Emergency Dental Appointments
Same-Day Dental Treatment in Harker Heights, Texas
When you have a dental emergency, from swelling to a broken tooth, Knights Family Dentistry can provide the relief you need, when you need it. We offer same-day appointments to all of our patients, from kids to seniors. We’ll do our best to make your visit stress-free, and we use state-of-the-art equipment to offer the latest in dental technology and treatments, in a relaxing, family-friendly environment.
How to Get an Emergency Appointment
If you are in pain or have experienced an injury, you need help right away. We provide emergency dental services, so please don’t hesitate to call us, and we’ll do our best to see you on the same day.
Seeking help at the ER may not lead to the best outcome, as you may have to wait longer than you’d want to and may not be able to see the specialist you need right away. We provide specialized care to address your dental needs, and we’ll diagnose you and devise a comprehensive treatment plan that suits you best.
How to Determine If You Need Emergency Dental Care
If you experience any symptoms, including pain, that involve any area of your mouth and jaw (including teeth, gums, and tongue), you should see an emergency dentist. If you recognize any of these conditions as the ones you’re currently experiencing, please contact us as soon as possible:
- Severe pain. Significant pain in any part of your mouth should be taken seriously, especially if it doesn’t subside within 30 minutes or so. You can try rinsing your mouth with saltwater, taking an anti-inflammatory medication, or applying an ice pack. If none of these first-aid measures relieves the pain, please see an emergency dentist.
- Tooth trauma. If your tooth is damaged — for example, it’s loose, out of socket, or is broken off — you need to act quickly to save the nerve and the tooth.
- Significant bleeding of mouth or gum. A little bleeding doesn’t constitute an emergency, but if the bleeding doesn’t stop you should head to the emergency dentist.
- Abscess and pus. If you see any swelling or pus drainage that indicates an abscess, it can indicate the presence of a bacterial infection, which must be addressed quickly. We can prescribe antibiotics and schedule any necessary followup appointments to address the issue.
- Swelling of face, gums, and jaw. If you find that your face, gums, or jaw are swollen and hard to move, it may mean that you have an infection. Contact us immediately so we can treat you right away, before the infection spreads.
If Your Child Knocks Out a Permanent Tooth
During a child’s formative years “baby teeth” fall out, and it’s normal. By the time the child is 13, permanent teeth are usually grown in their place.
Unfortunately, accidents and injuries happen, and your child could lose a permanent tooth. When that happens, you need to address it promptly, to prevent an imminent infection as well as teeth crowding in the future (also called malocclusion). Here’s what you should do:
- Hold on to the tooth. Try putting the tooth back into its socket in your child’s mouth. If that’s not possible, and without touching the root, put it in a saline solution or milk before you can get to the dentist. Don’t clean it or wash it.
- Get to the dentist within an hour. The sooner you see the emergency dentist, the better. We’ll inspect your child’s mouth and the tooth’s socket for damage to the gums and nerves.
- Discuss your options with us. We’ll discuss the best course of action with you and make every effort to save the tooth. If the tooth cannot be saved, we can offer space maintainers, an implant, or a bridge, which can prevent adult teeth coming in crowded and crooked, and potentially avoid braces in your child’s future.
If You Chipped a Tooth
Teeth can chip or crack in several ways. We’re not talking about the tiny cracks in your adult teeth called craze lines; those are common and usually don’t cause pain. Here’s what you should know about chipped and cracked teeth:
- A fractured cusp typically occurs around fillings when the chewing surface of your tooth breaks off. It’s usually painless and is treated by placing a crown and/or replacing a filling.
- A cracked tooth is considered treatable until the crack reaches the gum. We’ll usually suggest a root canal and a crown as treatment options. If the crack spreads toward the root and reaches the gum line, the tooth would have to be replaced.
- When the crack is neglected and becomes a split, the tooth cannot be saved as a whole, but its parts could be.
- When the crack begins at the root and goes upward, it’s called a vertical root fracture. They’re more difficult to notice than other types of cracks and often require an extraction.
- To fix a chipped or cracked tooth, we would usually offer dental bonding, veneers, crowns, root canals, and implants.
Ready to Book an Appointment?
If you’re ready to schedule an appointment or have questions concerning a dental emergency, call us at (254) 863-8003 or use our simple online contact form.