Emergency Dentist Grand Prairie

When There’s No Time to Wait!

Woman wincing and holding her cheek in pain before seeing an emergency dentist in Grand Prairie

Whether it’s caused by a sports-related injury, poor oral hygiene, or an accidental fall while out for a run, dental emergencies often require timely treatment. This is why Dr. Vo believes in providing same-day emergency dentistry appointments for Grand Prairie patients in need. By calling our office and alerting our team to your situation, we can get you in as soon as possible and restore your smile to its pre-injured, gorgeous state.

Why Choose Radiant Smiles for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Dental Appointments Available
  • Nitrous Oxide Used to Curb Anxious Individuals
  • Our Team Will Maximize All Available Benefits

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Treating dental injuries requires that you first notify our office and schedule an emergency appointment. Once you arrive, we will begin taking scans of your mouth and evaluating the severity of the problem, helping you out of pain. Dr. Vo will then create a customized plan to address the affected tooth or teeth and discuss it with you to ensure you feel comfortable with the proposed approach. Depending on the type of injury and required treatment, we will either administer care the same day or have you return at a later date.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Chipped, cracked, knocked-out, and infected teeth are just a few of the many types of dental emergencies we treat at Radiant Smiles. Loose teeth, lost restorations, broken prosthetics, and even jaw pain are also likely to receive timely care from our talented team. If you are experiencing an emergency please call our office today.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Someone in blue shirt calculating cost at desk with papers, calculator, and large model tooth

When you have a dental emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is whether you can afford the care needed to save your smile. It’s natural to wonder what you might expect to pay for your appointment, but the amount due depends on your individual circumstances.

For example, our office in Grand Prairie offers a $29 limited emergency exam that includes an assessment and X-rays; however, you will also be responsible for covering the cost of any required treatments based on our findings. Continue reading to learn more about how the total for your visit is determined, and please don’t hesitate to contact us with additional questions.

Every Dental Emergency is Unique

Man squinting face holding hand to cheek in pain

It is nearly impossible to predict the cost for your emergency visit until Dr. Vo examines your mouth to determine the root problem and devises potential treatment plans. There are many reasons you might require a same-day appointment, and some issues can be handled more easily than others.

For example, if your teeth feel sensitive, you might only require a topical fluoride treatment and a prescription mouthwash. However, more serious issues, like toothaches, decay, disease, or injuries, require more complex solutions, such as a root canal followed by placing a customized dental crown. We’ll provide an estimate when we put together an appropriate treatment plan and walk you through the information for your approval before proceeding.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Glasses at the top of insurance coverage form

Many insurance policies do offer some type of coverage for emergencies. For instance, they might fully cover an annual exam or imaging, and they often include up to 50% to 80% of procedures necessary to address the issue, like root canals, crowns, and extractions.

Every plan is unique, though, so it’s worth verifying your information to know what’s included. If you’re struggling to find the information or need help with claims paperwork or applications, please let our office staff know. They are familiar with different policies and are happy to help you maximize your available benefits.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Patient handing completed forms to woman in blue scrubs

Although dental insurance can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for emergency services, we understand that not all patients carry a policy. We also believe that everyone deserves high-quality care they can trust, regardless of their finances.

That’s why, in addition to our $29 limited emergency exam, we also offer an in-house savings plan. For a flat monthly or annual rate, you gain access to basic services and additional discounts on other treatments. We have also partnered with Cherry to offer flexible financial plans that allow you to divide your total invoice into more manageable installments if your application is approved.

How Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Dentist in white jacket holding model tooth in one hand and blue piggy bank in other

Although some dental emergencies happen due to circumstances beyond your control, many oral issues can be avoided. Fortunately, proper preventive care is a simple and cost-effective way to avoid urgent concerns that require complex and expensive solutions.

For instance, brushing and flossing twice daily removes plaque and bacteria so your enamel and gums can better resist tooth decay, gum disease, and injuries that can eventually cause an emergency. Additionally, having a routine checkup with Dr. Vo every six months enables him to monitor your condition, allowing him to catch and treat any areas of concern before they progress.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman in dental chair holding hand to chin with eyes closed in pain

At our office in Grand Prairie, Dr. Vo provides a comprehensive menu of services, so he’s sure to have solutions to address your dental emergency. He understands that some oral issues are beyond your control, but thankfully, many common dental concerns can be prevented.

Routine care and maintenance can strengthen your smile so it can better resist common problems that can contribute to emergencies, and is also usually more cost-effective than complex procedures needed to repair damage that has already occurred. Continue reading to learn more about how you can avoid dental emergencies and feel free to contact us with additional questions!

Visit Your Dentist Consistently

Man undergoing dental exam by dentist in blue gloves

The American Dental Association recommends visiting your provider every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning. Regular routine visits allow Dr. Vo and the rest of our team to monitor your condition so we can catch and treat any areas of concern before they have a chance to progress into more severe issues.

Plus, we have the experience and technology to quickly identify problem areas that can be difficult to see on your own at home, such as decay or disease between teeth or behind your molars.

Maintain A Regular At-Home Dental Hygiene Routine

Nose-to-chest view of man brushing teeth

You must also clean your mouth consistently at home to avoid cavities and gum disease that progressively worsen the longer they remain unaddressed. The ADA suggests brushing for a full two minutes both morning and night, followed by flossing to remove stubborn plaque and bacteria.

This freshens your breath and keeps your grin healthy to reduce the likelihood of experiencing an emergency.

Eat A Wholesome Diet

Woman with curly hair eating fruit at countertop

Did you know that your dietary decisions significantly impact your oral health? For example, eating too many sugary foods attracts bacteria that cause problems, and overly acidic ingredients can erode your enamel prematurely.

Meanwhile, filling up on dairy products that contain calcium can strengthen teeth and bones, and many citrus fruits and leafy greens have high vitamin C content to support your connective tissues.

Safeguard Your Smile

Clear nightguard in blue carrier case

Athletes and others who participate in close-contact sports or activities are prone to sustaining injuries that can damage or dislodge their teeth. Also, many patients subconsciously grind their teeth at night due to a condition known as bruxism, which can wear their teeth down prematurely or cause chips, cracks, or fractures.

Dr. Vo can provide a customized nightguard or mouthguard to create a layer of cushion that protect your teeth from the force of constantly clenching or being knocked in the face.  

Try Not To Use Your Teeth As Tools

Man in beige clothes on couch opening box

Have you ever opened a letter of plastic packaging with your teeth? This seems like a quick and convenient solution, but it can cut your gums or harm your enamel, which doesn’t regenerate on its own.

Taking a few extra moments to locate the necessary tool for the job, like a pair of scissors, letter opener, or box cutter, can potentially save your smile!

Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Whether or not an emergency visit is required depends largely on the symptoms you’re experiencing. For example, if you feel a sharp, stabbing pain when you bite down or there is a pimple-like bump on your gums, we do recommend scheduling a same-day appointment.

How You Should Handle a Toothache Until your appointment at our Grand Prairie dental office, we recommend doing what you can to protect your tooth from further harm, like not chewing on that side of your mouth. You can also take OTC pain medication to alleviate soreness, sensitivity, and inflammation in the short term (just make sure to follow the directions on the label).

How We Treat Toothaches In order to determine the answer, we need to complete a comprehensive visual exam and take the necessary X-rays. From there, we can determine what’s causing your discomfort as well as the best way to address it. Sometimes, the answer is a tooth-colored filling. Other times, a root canal is needed.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Even if the chip is relatively minor and you aren’t in pain, we recommend calling us to schedule an appointment. After all, the tooth could be at risk of breaking or developing an infection, and we want to intervene before either happens.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth There are a few steps we recommend taking, starting with rinsing your mouth with clean, room-temperature water and putting any broken pieces of your tooth in a small container for safekeeping. It’s also a good idea to place some dental wax or sugar-free gum over the broken edge to protect your tongue, lips, and the insides of your cheeks.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth There are several ways we can restore the missing structure, including with dental bonding or a custom veneer. Ultimately, the treatment that’s best for you will depend on a few factors, including the size of the chip and your budget.

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes. In fact, even if the damage isn’t visible, but you’re dealing with considerable sensitivity or discomfort, we recommend scheduling an appointment with our emergency dentist in Grand Prairie, Dr. Anh Vo.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth It’s of the utmost importance that you do what you can to protect your tooth from further harm, like avoiding crunchy foods, not chewing on that side of your mouth, and rinsing with clean, room-temperature water periodically.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth First, Dr. Anh Vo needs to determine if your tooth can be saved. If it can’t, then he will numb your mouth, extract the tooth, and fill the open space with a dental bridge or implant. In short, even if the damage is severe, you don’t have to worry – he can restore your complete, healthy, and confident smile.

Very Sensitive Teeth

Knocked-Out Tooth

Lost Filling or Crown

Broken Denture

Loose Permanent Tooth

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Jaw Pain

Something Stuck Between the Teeth