fractures.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Man using bottle cap opener

Have you developed a habit of using your teeth to remove bottle caps, twist off the top of your mascara, hold your keys, or tear into plastic wrapping? Even if you haven’t run into any issues in the past, now is the time to break that habit. After all, using your teeth as tools can easily lead to a painful dental injury, like a serious fracture.

Dental Emergency FAQs

Woman with toothache at dentist's office

Although many patients go their entire lives without experiencing any serious dental injuries, it’s always a good idea to be prepared – just in case. That’s why we’ve dedicated this next section to answering FAQs about emergency dentistry in Arlington. Of course, you can also reach out to us directly if you have a specific question on your mind or would simply like to learn more!

Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?

Many patients assume that they should head to the ER for treatment. However, hospitals don’t usually have dentists on staff. For this reason, we don’t recommend heading there first unless you’re experiencing a potentially life-threatening symptom, like trouble breathing or difficulty swallowing.

If you’re struggling with a painful toothache, a loose restoration, or another dental injury, then you should absolutely call our Arlington dental team first. In addition to scheduling a time for you to come in for treatment, we will provide you with detailed instructions on what to do until you arrive at our office.

How should I sleep with tooth pain?

We must start this section with the disclaimer that we never recommend trying to “sleep off” a toothache. However, if you have a day or two until your appointment, then it can be helpful to have some pointers on how to get a good night’s sleep with tooth pain. We recommend taking an OTC pain reliever about 30 minutes before bed and keeping your head elevated while you sleep. Additionally, don’t eat anything acidic, crunchy, or sugary at dinner and use a cold compress for about 10 minutes at a time to help alleviate inflammation and discomfort.

My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?

Yes! After all, pain isn’t the only symptom of a dental emergency. Since a chipped tooth can become infected and split further, we need to conduct an exam to determine if we need to restore the missing structure. With all of that said, a minor chip may not require a same-day visit; coming to our office before the end of the week should suffice.

Can I fix dentures that are broken in half?

Not at home. If your denture breaks, then a skilled prosthodontist needs to repair it to fully restore the look and function of your smile.

Note: Using household adhesives, like super glue, is not recommended since they contain toxins that are not safe to ingest.

Should knocked-out teeth be placed in water?

Although you can use water to gently remove dirt from a knocked-out tooth, you shouldn’t completely submerge it in water. We recommend either placing it in a small container of milk or placing it back in its socket for safekeeping. However, you should only do the latter if the tooth goes back into position without any force.

Is my tooth pain from an infection?

Tooth pain is a common symptom of an infection, but it could also be the result of other dental damage, like a small crack. That’s why we recommend scheduling an appointment with our Arlington emergency dentist the moment you notice it. The sooner you visit us, the sooner we can determine the root of the problem.

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