If you or a loved one experience any kind of dental trauma, whether it’s due to a sudden accident or a small problem that has slowly become something major, you can always turn to The Castleberry Center to get the immediate and professional help you need. Dr. Castleberry and our team have handled all kinds of dental emergencies over the years, and our goal is always the same: to see a patient as quickly as possible and get them out of pain.
Dental emergencies are certainly stressful, but you can breathe a little easier knowing that you have an emergency dentist in Houston ready to help. Should the unexpected ever happen to you or a loved one’s smile, be sure to give us a call right away.
We Can Help with the Following Dental Emergencies:
Knocked out tooth
Partially dislodged tooth
Chipped, cracked, or broken tooth
Severe toothache
Object stuck between the teeth
Lost or damaged dental work
Injury to the lips, gums, or jaw
Pain or swelling in the face
Even if you are unsure whether or not your situation is an emergency, just give us a call anyway, and we’ll be glad to let you know what you should do next.
Tooth Sensitivity
When you have an excruciating toothache, hopefully you know to give us a call right away. But what should you do about teeth that are sensitive when you drink hot coffee or eat ice cream? Is it a dental emergency? It could be a sign of decay or a precursor to tooth pain. However, it might mean something else, like you’re brushing a little too hard. Monitor your sensitivity, and if it gets worse or is impeding your daily life, don’t wait to come in! If, however, you’re somewhat close to your next checkup appointment, and if it doesn’t seem to be getting worse, you can wait and definitely bring up your concerns then.
Frequently Asked Questions – Emergency Dentistry
When you’re suffering through a sudden dental emergency, the very last thing you want to deal with is more confusion. At The Castleberry Center, we want our Houston patients to be as informed as possible. That’s why we have gathered some of the questions that we get asked the most often by patients with dental emergencies and answered them down below for your convenience.
What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?
Since oral pain and discomfort can be relatively common, it can be difficult to determine whether you need emergency treatment. If you can honestly answer yes to any of the following questions, you most likely have a dental emergency on your hands that requires urgent care:
Are you in severe pain?
Is your mouth bleeding?
Have you lost or damaged a tooth?
Do you have loose teeth (as an adult)?
Do you have signs of an infection, such as a fever or swelling?
Do I Need to Go to the E.R. with a Dental Emergency?
While the staff at your local emergency room are medical professionals, they usually don’t have the specialized training to treat specific dental emergencies. This is why, in most cases, you should see your emergency dentist instead of going to the hospital. If, however, your dental emergency also threatens your life, such as swelling that impacts your ability to breathe, you should get to an emergency room right away.
What If My Toothache Goes Away on Its Own?
Unlike most general medical problems, dental issues typically worsen the longer you put off getting treatment. When you have a toothache that suddenly stops, it might seem like the problem has cleared up, but the truth is it has gotten a whole lot worse.
A severe toothache is often caused by an infection reaching the sensitive inner portion of the tooth, called the pulp, where the nerve is located. As the nerve succumbs to the infection, it gradually begins to die, resulting in declining feelings of pain. At this point, a root canal might be the only treatment that can save your tooth from needing to be extracted. If you have a toothache that suddenly goes away, it’s more important than ever that you contact us for treatment.
What Can I Take to Help Alleviate Dental Pain?
Ibuprofen is often considered the best medicine for treating oral pain. You could also take other over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin or acetaminophen. Keep in mind that if you take aspirin, do NOT place it directly on the aching tooth. Doing so could irritate your gum tissue and actually increase your dental pain!
Do I Need to Be an Existing Patient to Be Seen for a Dental Emergency?
Not at all! We know that it can be stressful to find a new dentist, especially during an emergency, which is why we’re more than willing to treat you no matter your situation. We make it easy by accepting all major PPO plans, as well as military plans. If you don’t have dental insurance, we also partner with third-party finance plans like CareCredit and Lending Club to pay for the care you need. No matter what kind of dental emergency you’re going through, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
