In a dental emergency, call Katy Smile Design at 281.396.4366. Dr. Catherine Wilder and Dr. Lauren Shepard offer emergency dentist care in Katy, TX. They aim to quickly find the source of their patient’s dental problem and find the best solution. Dental emergencies fall under general dentistry because they also offer preventative treatment. Emergency dental care can restore your oral health and help prevent future problems caused by untreated dental issues.
How Do I Know If I Have a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency occurs when a dental problem requires immediate professional care. For instance, chipped teeth have an extensive range of severity. A small cosmetic chip isn’t something that needs to be taken care of right away.
But if a large piece of your tooth is broken off, you’re going to experience intense pain. Something like that requires attention. If you experience something that needs direct attention, call our office immediately.
Emergency Dentist in Katy, TX
When looking for an emergency dentist, you want immediate, effective treatment. Some of the most common dental emergencies that we can treat in our office include:
Toothaches
Severe tooth pain or sensitivity is abnormal. If you have a toothache, take over-the-counter pain medication and apply a cold compress to the side of the face to stop swelling. Then, contact our Katy, Texas, dental office. Sometimes, an infection or tooth abscess can cause toothaches, so you must call us promptly. We will thoroughly examine your teeth to find and treat the cause of your pain.
Knocked-out Tooth
Have you just knocked out a permanent tooth? Try to locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown or top. You can gently rinse off the tooth in water and place it in a cup of cold milk. Keeping the tooth moist preserves it for easy transport to our office.
Sometimes, teeth preserved like this can be replaced. However, dental implants are an excellent second option. Dental implants are durable restorations that look and feel just like natural teeth. They can replace single or multiple missing or lost teeth.
Broken Teeth
Large chips or breaks in teeth can sometimes expose the inner pulp of nerves and blood vessels in the tooth. Broken teeth are often prone to tooth sensitivity and pain.
Patients will need a root canal or tooth extraction if the pulp inside the tooth becomes infected. Root canals remove the infection from within the tooth, while tooth extractions entirely remove the teeth. We can also provide dental crowns for large tooth fractures. Crowns cover and protect teeth like caps to restore the structure and comfort of broken teeth.
Damaged or Broken Dental Restoration
Call our dental office if you have an old or damaged dental bridge, crown, denture, or dental implant. We can create a treatment plan for a new replacement.
Dr. Wilder and Dr. Shepard work with local dental surgeons for implantation services and provide crowns as the final restoration. Our dentists can work to provide temporary restorations. You will not be without teeth as you wait for your permanent restoration.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums are a common symptom of gingivitis or gum inflammation. While gingivitis is an emergency, a dental professional must treat gum inflammation with routine dental cleanings.
However, sudden and persistent bleeding, especially following a recent dental procedure, is abnormal. Contact our office, and we will help stop the bleeding and find the cause. A dental professional must treat bleeding that lasts days after a restorative procedure.
Can You Prevent Dental Emergencies?
Sometimes, it’s possible to prevent dental emergencies before they happen. Preventative treatments, including sports mouthguards and routine dental check-ups, help keep your mouth healthy.
At regular dental visits, we provide a dental cleaning and take X-rays to examine the teeth, gums, and jaw. Only a professional can remove tartar, or hardened bacterial buildup, from the mouth. Removing decay-causing bacteria can prevent cavities, tooth abscesses, and gum disease. X-rays help us view dental problems we can’t see with a visual exam. If we notice a dental problem, we will recommend treatment so you don’t have to wait for care.
At home, you can take steps to prevent infected and damaged teeth. Brushing and flossing twice daily will help keep your teeth and gums healthy. A good oral hygiene routine can prevent problems like tooth pain associated with decay.
Bad habits like nail biting and using teeth as tools place pressure on the teeth. Sometimes, these habits can chip or break a tooth. Changing your habits can keep your teeth healthy and intact.
Emergency Dentistry FAQs
Will an emergency dentist take a tooth out?
Emergency tooth extraction is typically only required when a tooth must be removed within 24 to 48 hours. Emergency tooth extraction situations include those that involve severe, crippling pain, large cracks, enormous fractures, or other conditions that could endanger the dental health of the patient.
What are the most common dental emergencies?
The most common dental emergencies include a knocked-out tooth, broken or fractured tooth, dental abscess, or severe toothache. We can treat all of these emergencies in our office.
Is an infected tooth considered an emergency?
A severe tooth infection is a dental emergency. You must get treatment right away if you have an abscessed tooth. A tooth abscess can spread infection throughout the body. Severe infections can have significant and even fatal consequences if left untreated. The sooner these problems are treated, the better.
How does an emergency dentist differ from a general dentist?
While general dentists handle standard procedures, emergency dentists handle urgent accidents. Some general dentistry practices can handle emergencies, but not all can. Our office is ready to treat emergencies with cosmetic, general, and restorative treatments.
Schedule a Dental Appointment
Visit your emergency dentist in Katy, TX, for prompt care. Do you have questions about your current concerns? Are you unsure if you have a dental emergency? You can still call our office at 281.396.4366.
If you do not have an emergency but require dental care, you may request a dental appointment on our website. We serve new and existing patients in Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, and other local communities.