Emergency Dentistry

Fast Emergency Dental Care When You Need It

Dental emergencies are often difficult to manage. After all, they usually happen when you least expect them! Still, you can stay prepared with fast access to your Southlake emergency dentists. The Huckabee Dental team is ready to treat knocked-out teeth, severe toothaches, and any other oral issues. As such, don’t hesitate to call our team immediately – we’ll get you the timely care you deserve when you visit our office.

Why Choose Huckabee Dental for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
  • We Accept Dental Insurance
  • In-House Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

While a dental emergency might seem chaotic, there’s no need to worry. We at Huckabee Dental follow set guidelines when treating one. More specifically, we’ll offer the following items for your emergency care:

  • Same-Day Appointment – Once you contact us, we’ll schedule you for the earliest available time. We might even see you the same day you call! Furthermore, our staff can offer first-aid tips over the phone while you wait for the visit.
  • A Fast-Yet-Thorough Exam – When you arrive at our office, we’ll first perform a quick emergency exam. This step may even include dental X-rays. Either way, it’ll let us confirm the source of your problem and how to relieve your pain.
  • An Overview of Findings – After the exam, our dentists will review their findings with you and make some suggestions. They’ll then draft a custom treatment plan based on your preferences and needs. (Rest assured, the treatment estimate and timeline are included in this review.)
  • Effective Dental Care – Naturally, our dental team will work quickly to fix your oral problems and get your smile back on track. Whether you need a filling, crown, root canal therapy, or something else, we’re up to the task!

 

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

In reality, dental emergencies come in many different forms; no two are exactly alike. Some types, however, are more common than others. Our office is thus equipped for various urgent oral issues. That way, we’re able to handle your smile’s emergency. All that being said, contact us quickly if you’re experiencing any of the following problems.

 

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies 

The cost of your emergency dental visit depends on a variety of factors, including what type of treatment you require, whether you need dental sedation, and if you need a follow-up appointment. We recommend that patients visit us as soon as they experience any unexpected oral discomfort, because the longer you wait to have an issue treated, the more damage it could cause.

 

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

While it’s impossible to completely prevent a dental emergency from occurring, there are some ways that you can reduce your risk of experiencing one, including:

 

  • Visit us every six months for your checkups and cleanings
  • Maintain a well-balanced diet and stay hydrated with water
  • Stick to a thorough at-home oral hygiene routine
  • Avoid chewing on excessively sticky or chewy foods
  • Protect your teeth from grinding or while playing sports
  • Never use your teeth to open a bottle, package, or anything else

 

Root Canals

Root canals are one of the most feared dental treatments, but the rumors that circulate about this procedure aren’t necessarily true. The pain associated with root canal therapy is really caused by the toothache that results from a dental infection. Once patients have been treated, their pain goes away, and they’re able to enjoy their natural tooth for years to come. Additionally, our team will ensure that you remain comfortable during your procedure by numbing the area and offering dental sedation.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

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Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Patients often assume that a toothache can be ignored, at least initially. In reality, the best thing to do is call our Southlake dental team when you first notice your discomfort. That way, we can conduct an exam within the next day or two to pinpoint the root of the problem.

How You Should Handle a Toothache First, monitor your symptoms closely. If they persist or seem to be getting worse, then contact us ASAP to schedule an appointment. Until your exam with one of our Southlake dentists, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater periodically to alleviate inflammation and help prevent infection.

How We Treat Toothaches Simply put, there’s more than one way to treat a toothache. In some cases, a tooth-colored filling or dental crown is needed, and, in others, root canal treatment is the best way to proceed.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Chipped Tooth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? A chipped tooth does always warrant a visit to our Southlake dental office, but the urgency of the appointment depends largely on the extent of the damage and your symptoms. In other words, if the chip is large or you’re in pain, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth When you call us to schedule your appointment, we will provide you with some helpful tips on how to protect your smile from further harm until your appointment, like covering the sharp edge of your tooth with some sugar-free gum.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth We have a few options when it comes to restoring the look, health, and function of your tooth, including cosmetic dental bonding, veneers, and dental crowns. Ultimately, the one that’s best for you will depend on the size of the chip and the location of the tooth.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COSMETIC DENTAL BONDING

LEARN MORE ABOUT VENEERS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, a cracked tooth is a dental emergency, even if the damage seems relatively minor or you aren’t in any pain. Remember, it’s possible for an infection to develop or for the crack to get much larger, so don’t wait to contact us.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth Handling a cracked tooth properly really boils down to what you shouldn’t do: don’t chew on that side of your mouth, don’t eat or drink anything really hot or cold, and don’t put off scheduling an appointment with our Southlake emergency dentist.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth If the crack is minor enough that we can still save your tooth, then we will with a dental crown. If, on the other hand, it’s so severe that the tooth needs to be pulled, then we will carefully do so before putting a dental bridge or implant in its place.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Tooth sensitivity can be caused by a variety of factors such as exposed roots, eroded enamel, or even just because something is stuck between your teeth. While sensitivity isn’t necessarily an emergency, it can be if it is severe, causing pain, lasting for several days, or if it only affects one or two teeth, as these can be the result of serious damage or infection.

How you should handle sensitive teeth: When you call our office, we’ll offer first-aid tips to help you stay comfortable until your appointment, which may be on the same day if your symptoms are severe. Until then, stick to lukewarm water, avoid foods that are sweet, spicy, or acidic, and take over-the-counter pain relievers.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: The best way to treat dental sensitivity depends on what is causing it. If it is due to eroded enamel, we may recommend using a desensitizing toothpaste or receiving topical fluoride treatments or we may prescribe special mouthwash. If the problem results from an infection, we may recommend treating it with antibiotics, gum disease treatments, or a root canal.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Once your tooth is knocked out, you’ll need to act quickly if you want it to be saved. Call our office as soon as possible so we can schedule a same-day emergency appointment. The sooner you arrive at our office, the more likely it is that your tooth can be successfully reimplanted.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Find and secure the tooth while taking care to handle it only by the crown. Take care not to touch the root or damage any attached tissue. Swish the tooth in a bowl of lukewarm water to clean it and place it in a container with milk, saliva, or saline solution to help it stay in savable condition for up to an hour. You can also use an ADA-approved tooth preservation kit to keep it savable for up to twenty-four hours.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: If your tooth is still in good shape when you arrive at our office, we may be able to reimplant it, and the tooth will reintegrate with the bone and soft tissue as it heals. However, if the tooth is no longer in savable condition, we will recommend a tooth replacement such as a dental bridge or a dental implant.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? While fillings and crowns are designed to be durable and long-lasting, they do not last forever. Older dental crowns and fillings can become damaged or fall out completely, and while this is not necessarily a dental emergency, it needs to be addressed soon. If your dental restoration has become damaged, call our office to prevent oral problems like infections.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: If you can find a dislodged restoration, store it in a clean container and bring it to our office. While you may be able to temporarily reseat a dental crown on your tooth using dental cement, we don’t recommend trying this with a lost dental filling.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: If your crown or filling is still in good shape, we may be able to simply cement it back into place. If your restoration is lost or beyond saving, we will recommend replacing it with a new one.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Dentures

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? You rely on your dentures daily to chew your food, speak clearly, and smile with confidence. Breaking your denture may not seem urgent because it isn’t painful or life-threatening. However, you should still have it fixed as soon as you can. If you continue wearing your broken denture, you can experience soft-tissue irritation and worsen the damage.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: You shouldn’t try to repair a broken denture on your own. The kits you find over the counter and household items can worsen the damage. They also contain ingredients that aren’t made to be used in the mouth. Instead, call us to let us know what’s going on. We can give you further advice from there.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: The way that we address broken dentures will depend on the severity and type of damage. For small chips and cracks, we might be able to fix them with composite resin. However, for more severe damage, you might need to be fitted with new dentures. This is also a great time to consider other tooth replacement options, such as dental implants.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? A loose permanent tooth is an urgent dental emergency. When a tooth is loose, it is at risk of falling out. You should have this issue looked at as soon as possible, so give us a call.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: As soon as you realize that your tooth is loose, you should call to schedule your emergency appointment. Until your visit, don’t chew on the side of your mouth with the loose tooth. You should also try not to touch the tooth with your tongue or fingers.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: We will do everything we can to try to save your tooth. However, if your tooth is too severely damaged, we will discuss tooth replacement options to fill the gap.

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Dental Implants

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Experiencing trauma in this area can be alarming because it tends to bleed a lot. If you have concerns about a wound on the gums, lips, or tongue, give us a call to explain the situation. We can give you further guidance from there.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: You should start by rinsing the wound with water to wash away any dirt or debris. Next, use a clean washcloth or gauze to apply pressure to the area until the bleeding stops. For pain and inflammation, use a cold compress.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: For smaller cuts, we might be able to help by stitching the area closed. If you have a larger cut or laceration, the emergency room is probably your best option. We’d be happy to take a look at your smile after you’ve been discharged.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Most of the time, jaw pain isn’t an urgent dental emergency. However, it can be quite uncomfortable. If your pain becomes chronic or severe, let us know so we can start to take steps to reduce your discomfort.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Most of the time, over-the-counter pain relievers are strong enough to relieve the pain temporarily. If you think that your jaw might be dislocated or broken, you should go to the emergency room. We’d be happy to take a look at your smile after you’ve been discharged.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: The treatment we use for jaw pain will vary from patient to patient. For some, a nightguard for bruxism can relieve this discomfort. During your appointment with us, we can discuss your options and put together a plan that meets your needs.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Don’t use any sharp items to attempt to get an object out from between your teeth. Using tweezers, toothpicks, or cutlery can push the item in further or damage your soft tissues. Instead, rinse your mouth with water. Then, use dental floss to dislodge it. If you are still struggling to get it out, give us a call so we can give you further instructions.