Emergency Dental Services in Houston, Texas

When dental emergencies occur, people are often unprepared and anxious because they have not thought ahead about what to do. This need not always be the case, though. Contact our dental office immediately at 832-804-7427 if you're having a dental emergency. Follow the instructions and consult a dentist if you experience any of the following dental issues.

Are You Experiencing Oral Pain?

When you experience discomfort in your mouth, it could mean that something is wrong. If you're having tooth discomfort, please read the steps below and then make an appointment with your dentist right away.

1. Follow the dosing instructions printed on the Tylenol bottle or box.
2. Don't panic if your mouth is bleeding. Aspirin and ibuprofen should not be taken (Advil, Motrin, or Aleve). Some medications may cause more severe bleeding because they thin the blood.
3. Every hour, for up to 20 minutes, apply ice to the painful area.
4. It's important to see a dentist right once if you've hurt your teeth or gums, as this can lead to infections and other issues.
5. If you need immediate medical attention and you think it might save your life, dial 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Are You Experiencing Tooth Pain?

Rinse your mouth out with a little warm water to remove any debris. Carefully floss around the tooth to get rid of any food debris stuck in the crevices or under the gums. See the dentist immediately if the pain persists.

Are You Experiencing Pain Associated with Braces?

After having your braces or retainers changed, you may feel soreness for 24 hours or so. You can try rinsing your mouth out with warm salt water or taking some pain medicine, as suggested on the label.

If you're a braces user and you've ever had any of these little issues arise, here's how to fix them.

• While it's common to find food stuck in your teeth, this isn't a true dental emergency. Try using a toothpick, an interproximal brush, or dental floss with a knot in the middle to loosen the food.
• If you or someone you know has accidentally inhaled a piece of home equipment, you should get medical attention right once.
• If you or your child swallows a piece of their appliance, please contact your dentist or orthodontist immediately.
• A protruding wire necessitates a visit to the orthodontist, who should be contacted immediately. You can flatten the wire against the tooth with a Q-tip or an eraser. Wrap some dental wax around the wire if you can't reposition it (available over the counter at your pharmacy).
• If you lose a bracket because you were hit in the face, give your orthodontist a call and make an appointment to discuss your options. Try to reposition the loose bracket on the wire if it has turned and become protruding. Use dental wax to restrict the mobility of your braces (available over the counter at your pharmacy).
• If you lose a wire or ligature and find it, the rubber ligature can be replaced with sterile tweezers. If not, you may want to consult your orthodontist.
• New braces might cause ulcers in your mouth; a topical anesthetic can help (available over-the-counter at your pharmacy). Use acetaminophen for pain as suggested on the label.

Are You Experiencing Swelling or Abscess?

See the dentist immediately if you have any discomfort or swelling in your gums. An abscess or infection in the root of a tooth or the surrounding gum tissue can cause discomfort and swelling. Yet, there are a variety of causes for swollen, sore, or abscessed gums. A comprehensive dental exam is the only approach to determine the root of the problem.

If the abscess breaks, the enlarged or painful area may suddenly fill with pus, which has a strong odor and unpleasant taste. Warm water should be used to rinse the mouth right away.

Do You Have a Chipped or Broken Tooth?

Only a dentist can tell you for sure if it is possible to repair the parts of a chipped or fractured tooth. Immediately after reading this, make an appointment with a dentist. Don't forget to bring the parts back with you.

• Warm water rinsing and gauze application should clear the mouth. When applying pressure, be sure to apply it firmly. Find the missing or damaged tooth fragments as soon as possible.
• When the bleeding stops, you should use a cold compress to reduce swelling. If, after applying steady, hard pressure for ten minutes, bleeding persists, you should visit a dentist or the emergency department.

• Save the tooth fragments and a warm water rinse for later.
• Cover the pieces with milk, water with a grain of salt, or the injured person's spit and place them in a small container.

Have You Experienced Tooth Loss?

A Child’s Baby Tooth

Please contact your dentist immediately. Generally speaking, we cannot reimplant a baby tooth if it has been knocked out of the mouth entirely. If this occurs, the permanent tooth that eventually replaces it will do so without any intervention from the youngster.

A Permanent Tooth

Only a dentist can tell you for sure if the tooth you knocked out can be reimplanted within the first hour or so after the accident. Immediately after reading this, make an appointment with a dentist. Don't forget to bring your tooth protector with you.

• Warm water rinsing and gauze application should clear the mouth. When applying pressure, be sure to apply it firmly. Find the missing or damaged tooth fragments as soon as possible.
• When the bleeding stops, you should use a cold compress to reduce swelling. If, after applying steady, hard pressure for ten minutes, bleeding persists, you should visit a dentist or the emergency department.

• Save the tooth fragments and a warm water rinse for later.
• Cover the pieces with milk, water with a grain of salt, or the injured person's spit and place them in a small container.
• Use warm water to rinse the wound, then cover it with gauze. When applying pressure, be sure to apply it firmly. Find the missing or damaged tooth fragments as soon as possible.
• When the bleeding stops, you should use a cold compress to reduce swelling. If, after applying steady, hard pressure for ten minutes, bleeding persists, you should visit a dentist or the emergency department.
• Cover the tooth with milk, water with a grain of salt, or the wounded person's saliva and place it in a tiny container.

Have You Lost a Filling or Crown?

When a filling or crown is lost, the exposed tooth structure might become sensitive to air, which can cause pain. Clove oil, which is sold without a prescription at most drugstores and grocery stores, can help alleviate the pain. A cotton swab dipped in clove oil can be placed on the exposed tooth.

You can try placing an ice pack on your face over the painful spot to see if that helps. However, you should visit the dentist as soon as possible to get the crown or filling replaced. This prevents the cavity from becoming infected.

Filling

Keep the filling in a safe place until your next dentist appointment. Put some tooth wax or dental cement in the space between your teeth to alleviate pain (available over the counter at your pharmacy). Do not put super glue or any other household adhesive in your mouth.

Crown

If you have found your crown, you can replace it until you can get to the dentist. Remove any debris from the inside of your crown by gently brushing it. Protect your tooth by applying denture glue, dental cement, or toothpaste to the interior of your crown and replacing it.

Have You Bitten Your Tongue or Lip?

If the cut is less than a quarter of an inch, it will probably close on its own. To reduce swelling, gently clean the wound with gauze or a cloth and then apply a cold compress, ice pack, or small bag of frozen fruit or vegetables. If the cut is more than 1/4 inch deep, or if bleeding continues after ten minutes of cold treatment, however, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Have You Burned the Roof of Your Mouth?

The roof of your mouth can get burned if you eat something too hot, like pizza or soup. In most cases, the skin breakdown that causes blisters and sores to heal on its own. See a dentist if they haven't healed in 10 days.

In the interim, rinse with warm salt water after each meal (1/8 teaspoon in 8 ounces of water) to prevent a buildup of food particles and bacteria. Use a local or oral anesthetic if you require pain relief (found over the counter at your pharmacy). Acetaminophen can also be taken as indicated on the bottle.

Contact Our Dental Team Today

Do not delay if you are in immediate need of dental care. Get in touch with one of our helpful dental receptionists by dialing 832-804-7427 or by filling out our online form.