Emergency Dentist – Houston, TX
Stop Dental Pain in Its Tracks
When we talk about dental emergencies, they generally fall into two distinct categories. This includes long-term problems that lead to tooth pain (such as decay or oral infections) and physical trauma that left a tooth cracked, fractured, or completely knocked out. Regardless of the type of dental emergency you’re experiencing, Dr. Alani can get you out of pain and on a treatment plan that treats the source of your emergency, rather than simply putting a bandage on it. Call our dental office and we’ll do everything we can to get you seen right away by our skilled emergency dentist in Houston!
Why Choose Terri Alani, DDS for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
- Dentist with 30+ Years of Experience
- Dental Insurance Welcome and Financing Available
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
When you call our office with a dental emergency, a staff member will schedule you for an appointment to see you the same day.
As soon as you arrive, we’ll perform an exam so we can determine exactly what the problem is, and based on our findings, we’ll propose a treatment plan. We’ll go over all the numbers like the cost and expected timeline so that you can make a confident decision.
Once you and our team agree on a plan, we’ll get to work right away stopping your pain and saving your smile.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
While dental emergencies must be handled by a dentist, there are ways you can improve your circumstances until you get to our office. The moment you notice something is wrong, either with your teeth, gums, or another part of your mouth, call our office to schedule an appointment. We’ll do what we can to see you the same day. In the meantime, here’s what you should do in the following emergencies.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
Dental emergencies are generally difficult to provide a price for until you’ve had a detailed exam. After all, no two situations are exactly the same! The good news is that we can share some helpful information here, including whether dental insurance providers usually cover a portion of the cost. So, if you’re interested in learning more on the topic, read on!
Every Dental Emergency is Different – Here’s Why
We mentioned above that no two situations are exactly the same. In order to determine the cost, Dr. Terri Alani needs to complete a comprehensive oral exam, determining the type of dental injury you’ve sustained and the severity of the damage in the process. From there, she can determine the best way to proceed. For example, a simple filling may be needed to handle a toothache, while a root canal may be needed to eliminate an infection. No matter what the case may be, you can have peace of mind knowing that we will discuss the cost upfront to prevent unpleasant surprises down the line.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Fortunately, dental insurance providers often cover between 50% and 80% of the cost of essential restorative care, like fillings, crowns, and root canals. So, if you are insured, you should read through the fine print on your plan to familiarize yourself with your benefits. You can also provide us with your membership information since we accept most dental insurance plans. From there, we can discuss your coverage in-depth, answer any questions you have, and process your claim!
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Don’t have dental insurance? Don’t let that stop you from getting the dental care that you need! After all, there’s another way you can make the cost of emergency dentistry in Houston more affordable: CareCredit! This trusted third-party financier offers flexible payment plans (and some even have little-to-no interest attached). As a result, you can break up the cost of your treatment plan into smaller chunks that fit comfortably into your monthly budget.
How Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Simply put, no matter the price of your emergency dental treatment, waiting to receive care only increases the risk of your dental emergency worsening. For that reason, we strongly advise against taking the “wait and see” approach. Instead, you should give us a call when you first suspect that something is wrong.
It’s also important that we mention here that many common dental problems are largely preventable, including tooth decay and gum disease. So, if you want to reduce your risk of needing same-day care, you need to incorporate healthy habits into your daily routine, starting with brushing each morning and extending to flossing each night before you go to bed.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Although some dental emergencies are caused by circumstances beyond your control, many others result from common concerns, such as cavities and gum disease, which are preventable.
Dental issues typically worsen over time, resulting in more complex and costly procedures to repair the damage. That means you can protect your smile and your budget by preventing dental problems in the first place. Continue reading to learn more about what you can do to avoid urgent issues.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
It’s easy to assume your mouth must be clean and healthy if you haven’t noticed anything obvious, but dental concerns can start small and are often easy to miss in the early stages. That means you might not know you have a problem until it has already progressed.
Seeing Dr. Alani every 6 months for a routine checkup and cleaning lets her monitor your dental health so she can catch and treat any areas of concern, such as thinning enamel or swollen gums, before they become more severe.
Consistently Maintain Oral Hygiene At Home
Germs in your mouth can form plaque or tartar on your teeth and penetrate your gums to cause disease, damage, or decay, in between dental visits. You can help keep your mouth clean by implementing a twice-daily at-home dental hygiene routine.
Brushing and flossing every morning and evening removes bacteria and residue buildup that contribute to chronic bad breath (halitosis), cavities, and periodontal disease, to help preserve a stronger, healthier smile.
Eat Wholesome Foods
Eating too many acidic foods can erode your enamel, increasing the likelihood of injuries or other damage, and sugary ingredients attract bacteria that cause disease and decay. Reducing your intake can be a simple, effective way to protect your grin.
You can also support your smile by incorporating more dairy, which contains calcium for strong teeth and bones, or leafy greens and citrus fruits, which are often high in vitamin C and support your connective tissues, into your daily diet.
Wear a Mouthguard
Athletes and others who participate in team sports or high-contact activities are prone to sustaining injuries that might break, destabilize, or dislodge one or more teeth or restorations. You might also injure your enamel if you suffer from bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding.
Thankfully, wearing a custom-fitted oral appliance, such as a mouthguard or nightguard, can cushion your arches and help prevent harm.
Try to Avoid Using Teeth as Tools
If you’re struggling to open a package, bottle, or piece of mail, you might feel tempted to try to pry it open with your teeth. Unfortunately, this can chip or crack your enamel or cut the tender tissues inside your mouth.
You can avoid this by taking a few moments to locate a more appropriate tool for the job, such as a pair of scissors or a bottle opener.