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Emergency Dentist — Arlington, TX

We Are There When You Need Us Most!

patient smiling while visiting emergency dentist in Arlington

Dental emergencies happen at the most inconvenient times and can feel scary or stressful. The good news is that your emergency dentist in Arlington is ready to help. Most dental emergencies fall under one of two categories: long-term issues (which are toothaches or infections that occur over time due to improper oral care) or sudden physical accidents (unexpected injuries that occur due to trauma). Luckily, Dr. Stephen Wardlaw and his team are well equipped to handle both types of situations. If you need emergency care, don’t hesitate to contact our office for assistance !

Why Choose I-20 Family Dental for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Advanced Dental Technology
  • Skilled Dentist with 10+ Years of Experience
  • Dental Insurance and Flexible Financing Available

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

young woman with dental emergency in Arlington

  • Call our office right away. If you ever find yourself facing a dental emergency in Arlington, you should contact our office as soon as possible. We’ll provide instructions to handle your situation over the phone and get you scheduled for an emergency appointment.
  • See Dr. Wardlaw for an emergency exam. He’ll evaluate your condition, assess the extent of the injury, and explain your treatment options.
  • Get the care you need. Wardlaw will create a custom treatment plan to get you the prompt relief you deserve. Before you know it, your smile will be back on the right track!

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

When you understand what is happening during a dental emergency and what you can do to handle it, the situation may not feel as stressful. Regardless, you should still give us a call if you’re feeling any type of oral pain or experiencing any of the issues listed below. After contacting us, here’s what you can do to handle your situation while you wait for your appointment with Dr. Wardlaw.  

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Smiling man in the dental chair

Just like every patient, each dental emergency is unique and could require treatment varying from a dental crown to root canal therapy. The best way to determine your needs is to visit Dr. Wardlaw for a low-cost emergency examination. He will let you know what the cost will be from there! Of course, if you want to learn more about the cost of emergency dentistry in the meantime, you’re welcome to read on as well.

Why Every Dental Emergency is Different

Dentist looking at patient's molar on X-ray

Since no two dental injuries are exactly the same, no two treatment plans are the same! After all, our number one goal is to address the root of the problem, and that looks a bit different depending on the issue at hand as well as the severity of the damage. That’s why Dr. Wardlaw always begins emergency visits with a thorough exam. He’ll review his findings with you, share your treatment options, provide you with an estimate of the price, and get to work on restoring your healthy smile!

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Dental insurance paperwork on laptop with coffee and notepad

From the emergency exam to the necessary restorative care, it’s certainly possible that your dental insurance provider will cover a portion of the cost. Since we are in-network with Guardian Dental Insurance, we can help patients maximize their coverage to the fullest. Plus, even if you have a different carrier, Kayla and Donetta can review the fine print on your plan, help you understand your coverage, and determine the best way to use any available benefits you have.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Smiling patient and dentist at checkup

If you don’t have dental insurance, don’t worry – that doesn’t mean that emergency dentistry will break the bank. In fact, our Arlington dental team is proud to welcome flexible financing with CareCredit to help prevent that from happening! This trusted third-party financier offers several payment plans, allowing you to break up the cost into smaller, budget-friendly chunks. As a result, you won’t have to stress about paying for the entire price of your treatment upfront.

Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Couple smiling while brushing their teeth at home

Fortunately, decay, infections, and several other common dental problems can be prevented with a solid preventive care routine in place. In other words, if you take good care of your smile, you can save money on dental bills! So, for the sake of your oral health and your wallet, be consistent about brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. Additionally, visit us biannually for a checkup and cleaning, avoid unhealthy dental habits, like chewing on ice, and wear a mouthguard when playing sports.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman brushing her teeth

Did you know that many long-term dental emergencies can actually be prevented? It’s true! That’s why we encourage each patient to adopt healthy habits, like visiting us twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. If you’re interested in learning more about our recommendations and how they can protect your smile from harm, keep reading.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Mature man smiling during dental checkup

At your biannual appointment, Dr. Wardlaw will examine your X-rays and conduct a thorough visual exam with the goal of detecting decay in its earliest stages. If we do, then we can restore your tooth with a simple dental filling instead of something more extensive, like a root canal or tooth extraction. So, if it’s been more than six months since your last visit or you’re experiencing abnormal dental symptoms, get in touch with us to schedule an appointment.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Smiling woman putting toothpaste on toothbrush

In addition to visiting us every six months for a checkup and cleaning, you need to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen at home to prevent dental emergencies. That includes brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing with mouthwash for 30-60 seconds each evening. Make sure that you’re using the proper tools as well, like a soft-bristled toothbrush, fluoridated toothpaste, and antimicrobial mouthwash.

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

Man eating salad at table with cup of tea

Eating a nutrient-dense diet is important when it comes to your oral and overall health. After all, your body needs essential vitamins and nutrients to keep your jawbone strong, your teeth healthy, and your gums infection-free. For that reason, we recommend incorporating fresh fruits, lean protein, and raw vegetables into your diet when possible. We also recommend keeping sugary and starchy foods to a minimum.

Wear a Mouthguard

Man putting yellow and black mouthguard in mouth

Dental concussions and knocked-out teeth are two common dental injuries, and they often happen during a sports-related accident. So, if you participate in sports (even a non-contact one), you should talk to Dr. Wardlaw about having a custom mouthguard made. He’ll ensure that it fits comfortably and is the appropriate thickness for your needs.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Smiling woman sitting in dental office

Remember, you should never use your teeth to remove a bottle cap, twist off the top of the mascara tube, open plastic wrapping, or anything similar. The pressure placed on your teeth can cause them to fracture, which can be painful to experience and costly to fix. That’s why we always remind our patients not to use their teeth as tools (that includes using them to trim their nails or bite into an ice cube).

Dental Emergency FAQ’s 

Tooth pain

Do you know how to recognize a dental emergency or what first steps you should take in a worst-case scenario? Dr. Wardlaw and the rest of his team are here to answer any questions you might have about emergency situations so that you can be prepared well in advance; it’s always better to be safe than sorry. To help you get started, below are the answers to some of the inquiries that we hear most often.

How Do I Know If I Have a Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies come in many forms and can have any number of underlying causes. In general, they usually involve pain, swelling, or discomfort that you’re unable to help by yourself. An injury to the tooth may or may not hurt, but it should typically be treated as an emergency either way. These issues rarely if ever resolve themselves or go away, and they usually become more severe if left alone. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms that you think might be signs of a dental emergency, call us right away.

Should I Call the Hospital?

Toothaches, knocked out teeth, broken teeth and similar oral health issues usually require urgent treatment, but it’s usually better to contact our office instead of an emergency room. Dr. Wardlaw has the tools and training needed to save your injured teeth and gums, and the cost will typically be lower than it would be at the emergency room.

However, there are situations where you should call the hospital instead. For example, a jaw fracture is very dangerous and could potentially be life-threatening; for severe injuries like this, you should get in touch with the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.

Can I Receive Sedation If I’m Feeling Anxious?

Some patients might be anxious about receiving dental care even if it’s needed, and an emergency situation often only heightens these feelings. To help such patients feel at ease, Dr. Wardlaw can offer dental sedation to help you stay comfortable while we treat your tooth. Nitrous oxide is often the right choice since it takes effect within minutes and can be adjusted throughout your visit; it also wears off quickly once the mask has been removed. Note that sedation can be used in other situations as well, such as when a local anesthetic doesn’t have a strong enough effect.