Emergency Dentist – Cinco Ranch, TX

Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency?

Remember, dental pain (even minor dental pain) should not be ignored; it’s a signal that something is wrong! So, don’t put off seeking treatment for weeks or months on end. The sooner you visit us, the sooner we can pinpoint the root of the problem and find the best solution.

How You Should Handle a Toothache

If your toothache hasn’t subsided by the next day, then contact our team. One of our friendly team members will learn more about your situation over the phone before finding a time for you to come in for an exam. If you have a few hours or days until your appointment, you can help reduce any discomfort by rinsing with a mixture of salt and warm water and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever as needed.

How We Treat Toothaches

When you come to visit our emergency dentist in Cinco Ranch, Dr. Quach, priority number one will be determining the root of the problem, explaining your treatment options, and creating a custom treatment plan. For patients with a small cavity, the solution may be as simple as a tooth-colored filling. If the damage is more extensive, then a root canal or tooth extraction may be necessary. Don’t worry – we pride ourselves in providing top-tier, gentle, and compassionate treatments, and we will walk you through every step of the process beforehand.

Chipped Teeth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Since a chipped tooth often doesn’t hurt, many patients assume it’s not a dental emergency. While it may not necessitate a same-day appointment, it does require a visit to your dentist’s office. So, make sure to schedule a visit within a day or two of the incident.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth

A chipped tooth is vulnerable, so it’s important to exercise caution. Make sure to avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods that can exacerbate the issue. It’s also crucial to keep the area clean and complete your oral hygiene regimen carefully to avoid uncomfortable sensitivity. After your dental exam, you’ll be given instructions on what to do next.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth

Fortunately, there are several ways we can rebuild a chipped tooth. For small chips, cosmetic dental bonding may be the best solution. It’s cost-effective, extremely lifelike, and can be completed in a single visit. For a more substantial chip, we may recommend a veneer, which is extremely durable, stain-resistant, and can last for well over a decade with proper care.

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency?

A cracked tooth can be quite painful. Plus, it’s vulnerable to further damage. So, it’s important to get in touch with our team as soon as you can so we can provide you with the dental care you need ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth

Of course, priority number one is to come and visit Dr. Quach. Leading up to your appointment, you can use a cold compress to minimize swelling and temporarily numb the area. You should also avoid chewing on that side of your mouth to prevent further harm.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth

As previously mentioned, a cracked tooth can be painful. In addition to numbing the area, we can provide sedation dentistry to help you stay calm and comfortable throughout your treatment. From there, we will swiftly intervene to assess how severe the crack is and what the best course of action is (like placing a dental crown over the tooth to protect it or extracting it entirely).

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Though it’s common for people to have sensitive teeth towards things like hot or cold temperatures, you won’t want to ignore your symptoms or leave them be. This can be an indication of an underlying issue that ought to be addressed as soon as possible. If you notice lingering or sharp sensitivity in your teeth, notify your emergency dentist right away.

How you should handle sensitive teeth: After scheduling a visit with us, refrain from eating anything hot, cold, sugary, spicy, or acidic on that side of your mouth. Gently brush and floss your teeth and drink lots of water. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers to alleviate discomfort.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: We’ll first evaluate your oral health and find the root of the sensitivity to determine the proper way to treat it. We can often recommend services like fluoride treatment, tooth-colored fillings, and nightguards for bruxism. For more extensive cases, we can offer procedures like gum disease treatment and root canal therapy.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? If you’ve knocked out a tooth, you’ll need to visit your emergency dentist immediately for the best chance at saving it. You should get it treated within an hour of the incident when it is still viable to be reinserted.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Once you’ve found the knocked-out tooth, make sure to only pick it up by the crown (top side) and not the roots. Carefully rinse it with water and don’t scrub it or use soap to clean it. Try placing it back in its socket if it’s still intact. If this isn’t possible, store it in a container of saline solution or milk. Do NOT store it in water, as the particles can damage the roots.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: If your tooth is still viable, our team can try placing it back in its socket and splinting it to another tooth to support it while it heals. If not, we’ll discuss tooth-replacement options to restore your smile, including a dental bridge, denture, or dental implant.

Learn More About Dental Bridges Learn More About Dentures Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? You’ll eventually have to replace a filling or dental crown, so losing one isn’t typically a big problem. However, you’ll want to get it treated sooner rather than later, as leaving the affected area exposed can lead to bacteria and infection. Even if it doesn’t hurt, notify your emergency dentist right away for help.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: Find your restoration and rinse it with water. If you can, put it back in its place and keep it there with dental wax or even sugarless gum. If not, store it in a small container to bring with you to your appointment. Refrain from chewing on that side of the mouth and drink lots of water to clean the area.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: If the restoration is in good shape, we might be able to reattach/recement it. We’ll also want to determine the cause of it falling out so we can address it before moving forward. If we can’t reuse it, then we’ll simply replace it with a new one.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency? A damaged denture will need to be fixed as soon as possible. While it isn’t an urgent situation, wearing it can harm your oral tissues, jaw, and even any remaining teeth. Give our team a call right away so that we can fix or replace your prosthetic.

How to handle a broken denture: You’ll want to avoid wearing a broken denture if you want to keep your gums and the rest of your smile safe from injury. Be sure NOT to try repairing it on your own with household products like super glue. These ingredients can be hazardous if ingested, which can make the situation worse. Instead, notify us and schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.

How we treat broken dentures: Our team will evaluate your dentures and determine the severity of the damage to them. If there’s a small chip or crack, then we can sometimes use composite resin to fix it. Otherwise, we’ll have to repair, readjust, or replace your dentures entirely. We can even discuss alternative tooth replacements, such as dental implants.

Learn More About Denture;

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency? Your teeth should never feel loose or about to fall out. If you’ve suffered an injury to the face or feel a tooth weakening over time, make sure to contact your emergency dentist sooner rather than later.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: After calling our office and scheduling your appointment, try to avoid moving or touching your loose tooth. Don’t chew on anything hard or sticky and refrain from flossing or brushing at this time. Make sure to rinse your mouth gently by swishing water around.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: Once we’ve had a chance to assess your situation, our team will do everything we can to help your tooth heal with a splint or other procedure, such as gum disease treatment. If this isn’t viable, then we may need to remove the tooth and consider replacing it with a dental bridge or implant.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? Most common injuries to your mouth and soft oral tissues can be remedied at home. However, if you notice any bleeding that persists longer than 10 minutes or suspect a tooth is also injured, then you’ll want to seek treatment from your emergency dentist right away.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Clean the area with water to remove any debris and bacteria. Put pressure on the injury with a clean gauze pad or washcloth until you can control the bleeding.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: Your emergency dentist can help address the wound by stitching it up and cleaning the area. However, if you can’t control the bleeding, then you should visit your local ER first for help.

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? While jaw discomfort isn’t always considered an urgent situation, it can still interrupt your daily life or even result in oral health problems later on. Make sure to inform your dentist of your condition so they can help alleviate your pain.

How you should handle jaw pain: As you wait to see your emergency dentist, take over-the-counter pain relievers to minimize discomfort. You can also apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling. However, if you suspect your jaw is dislocated or broken, go straight to your local ER instead. We’ll help address your smile when you’re finished there.

How we treat jaw pain: This condition can often be due to bruxism, or teeth grinding/clenching during sleep. We can provide you with custom nightguards to help you avoid wearing down your enamel or disturbing your jaw joints. If you have to visit the ER, our team can treat any damaged pearly whites or replace any lost teeth after you’ve been discharged.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

You can typically address something stuck between your teeth by yourself at home. Start by rinsing your mouth to weaken the object before trying to floss and dislodge it. Avoid using sharp items like tweezers, toothpicks, or forks to get the thing out of your mouth. You can end up harming your smile and making the situation worse. If these tips don’t help, then you can visit our team so we can treat you.