At Laith Family Dentistry, our team of experts is ready when a crisis occurs. Whether it is a knocked-out tooth, lost crown or filling, severe toothache, or cracked tooth, Dr. Kadamani, our emergency dentist in San Antonio, can provide immediate care when you need it most. While knowing your trusted dental professional is ready to help should a problem occur, we strive to provide our patients with the tips and tools needed to not only prevent common dental emergencies but also handle them while waiting to see us. On this page, you will find valuable information designed to better prepare you should an injury or accident cause you to experience a dental emergency. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Step 1: Call us as soon as you can; we always strive to see emergency patients as quickly as possible.
- Step 2: One of our knowledgeable team members will give you personalized first-aid instructions to use until you can reach us.
- Step 3: Arrive for your emergency exam with Dr. Kadamani, who will evaluate your situation and relieve your pain.
- Step 4: Review the findings with Dr. Kadamani, go over your treatment options, and create a plan for addressing your dental emergency.
- Step 5: Whether you need a filling, root canal, dental crown, tooth replacement, or something else, we’ll get to work right away to protect your smile!
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Knowing what to do should face a common dental emergency is paramount. Taking the appropriate steps to alleviate pain and minimize bleeding and/or swelling will prove beneficial to your situation and keep your smile from enduring further trauma. In most cases, you can count on our dental team to treat the issue and restore your oral health, but if you experience facial trauma that results in a broken or fractured jaw, are unable to stop any bleeding after 15-20 minutes of applied pressure, or experience increased swelling, get to a local emergency room for immediate medical attention.
If you suffer any of the following problems, use the tips provided while waiting to see Dr. Kadamani:
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Amid handling a sudden dental injury, getting out of pain is your number one priority. Usually, it isn’t until after your pain-free smile is restored that you start thinking about the cost of emergency dentistry in San Antonio. At Laith Family Dentistry, we want understanding the cost to be straightforward and easy, no matter what the reason for your visit is. With this in mind, keep reading to learn about the factors that influence the cost.
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Remember, Every Dental Emergency is Different
Your dental injury might look very different from another patient’s, which is why there is no set price for treating these types of situations. Only when you can come in and see our emergency dentist in San Antonio, Dr. Kadamani, for a consultation will you better understand how much your treatment will cost. If you have a minor toothache, you may only need antibiotics; however, if you’ve knocked out a tooth that cannot be saved, your expenses will be much higher because of the tooth replacement you will need (i.e., dental bridge, dentures, dental implants). Don’t worry though – our team will always discuss your treatment options and the associated costs so we can minimize the chances of any unexpected surprises.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
It’s possible! While some plans include a free emergency exam annually, others cover up to 80% of the cost of the necessary restorative treatment. If you aren’t entirely familiar with the fine print on your dental plan, don’t fret. Our knowledgeable team is here to help you navigate the financial side of oral healthcare and will file a claim with your insurance. That way, utilizing your available benefits isn’t a headache.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Uninsured? There are other ways to pay for your care. To start, we are happy to welcome cash, checks, and credit cards. We also happily offer flexible financing! CareCredit is a trusted third-party financier that offers a wide range of payment plans (often with little to no interest attached). As a result, you can break up the cost of your care into manageable, monthly chunks. Of course, our knowledgeable team will review all of this information in-depth, ensuring you can confidently choose which option is best for you.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
When weighing the factors that influence the cost of your dental care, it’s vital to remember the importance of proper prevention. After all, the Journal of Dental Medicine shared that every dollar invested in preventive care can save you up to $50 on restorative and cosmetic treatments in the long run! So, make sure to brush twice a day, floss daily, and visit us every six months for a checkup and cleaning. If any abnormal symptoms arise between visits, like swelling or pain when you chew, get in touch right away. It could mean the difference between a routine filling and an extensive root canal!
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Want to prevent dental emergencies in San Antonio? We know it might not always be easy, but there are things you can do to minimize the potential for serious and complex dental procedures. A nagging toothache that causes an infection is preventable as long as you seek help sooner rather than later, but if you want to prevent the troublesome experience in the first place, our team at Laith Family Dentistry is here to provide you with some helpful tips to keep in mind, such as:
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Keeping Your Regular Dental Appointments
Seeing your dentist every six months for dental checkups and cleanings is a step in the right direction when it comes to avoiding dental emergencies. With the help of a professional who can easily look at your teeth and gums and identify any problems early on, you can get the treatment and care you need before it spirals out of control and results in costly and timely dental procedures. It is also during these visits that we will remove any hardened plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums to minimize your risk for gum disease.
Continuing to Brush and Floss Daily
Keeping your oral cavity free of bad bacteria and harmful particles is an effective way to lower your risk for serious infection, tooth decay, and gum disease. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing between your teeth, and rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash is essential if you want to keep your natural, healthy teeth for years to come and avoid many of the most common oral health problems.
Being Mindful of What You Eat
Sugars and starches are fine in moderation, but they should not become regular components of your daily diet. Not only can they negatively impact your overall health with regard to your weight, heart, and other vital organs, but they will wreak havoc on your teeth and gums, causing gum disease and cavities to develop. Instead, feed your body with healthier alternatives like lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and low-fat calcium. These will strengthen your tooth enamel, encourage good gum health, and help you maintain a healthy weight.
Wearing a Mouthguard to Protect Your Teeth
Do you play sports? Are you prone to grinding your teeth at night because of stress that builds at work and throughout your day? No matter the problem, a customized mouthguard can keep tooth enamel from wearing down from constant grinding and clenching, and it can absorb any hard hits that might occur while on the field, court, or track. Safeguarding your smile is essential if you want to avoid a knocked-out tooth or soft tissue laceration that requires a visit to the emergency dental office in San Antonio.
Only Using Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Your teeth are designed to cut and tear through food, not packages or containers. Scissors, pliers, hammers, and other tools are meant to open things that are too difficult for our hands to take on. When you attempt to use your teeth in this manner, you put yourself at high risk for serious damage. Teeth can become broken and chipped, resulting in necessary and immediate dental care; however, if you take the time to find the right tool, you can avoid an emergency visit and instead, go on about your day with a healthier, happier, and damage-free smile.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
If you are looking for an emergency dentist in San Antonio you can trust, the team at Laith Family Dentistry is here to ensure you get appropriate attention when you need it most. As a patient who cares about the safety of your smile, you likely have many questions about availability, processes, and at-home solutions to better protect your teeth and gums. Fortunately, we are available to answer all your questions and provide clarifications for any concerns you might have. Below you will find the answers to several common questions asked by our patients. If you do not see yours listed, please contact our office to schedule an appointment.
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Should I Go to the ER for a Dental Emergency?
While it might seem like a smart idea, the truth is that the emergency room is not the best place to receive timely or appropriate care for a dental emergency. Unless you have a broken or fractured jaw, experience continuous bleeding, or have increased swelling that affects your ability to breathe or swallow, it’s best to see your emergency dentist. Visiting an emergency room will often leave you waiting hours before seeing a professional. Also, a general doctor can treat the immediate symptoms but cannot offer long-term solutions to treat the underlying cause.
Do I Need to Visit a Dentist If My Chipped Tooth Doesn’t Hurt?
It’s always best to schedule an appointment with your dentist after accidentally chipping a tooth. Even if you experience no pain, there could be problems developing underneath the surface that simply do not cause discomfort. Only until you see your dentist can they take X-rays of your mouth and determine if an issue is occurring beneath the gum line. Although a chipped tooth that doesn’t leave you in pain isn’t as crucial as a knocked-out tooth or serious infection, you can wait 1-2 days before seeking treatment, but you should never put it off any longer, as your tooth will remain vulnerable to further breakage if you’re not careful.
Can I Use Superglue to Fix Broken Dentures?
No! Superglue should never be used to fix your broken dentures. Not only does it contain harmful chemicals that can be toxic and cause allergic reactions in some patients, but it can make eating a disgusting and unpleasant experience. Why? Because it will change the way the food tastes. Also, superglue is highly ineffective in environments that remain damp (i.e., your mouth), so it’s unlikely that your attempt to glue your denture back together will last very long, if at all.
Are Toothpicks Safe to Use?
Dealing with a lodged piece of food between your teeth can be annoying and bothersome. While you may be tempted to reach for a toothpick, it’s best to avoid them at all costs. Why? Because they can damage your tooth enamel and soft oral tissue, and they can splinter inside your mouth. Not only does that sound painful, but they can actually push food further in-between your teeth and/or underneath the gum line, making it more difficult to remove. You could also accidentally swallow a toothpick. This type of dental emergency in San Antonio should be treated using water, floss, or the help of a professional.
