Emergency Dentist — Owasso, OK

Every Dental Emergency is Different

Despite what you may have heard, dental emergencies are relatively inexpensive. During your visit, your emergency dentist in Owasso will perform a thorough examination to determine the cause of the problem. Depending on the necessary treatment, we’ll provide you with a customized estimate. Although every treatment plan is unique, the most common solutions for dental emergencies include:

• Root canal therapy
• Tooth extractions
• Dental crowns
• TMJ treatment
• And more!

After creating a treatment plan, we will explain the fees associated with it. We will help you understand exactly what you’ll need to pay, so there aren’t any unexpected surprises.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Every insurance policy is unique, but many dental plans can be used to help offset the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket for certain steps in your treatment. In some cases, your policy can cover the entire cost of an emergency exam. Often, dental benefits can be used to pay as much as 80% of the cost of restorative treatments after reaching your annual deductible. A member of our team will work with you to maximize your yearly benefits to lower the amount you need to pay.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Besides using your dental insurance, our office also offers many payment options to cover any remaining balance, such as:

• In-House Membership Plan:  If you don’t have insurance, we offer an in-house membership plan to keep common treatments affordable.
• Financing:  We accept third-party financing with CareCredit. You are given the funds you need to pay for your treatment, which you’ll repay using a plan that fits your budget.

If you have a dental emergency, don’t wait.  Contact our office  today to get the quick care you need to save your smile, so you can get back to focusing on more important matters.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

You can’t fully avoid a dental emergency, but there are several things you can do to lower your risk of one. A proactive approach to your oral hygiene can save you thousands of dollars down the road. Besides caring for your teeth and gums at home, don’t forget to visit your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. We can detect issues while they are still small to prevent them from turning into a bigger problem.

If we find a concern during your routine visit, don’t wait to have it treated. Without prompt intervention, a small issue can turn into a massive headache that may require a more expensive and invasive treatment to correct.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Routine visits to your dentist aren’t just for cleanings. These appointments also allow us to take care of small problems early on – long before they turn into emergencies. Plus, we can routinely scan for non-dental issues as well, such as oral cancer. So, if it’s been longer than six months since your last visit, don’t wait any longer. Schedule an appointment with our Owasso dentist today!

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Implementing a solid dental care routine will help keep your enamel healthy, your teeth strong, and your gums infection-free. So, do your best to brush twice a day, floss each evening, and rinse with mouthwash regularly. To avoid cracks, fractures, and other dental injuries, it’s important to also avoid biting down on ice, your fingernails, pens, pencils, and other hard objects.

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

Simply put, a nutritious diet will help keep your teeth healthy from the inside out! Adding fresh fruit, cooked vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats to your plate is a great way to fill your diet with nutrients while also keeping added sugars to a minimum. Of course, you don’t have to completely eliminate sugar for the sake of your smile, but it is important to keep your consumption to a minimum to help prevent cavities.

Wear a Mouthguard

Mouthguards serve two important purposes: they can protect your teeth from sports-related accidents and nighttime grinding. So, if you participate in sports or have Bruxism, then ask us for a protective mouthguard! We will custom-make one just for you, ensuring it fits securely and is the appropriate thickness.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Your teeth may be sharp, but they aren’t designed to withstand the pressure that comes with opening a package or bottle cap. That’s why it’s of the utmost importance that you use the appropriate tool to open packages and bottles; never use your teeth. While it may seem like a bit of a chore having to locate the scissors or bottle cap opener, it’s significantly more convenient than having to turn your day upside down to accommodate a last-minute visit to your emergency dentist’s office!

Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?

For dental emergencies, we typically recommend calling our dental office rather than heading straight to the emergency room. Unfortunately, most emergency rooms do not have a trained dental professional on-site, so they are unable to directly address dental problems. They might be able to temporarily relieve your pain, but only a dentist can get to the root of the issue.

There are only three main exceptions where it’s ideal to visit the ER first, which are:

• A dislocated or fractured jaw
• Severe, deep lacerations to the face or mouth
• Swelling due to infection that makes it difficult to breathe or swallow

For virtually all other dental emergencies, please call us as soon as you can.

Will my toothache go away on its own?

In general, toothaches do NOT go away on their own. The only notable exception would be if the pain is caused by something near the tooth but not the tooth itself, such as irritation in the surrounding gums. Sometimes, these “toothaches” fade on their own, but pain in the actual tooth usually indicates a problem that needs treatment right away. For this reason, it’s best to schedule an appointment with us just so that we can determine the cause of your toothache and minimize the risk of damage to your smile. 

Is my tooth pain from an infection?

If you’re experiencing throbbing pain or constant soreness in your tooth, an infection is likely to blame. Other signs that you may have a tooth infection include:

• A bitter taste in your mouth
• Chronic bad breath
• Extreme temperature sensitivity
• Loosening or shifting of the teeth
• Swollen or red gums
• A draining sore on the gums surrounding the hurting tooth

The only way to definitively know if your toothache is caused by an infection is to call an emergency dentist in Owasso. After taking X-rays and closely examining your mouth, we can provide a diagnosis.

Do chipped teeth heal?

Tooth enamel is actually the hardest material in the human body. However, it is technically inorganic, meaning that it does not have the ability to regenerate once it has been lost. No matter how minor or major, a chipped tooth will not grow back.

That said, you should still schedule an appointment with us if you chip your tooth, even if it doesn’t hurt. By administering treatment right away, we might be able to prevent the fracture from expanding and causing even more damage.

What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?

Most of the time, throbbing tooth pain is the result of either inflammation or an infection within the tooth. Since oral health problems like these will not get better without professional help, it’s important that you get in touch with our Owasso dental team sooner rather than later. That way, we can restore your pain-free smile and take proactive steps to prevent similar dental emergencies in the future, like having a custom mouthguard made to protect your teeth from nighttime grinding/clenching.

What if My Toothache Suddenly Disappears?

Initially, the sudden disappearance of your toothache may seem like a good thing. The reality is that this typically happens when an infection has progressed to the point where it “kills” the nerve. So, while your pain may be gone, the root of the problem is very much still present. In short, if your toothache suddenly disappears, don’t cancel your appointment; make getting the dental care you need a priority!

Is It Safe to Repair Dentures with Superglue?

No, it is not safe to repair dentures with superglue or any other household adhesive. Products like these contain toxins that should not be ingested, they can lead to allergic reactions, and they can affect the way food tastes. For similar reasons, we don’t recommend using DIY repair kits. Instead, contact us ASAP so we can get a better understanding of how severe the break is and, in turn, if your denture can be repaired at our office or if it needs to be replaced.

Are Swollen Gums an Emergency?

Swollen gums are often a warning sign that something is wrong. For that reason, it’s important to monitor your symptoms and contact us if they persist or get worse.

What If I Can’t Afford Emergency Dentistry?

Sometimes, patients cross their fingers in hopes that their abnormal dental symptoms will go away, saving them from an emergency visit. However, the more time that passes, the worse the root of the problem will get. That’s why it’s so important that you schedule an appointment with us when you first notice that something is wrong. At your appointment, we will provide you with an estimate of the cost and review the financial solutions we welcome, like dental insurance. That way, you aren’t left wondering about the price and you don’t have to stress about finding a way to fit it into your monthly budget.

Is a Cavity a Dental Emergency?

Since cavities typically start out small and become more severe with time, it’s important not to wait too long to get the restorative dental care you need. Instead, schedule the treatment (or treatments) you need when we first bring the tooth decay to your attention. This ensures that we address the root of the problem before it has a chance to negatively impact the surrounding teeth and gums.

Note: If you are experiencing abnormal dental symptoms and simply expect that you have a cavity, get in touch with us to schedule an exam within the next couple of weeks.