Emergency Dentist — Austin, TX
Pain-Relieving Dental Care, Right When You Need It
Dental emergencies are some of the most stressful situations to deal with because they’re difficult to be prepared for. Fortunately, with our experienced team at Magnolia Family Dentistry of Austin by your side, you can get the timely care you need. We offer same-day dental emergency appointments and welcome walk-ins to get you out of pain. Just call us as soon as you notice any out-of-the-ordinary oral discomfort or experience dental trauma, and we'll schedule an appointment for you to receive emergency dentistry in Austin, TX.
Why Choose Magnolia Family Dentistry of Austin for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
- Experienced & Friendly Dental Team
- Dental Sedation Available
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Get an appointment scheduled the same day: If you call outside of our dental office hours, just leave a message and follow the instructions on the voicemail for assistance. We’ll provide you with over-the-phone first aid guidance and schedule a visit for you as soon as possible so you can get the timely care you need.
- Get an emergency exam from Dr. Burton: Once you arrive, a team member will check you in and bring you to an operatory as soon as possible so Dr. Burton can examine your mouth. If needed, we may also capture digital X-rays to gain a better understanding of your emergency.
- Review our findings with you one-on-one: Upon completing your exam, Dr. Burton can confidently recommend a specific treatment (or multiple services) to address your symptoms and stop any discomfort. Her plan will also include cost estimates and a basic timeline, allowing you to set expectations and make an informed decision on your future care.
- Get the professional treatment you need: Our team’s highest priority is getting you out of pain and completing your treatment, whether it involves dental fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, or another solution.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
The key to handling a dental emergency is to always contact our dental office first. Our office is trained to provide relief for many types of dental emergencies, so don’t wait to call even if you aren’t sure you’re experiencing one. Below, we’ve also included some helpful tips on how to ease your discomfort until you reach our dental office.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
Many patients have questions about the cost of emergency dentistry in Austin, and we’re happy to provide you with all of the information you need! Upon arrival for treatment, Dr. Burton can give you an exact estimation of the cost of treatment after an emergency examination. However, we can still cover some important factors here that will contribute to the final price. We’re also happy to review your payment options to help you easily fit the cost of emergency dentistry into your budget.
Every Dental Emergency Is Different
The cost of emergency dentistry depends on a few things. Since no two dental injuries are the same, our first goal is to provide you with the personalized treatment that you need. A toothache is treated differently than a damaged or displaced tooth, after all! Once we’ve completed a quick and thorough emergency exam, we’ll be able to explain the pricing information for all of your options before beginning any treatment.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
The good news is that most dental insurance plans do offer some level of coverage for emergency care. For example, many plans will pay for one emergency exam per year. Additionally, many treatments associated with emergency dentistry, including root canal therapy and dental crowns, may receive partial coverage (50% - 80%) in many cases. That said, each plan differs and we’re happy to review the specifics of yours with you to ensure that you fully understand your benefits!
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, you should know that it won’t prevent you from receiving the emergency care your smile needs! We’re proud to offer discount specials for first time visits and emergency visits alike, and we’re also pleased to offer financing options through CareCredit to break the cost of a procedure into small, affordable monthly payments based on your budget. Our team is happy to assist you with figuring out the best way to pay for care—your smile might be hurting, but your wallet doesn’t have to!
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Sometimes, patients are under the false assumption that dental care is expensive—but in actuality, it’s neglecting to receive care that often leads to higher bills in the future. By not properly caring for your teeth, you’re at an increased risk of developing problems like cavities, gum disease, or even a sudden dental injury. Even though dental emergencies aren’t entirely preventable, you can still lower your chances of experiencing one by maintaining optimal oral health. This will help you to avoid the unexpected cost of dental care in the future!
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Even though not every dental emergency is avoidable, there are many steps you can take to prevent one from happening. These incidents can be stressful and frightening, making it difficult for people to think clearly at the moment. Fortunately, knowing how to protect your smile and keep it healthy can significantly lower your risk of having an emergency in the first place. With that in mind, here are a few things you can do to prevent dental emergencies in Austin.
Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months
When was the last time you saw your dentist? If it’s been longer than six months, you should schedule a checkup as soon as possible. Visiting your dentist twice a year for a checkup and cleaning is essential for a healthy smile. At every appointment, we’ll conduct an oral examination to identify problems long before you would’ve noticed them on your own. By catching and treating these issues early, we can prevent them from worsening and leading to a painful dental emergency.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
It may surprise you to learn that most dental emergencies are because of untreated decay, infection, or disease. By establishing a solid oral hygiene routine, you can ward off oral health problems and lower your risk of a dental emergency. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash are crucial at-home practices that can keep your mouth free of harmful bacteria. Otherwise, it can accumulate and accelerate enamel deterioration, causing infections to develop.
Stick to a Healthy Diet
Believe it or not, your diet has a significant impact on your oral health. Sticking to a diet full of nutrient-rich foods (i.e., fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, dairy products, whole grains) can reduce your chances of developing decay, infection, or gum disease. Overconsumption of sugary, starchy, and acidic foods is known to contribute to the accumulation of harmful oral bacteria. By cutting those out of your everyday diet, you can ensure your mouth remains happy and healthy!
Wear a Mouthguard
If you regularly play sports or grind your teeth at night, ask our team about getting a custom-made oral appliance. An athletic mouthguard can protect your teeth against accidents, while a nightguard can prevent your enamel from wearing down. Otherwise, these issues can leave your pearly whites susceptible to decay, infection, and even gum disease.
Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
When you can’t rip open a package or bottle with your hands, you might be tempted to use your teeth. However, you should avoid doing that at all costs. Using your teeth for anything other than chewing food can easily result in a dental emergency. It’s always a good idea to wait for the right tool or find someone to lend you a helping hand.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
Will My Toothache Go Away On Its Own?
A toothache can range from being a mere annoyance to debilitating. In most cases, it will not go away on its own and will require dental attention. That’s why it’s always best to make an appointment with Dr. Burton when you have tooth pain, regardless of how mild it is. Since there are many possible causes for toothaches, you’ll want an expert to rule them out as soon as possible. With their help, you can catch and treat underlying issues before they become a dental emergency. It’s worth noting that if the pain is around the tooth, it might resolve by itself since it could be from irritation in the surrounding gum tissue.
What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?
Generally, throbbing tooth pain is a sign of an infection or inflammation within the tooth. When cracks inside the tooth allow air and bacteria to reach the sensitive inner area (or the pulp), it results in irritation and possibly even infection of the pulp nerves, causing pain. A few other reasons you may have persistent discomfort are decay, chronic teeth grinding (bruxism), and clenching.
My Chipped Tooth Doesn’t Hurt. Do I Still Need to Visit?
If you ever have a chipped tooth, you should always make an appointment with a dentist immediately following the incident. You may not feel any pain, but you won’t know if the inner area of the tooth (the pulp and nerves) is exposed until you get it checked out. Even though you could wait a day or two to visit your emergency dentist near South Austin, you should try to get seen as soon as possible to keep the chipped tooth from breaking further.
What is Causing My Jaw Pain?
There are several reasons why you may be experiencing jaw pain, including:
Chronic teeth grinding and clenching: These bad habits put unnecessary stress on the jaw joints, causing jaw pain.
Facial or jaw injuries: If your injuries never healed properly, it could lead to jaw pain.
TMJ disorder (TMD): A misaligned jaw can lead to TMJ disorder (TMD), which affects the joints connecting the jaw to the skull.
If you have jaw pain, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist for a diagnosis. They’ll identify the source of your discomfort and create a treatment plan that provides long-term relief.
How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?
Although we offer same-day emergency appointments, it’s not always possible for patients to visit us right away. If that happens to you, it’s helpful to know what you can do to alleviate your tooth pain long enough to get a good night’s sleep. The first step is avoiding acidic, sugary, and crunchy foods at dinner. Then, after completing your oral hygiene regimen, use a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time. About 30 minutes before bed, take OTC pain medication as directed and prop yourself up on a few pillows. That way, blood doesn’t rush to your head, exacerbating your discomfort in the process.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
Are you experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding? If so, you should go to the ER right away. If not, then your first call should be to our dental team at Magnolia Family Dentistry. The reason for this is simple: hospitals don’t usually have dentists on staff. As a result, the most they can do if you show up with a chipped, cracked, or knocked out tooth is to temporarily alleviate your discomfort and refer you back to your dentist.
How Can a Dental Abscess Be Treated?
Once you arrive at our office, our emergency dentist in Austin will alleviate any discomfort you’re feeling, complete a comprehensive oral exam, and determine the best way to get your oral health back on track. Usually, this involves Dr. Burton creating a small incision so the abscess can be opened and drained. However, there are some cases where additional restorative care is needed, like a root canal or tooth extraction.
Should You Put a Knocked-Out Tooth in Water?
Putting a knocked-out tooth in water is not recommended because it won’t preserve the root surface cells. Instead, you should either place the tooth back in its socket or put it in a clean container filled with milk. It’s also important that you call our Austin dental team ASAP so we can schedule an appointment at our office within the hour.
Is It Safe to Repair Dentures with Superglue?
No, it is not safe to repair dentures with superglue. There are a few reasons for this, starting with the fact that this adhesive contains toxins that are not safe to ingest. It also isn’t meant for damp environments and can negatively impact the way food tastes. So, whether there is a small chip or a significant crack in your restoration, don’t try a DIY solution. Instead, schedule an appointment with our team at Magnolia Family Dentistry so we can begin the process of having yours repaired or replaced.
Is a Cavity a Dental Emergency?
Since cavities can quickly progress, it’s important not to take the “wait and see” approach. If you notice a dull, persistent throbbing, a sharp, stabbing pain, or anything else abnormal, get in touch with us ASAP. Once we know a little more about your symptoms, including how severe they are, we can determine if an emergency visit is warranted.
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