Category Archives: Emergency Dentist

Can I find an affordable dentist to fix my cracked tooth?

I think my tooth is cracked and I need to find an affordable dentist to fix it. I really can’t see a crack though. I had a heavy blow to my face and I know it hit my tooth. Is this something that will heal on its own or do I need to see a dentist. If it needs to be fixed, how bad will it hurt? Thanks Ian

Ian – If you had trauma to your face and teeth, you may have a cracked tooth. It is important that you quickly find an affordable dentist to examine your tooth.

Some of the symptoms that may indicate your tooth is cracked are pain when you bite or chew, or when the tooth is exposed to heat or cold. You may feel varying levels of pain that come and go.

The inside of your tooth contains soft tissue, or pulp. Pulp contains blood vessels and nerves. A tooth that is cracked is not stable, and causes irritation in the pulp. If it’s left untreated, the pulp can become damaged. Pressure on the tooth when chewing can be painful, and the tooth can be sensitive to extreme changes in temperature. When you find a dentist who can make treatment affordable for you, he or she will treat the tooth based on its condition.

The treatment for your tooth depends on the nature, location, and extent of the crack.

  • Cusp fracture – If the cusp, or biting surface, of your tooth is fractured, it usually doesn’t cause much pain. Your tooth can be protected with a dental crown.
  • Cracked tooth – If the crack in your tooth extends into the root, it will affect the pulp inside your tooth. The crack can gradually spread. The pulp in your tooth will require a root canal treatment to prevent an infection. Cracks that extend below the gumline will likely require the tooth to be extracted. Early treatment is important to prevent the problem from getting worse.
  • Split tooth – A tooth that has been split and segmented cannot be saved intact. The extent of the crack will determine if any portion of the tooth can be saved. Again, prompt treatment is needed to preserve as much of the tooth as possible.
  • Vertical root fracture – This fracture begins at the tooth root and extends toward the biting surface. The surrounding bone and gum may become infected. At times, the fractured portion of the root can be removed to prevent tooth extraction.

Regardless of the treatment you need, your comfort can be maximized by a dentist who is not only affordable, but who also has gentle techniques. Let him or her know about your anxiety. A gentle dentist works hard to ensure that your treatment is pain free. If you are particularly anxious, sedation dentistry may be recommended to help you relax. It’s important that you see a dentist right away.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy. Call our office to find out how Dr. Lacy can make dental treatment affordable for you.  Dr. Lacy’s office is convenient to Addison, Allen, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Frisco, Garland, Highland Park, and Little Elm.

Will the emergency room pull my tooth?

My dentist is not gentle. Well he is really not still my dentist because I haven’t been there for 2 years. I have a bad, bad toothache and am wondering if I go to the emergency room if they will knock me out and pull my tooth. My thoughts are this is a better and faster way than trying to find a new dentist. Thanks Baron.

Baron – Emergency rooms are equipped to handle all sorts of medical emergencies. But they are not prepared to handle dental emergencies.

Emergency room staff are not trained to examine and assess the issues with your tooth. Dental x-ray equipment is not available, nor is a sterile environment for oral care. At best, you may be given pain reliever.

Your tooth may not need to be extracted. And if it can be preserved, it’s best to do so for your overall oral health. Missing teeth cause jawbone shrinkage and cause other teeth to shift. When your bite is misaligned, you incur additional problems.

If you choose not to return to your most recent dentist, you can search for a gentle dentist who accepts emergency appointments. The pain you’ve described indicates that your tooth is infected, so don’t delay getting the treatment. If you have dental anxiety, it can be addressed with mild anti-anxiety medication to help you relax during your appointment. Take a little time to find the right dentist for you.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

If I pull my own tooth what are some warning signs that something is going wrong?

So tomorrow night I am pulling my own tooth. I don’t want anybody to touch it but me. I have sterile tools that have never been used, peroxide and gauze. I have looked it up online on how to do this myself and I watched the videos several times. What I don’t see is how to know what is normal pain or bleeding vs. how to tell is something is really going wrong and I need to get some help. What should I pay attention to after I pull the tooth to be sure everything is going as it should? Thanks Kenny

Kenny – We will not provide any advice for extracting your own tooth. Although the tooth may be causing you a lot of pain, during the extraction, you can damage tooth nerves or nearby teeth and create even more problems.

Most people don’t realize that if a toothache is horrible, the tooth itself is infected. Even though you may extract the tooth, the infection may have spread into the gums or other teeth. You may need additional treatment.

It is unlikely that a dentist would need to extract an infected tooth. A gentle dentist will numb the area around your tooth, painlessly inject pain reliever, examine your tooth, and do a root canal treatment—which will also be pain free.

Please see a dentist right away. Avoid unnecessary pain and stress on your teeth and gums.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Urgent care for a cracked tooth

We received a gallon bucket full of pecans in the shell from a friend. Yes, we do have a nutcracker, but for some reason my husband decided to open the shells with his teeth. One of his teeth cracked. I heard it and he felt it. Our dentist is in Europe until January 4. If we go to the urgent care is this something they can temporarily bond? We saved the piece of the tooth that cracked off. Thanks janet

Janet – The urgent care is not the place to go for a cracked tooth. They don’t have the dental equipment needed to x-ray teeth or the materials to restore them.

You will be able to find a local dentist who accepts dental emergencies to examine and x-ray your husband’s tooth. Since tooth bonding is needed, we recommend a cosmetic dentist to provide the restoration. A cosmetic dentist knows how to use and manipulate composite bonding material so that it matches natural teeth.

You didn’t mention when the accident with your husband’s tooth happened, but he really needs to see a dentist right away.

A lingering toothache, a cracked or chipped tooth, a bleeding tooth,  a lost filling or crown, and various types of trauma to the teeth or tongue should be considered dental emergencies.

Although it may appear that the only damage is a cracked tooth, there may be other trauma to the tooth that is more easily and effectively treated if he sees a dentist right away.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX cosmetic dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Can you just take antibiotics for a toothache?

We get this question from time to time – people have a toothache and they want to avoid the root canal treatment but still save the tooth. It sounds logical – the tooth is infected, so just take antibiotics.

The problem with this approach is that the source of the infection is dead tissue inside the tooth. Since there is no blood circulation there, the antibiotics can’t reach the source, so they can never fully heal the infection. What they will do, instead, is kill off some of the bacteria, leaving some that tend to be antibiotic-resistant. When the infection comes back, as it always does, it will be more virulent than before since you have helped cultivate antibiotic-resistant strains of the infection.

For dental emergencies in Plano, Drs. Lacy and Macalik will see new patient emergencies the day you call. If you’re in pain, call, and we’ll get you in today.

My toothache is giving me earaches and headaches

My toothache is so terrible I’m getting earaches, headaches and now the teeth next to it are hurting. Is there anything I can do to decrease the pain? I feel like lying on my floor and crying. It hurts all day it is realy bad at night. –  Brenda

Brenda – Your tooth is no doubt infected. And from your description, it’s a serious tooth infection. You need to see your dentist or an emergency dentist immediately.

The dentist will relieve your pain and stop the infection from spreading. Call now. A dentist who accepts emergency patients will get you into the office before closing today.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

I’ve had a toothache for a few days

I’ve had a toothache for a few days and I am wondering what I can do. Thanks for your help. – Rob

Rob – At times, a toothache is caused by food that is trapped between the teeth, or between the teeth and gums. If food is trapped, thoroughly flossing may release it and relieve your toothache.

A toothache is often a sign of a tooth infection. If the pulp of your tooth is infected, it will need to be cleaned out with a root canal treatment. An infected tooth should not go untreated. The infection will continue to spread. It can spread into the bone and into your bloodstream.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist to determine the cause of your toothache, along with the appropriate treatment for it.

This post is courtesy of Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.