Emergency Dentist – Richardson, TX
Urgent Dental Care You Can Rely On
It’s always smart to have an emergency plan in place before an actual emergency happens, and this is especially true for unexpected issues that concern your teeth, as taking the right actions can make the difference between saving or losing a tooth! Should an awful toothache or broken tooth ever surprise you, make sure you have Dr. Shwarts' number in your phone. He’s happy to accept emergency patients, and he can even see people on the same day as their call so they never have to be left waiting in pain. When you need dental care right away, you can always count on him!
Why Choose Shwarts Family Dentistry in Richardson for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Appointments Welcome
- Friendly Team that Welcomes All Patients
- Flexible Payment Options That Work for Any Budget
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- The sooner you get in touch with our practice, the sooner you can get your dental emergency resolved and out of dental discomfort. We’ll do our best to get you seen the same day that you call and even offer Friday visits when you schedule by appointment. When you call, our office will provide you with first-aid tips to manage your symptoms ahead of your visit.
- After you arrive at the office, Dr. Shwarts will carefully examine the area of your mouth that you’re concerned about. If necessary, he’ll capture detailed digital X-rays if the problem is not easily visible.
- Our team will then work on a treatment plan that addresses your dental emergency at its source and prevents it from coming back. This may include treatments like dental fillings, root canal therapy, tooth extractions, or another service if needed to get you out of pain.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
When it comes to dental emergencies, having an emergency dentist like Dr. Shwarts on call is extremely important, but what should you do if you can’t reach his dental office right away? There are proven methods that can help reduce pain and damage to your smile until you arrive. Even if you aren’t sure you’re experiencing a dental emergency, you should still call and try to come see us as soon as you can!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
How Dr. Shwarts chooses to treat a dental emergency will be based on the type and severity of the injury. Because every situation is unique, the cost of emergency dentistry in Richardson can vary quite a bit from person to person. To help patients dealing with this unexpected expense, our dental office is happy to offer flexible financing that can be used to break up any costs into smaller installments. We can quickly go over your options after we get you out of pain.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
If you’ve knocked out a tooth and do not make it to our dental office in time to save it, you’ll likely need to plan for discussions surrounding tooth replacement. However, if another patient comes in because of a toothache that will not go away, these two dental emergencies will have drastically different outcomes. As a result, you cannot expect to pay a set price for treatment. Because every patient is different, as is every case, our team will need to thoroughly examine your mouth before determining how much you can expect to pay to fix your smile.
Most commonly, however, dental emergency patients can expect treatments to include everything from antibiotics, root canal therapy, dental crown placement, or even tooth extraction.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
It is not uncommon for most dental insurance companies to pay for emergency dental care. While they may not cover the full amount, they will likely pay for a portion of the total cost. However, some plans do offer one emergency visit each year, so make sure to check with your insurance company to find out any rules and exceptions. But no matter how your insurer chooses to handle your emergency visit, make sure to ask about their percentage of coverage. Depending on the type of treatment you’ll receive, you can expect them to cover anywhere from 50-80% of the total cost.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you are uninsured or need help paying for more complex dental care, the team at Shwarts Family Dentistry in Richardson is pleased to provide our patients with a VIP In-House Plan that provides exceptional dental care for one low, flat fee. Offering many of the same great benefits as a normal dental insurance plan, you can skip the deductibles, annual maximums, and waiting periods.
If you have insurance but are looking to break up your out-of-pocket expenses, you can also enroll in flexible financing through our dental office. We can set up a payment plan that ranges from 6 to 36 months to help you stay within your budget.
Our team at Shwarts Family Dentistry in Richardson wants to provide the immediate care you need by recommending treatments that are high in quality and affordable. If you are looking for an emergency dentist in Richardson you can trust, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save Your Money
Teeth that are knocked out or chipped during a football game or after falling off your bike are not necessarily avoidable. A severe toothache that is the result of poor oral hygiene, however, can most certainly be prevented. This is why it is imperative that you take proper care of your teeth and gums by practicing good oral hygiene habits at home.
Many of the most common dental emergencies can be attributed to how well you’ve maintained your smile. If brushing, flossing, and rinsing are not a normal part of your daily routine, it’s time to make a significant change if you want to avoid costly dental procedures that involve invasive treatment and long recovery times.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Want to avoid a sudden toothache or mouth injury that brings your day to a screeching halt? While you can’t always prevent dental emergencies in Richardson, you can take some precautions to safeguard your oral health. From keeping up with your routine checkups to staying on top of your at-home oral hygiene, you can greatly reduce the risk of harmful incidents jeopardizing your smile. Below are a few simple tips for avoiding dental emergencies:
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
If you’re like most people, you’d rather see the dentist at your regularly scheduled checkups than shift all of your plans around to schedule a last-minute appointment when an emergency occurs. Visiting us twice a year for a checkup and cleaning can stop potential emergencies in their tracks. Not only can Dr. Shwarts diagnose and treat cavities, infections, and other problems early on, but our hygienists can clean the plaque from your teeth that causes these issues in the first place.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home
Of course, you’ll also need to keep your mouth clean in between appointments. Brushing twice a day and flossing every evening should be enough to prevent plaque from building up on your teeth and gums. For added protection, you could also rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash to target areas of your mouth that your toothbrush or floss cannot access.
Be Careful With Your Diet
You’ve probably been hearing that candy causes cavities since you were very young, but did you know that starchy foods like potato chips do too? Starch breaks down into sugar in your mouth, where it becomes fuel for destructive bacteria that erode your tooth enamel and inflame your gums. Consider switching your sugary or starchy snacks for more teeth-friendly alternatives, like leafy greens or calcium-rich dairy products.
Wear a Mouthguard
Do you enjoy playing sports? No matter your age, chosen game, or level of play, make sure your smile stays protected by always wearing a mouthguard. After all, up to 40% of all dental injuries are sports-related! Similarly, you should wear a protective nightguard if you suffer from a condition called bruxism, or chronic nighttime teeth grinding that can wear down your teeth. While you can often find mouthguards at your local pharmacy, our practice can make custom trays that are more comfortable and effective.
Use Tools, Not Teeth to Open Packaging
You may think you’re saving time by just using your teeth to open a package instead of a box cutter, knife, or pair of scissors. However, you could easily break a tooth, cut your gums, or sustain some other type of injury that would require you to visit our emergency dental office in Richardson. If you truly want to save time (and money!) that would otherwise be spent on urgent dental care, take the time to reach for the ideal tool for the job.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
If you’re unsure of what to do during a dental emergency, the first step you should take is always call your emergency dentist in Richardson. Our team will guide you through any necessary first-aid tips and make sure that you don’t sustain any additional oral damage. For your convenience, we’ve answered some common questions we receive from our patients below.
When should I call my emergency dentist?
Patients are often too nervous to call our office because they aren’t sure whether their issue will disappear on its own or not. The downside to this frame-of-mind is that when you leave a small problem to progress, you’re risking permanent oral damage that can be painful and more costly to treat. A good way to know whether you need urgent dental care is to ask yourself the following questions. If you answer “yes” to any of them, be sure to contact our office immediately:
- Do you have a broken or chipped tooth?
- Have you lost feeling in your tooth or gums?
- Do you taste metal in your mouth?
- Do you have an oral sore that hasn’t healed in two weeks or longer?
- Are you experiencing a severe toothache that won’t go away?
- Are your gums swollen?
- Is a permanent tooth loose or swollen?
Typically, if you feel like something is wrong or out-of-the-ordinary, then it is. When you contact our office, we’ll be able to let you know if you need to come in immediately and provide you with first-aid guidance to help ease your pain.
Should I go to the emergency room or an emergency dentist?
Certain emergencies require immediate medical attention before you’re able to visit your emergency dentist in Richardson. Any type of trauma such as jaw fractures, a dislocated jaw, deep facial lacerations, or any issue that’s impacting your ability to easily swallow or breathe, all require a trip to your emergency room. After you’ve received the urgent medical attention necessary, don’t forget to contact our office so we can repair your smile and make sure you’re not at risk for developing oral health problems down the road!
What should I put in my dental emergency kit?
A good way to be prepared in case of a dental emergency is to make a couple kits to keep at your home, work, or in your car. Even if you’re on your way to your emergency dentist, having certain supplies can be handy to help ease your pain or prevent any additional damage from occurring. Here are some items that you’ll want to include in your kits:
- Latex-free gloves
- Over-the-counter pain medication (like ibuprofen)
- Dental floss
- Denture adhesive
- Gauze pads
- A small container that can seal
- The number of your emergency dentist
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