Emergency Dentist – Baytown, TX 

Fast Care to Save Your Smile

Woman in pain before emergency dentistry

If you sustain an injury to the mouth, develop a severe toothache, or break or lose a tooth, don’t wait to seek out emergency dental care. The sooner you receive treatment, the less likely you are to experience potentially serious complications. At Baytown Gentle Dental, we offer same-day emergency dentistry appointments to get your smile back on track after damage. Please call us as quickly as you can, so our trusted emergency dentist in Baytown, TX can repair your pearly whites!

 

Why Choose Baytown Gentle Dental for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Dental Emergency Visits
  • Dental Insurance Welcome & Additional Financing Available
  • We See Patients of All Ages

 

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Woman in pain during emergency dentistry visit

It’s all too easy to panic when you’re dealing with a dental emergency, but we encourage you to take deep breaths and try to stay calm! Keeping a level head will help you act quickly, which is crucial in preventing your situation from getting worse. Follow these steps if you or a loved one is experiencing a dental emergency:

 

  1. Call our dental office – Give us a call as soon as you can so that we can schedule an emergency appointment for you, which we’re usually able to do that same day. Over the phone, one of our team members can walk you through basic first-aid tips for managing your symptoms until you can get to us.
  2. Have an emergency exam – Once you arrive, Dr. Seif will see you right away. He’ll closely examine the area of your mouth that is bothering you to pinpoint the source of the problem. He can also relieve any serious, immediate pain you may be in.
  3. Get the care you need – Following the exam, Dr. Seif will review his findings with you and explain your treatment options. Together, you’ll work out a plan for restoring your healthy, pain-free smile.

 

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

When it comes to out-of-the-ordinary dental symptoms, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. So, if there’s even a slight chance that your problem might be a dental emergency, we ask that you call us just to be safe. Definitely reach out to us if you find yourself with one of the following common dental emergencies.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Perosn brushing teeth

Far too often, patients avoid seeking emergency dental care because they worry it will be unaffordable. That is not the case at Baytown Gentle Dental since we accept most dental insurance and offer flexible financing. Plus, a dental emergency will only worsen the longer it goes untreated. Seeing us right away allows us to address the issue in the most cost-effective manner possible. We’ll review your treatment recommendations and discuss your options for comfortably fitting the cost of your care into your budget.

 

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Man in pain discussing emergency dentistry with dentist

Not all dental emergencies can be avoided, but taking a few simple steps can minimize your risk. These steps include:

  • Always wearing a mouthguard whenever you play sports or do something active.
  • Brushing and flossing your teeth every single day.
  • Visiting our dental office for two checkups a year so that Dr. Seif can detect and treat problems before they turn into emergencies.
  • Not using your teeth to open bottles or tear tags off of clothing.

 

More to Explore

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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Toothaches can occur due to various reasons, ranging from minor issues like a small cavity to more serious conditions such as an infection. While some discomfort may go away on its own, intense or persistent pain could indicate a more urgent problem. If your toothache worsens or becomes severe, reach out to us immediately for assistance.

How you should handle a toothache: Begin by gently flossing and rinsing to clear out any debris. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease discomfort, and applying a cold compress in 10-minute intervals may reduce swelling. Avoid chewing on the affected side until you’re evaluated by our team.

How we treat toothaches: Once we assess the underlying cause, we’ll recommend the most effective solution to relieve your pain and protect your oral health. Common treatments include fillings, crowns, nightguards for bruxism, and tooth extractions. Your care will be tailored to your unique needs.

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Generally, a chipped tooth isn’t an urgent emergency, but it’s still important to seek treatment soon. Waiting too long can lead to additional damage or increase the risk of infection.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Apply gentle pressure with gauze to stop any bleeding. If possible, collect any broken fragments and bring them with you. To prevent irritation from sharp edges, cover the area with dental wax or sugarless gum.

How we treat chipped teeth: In many cases, we use a natural-looking composite resin to restore the shape and function of the tooth. For more visible chips, a veneer may offer a more durable and cosmetic solution.

Learn More About Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Yes! Even small cracks can expose the inner layers of your tooth to bacteria, leading to infections or further damage. Not all cracks are visible, so if you experience sensitivity or pain after an injury, don’t ignore it.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Rinse your mouth with water to keep the area clean. If there’s swelling or discomfort, a cold compress and OTC pain relievers can provide relief. Avoid eating on the affected side and, if needed, protect the tooth with dental wax or sugarless gum.

How we treat cracked teeth: Treatment depends on the severity of the crack. Minor damage can often be repaired with dental resin, while more significant cracks may require a custom dental crown. If the tooth is fractured beyond repair, an extraction may be necessary. In such cases, we’ll discuss replacement options (like dental implants) to restore your smile.

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Not usually. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, if there is a pimple-like bump on your gums, a weird taste in your mouth, and one or more of your teeth feel sensitive, you should schedule an emergency appointment right away.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth Naturally, you should avoid doing anything that has the potential to exacerbate your symptoms, like drinking hot coffee. Instead, you should schedule an appointment with us and switch to a desensitizing toothpaste to see if that helps in the meantime.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth Dental sensitivity could be the result of a small cavity, a significant infection, or something else entirely. That’s why we need to conduct a comprehensive oral exam! Then, we can share our findings, review your treatment options, and share our recommendations.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? If you knock out one of your teeth, you should call Dr. Ashraf Seif ASAP to schedule an appointment (ideally within the hour).

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth In addition to calling our Baytown emergency dentist, we recommend doing what you can to protect your tooth. That starts with using clean water to gently rinse it and extends to placing it back in the socket (or in a container filled with milk, if that doesn’t work).

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth Our goal is to save your tooth – always. Unfortunately, there are some cases where that’s not possible, like if it was lost. The good news is that we can replace it with a custom dental implant, ensuring that you don’t have a noticeable gap in your smile moving forward.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? We do recommend coming to our office the same day if you can. If you can’t, don’t stress – we can provide you with helpful instructions over the phone regarding what to do in the meantime.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown Putting your restoration in a small, clean container for safekeeping is an important first step. Outside of that, do what you can to protect your tooth, like rinsing periodically with clean, room-temperature water and not chewing on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns In both cases, we can provide you with a new restoration. If your dental crown came out, but you have it and it’s in good condition, then we may recommend re-cementing it back in place instead. Ultimately, how we restore the look, health, and function of your tooth depends on your unique situation.

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency?

Continuing to wear broken dentures can lead to injuries of your gums and soft tissues, extra wear on your remaining natural teeth, and unnecessary strain on your jaws. Contact the team at Baytown Gentle Dental as soon as possible if the base or artificial teeth of your denture have been damaged.

How to handle a broken denture:

Wearing a broken denture can cause oral injuries or damage the appliance further, so stop using your device and schedule an appointment at our office when you notice damage. Never attempt to fix your dentures yourself, as you may introduce toxic substances such as superglue to your mouth.

How we treat broken dentures:

We may be able to fix your broken denture if the damage isn’t too severe. We can sometimes repair chips or cracks with composite resin or readjust the appliance so it fits properly. However, we will need to replace your restoration if it cannot be saved. If your denture is beyond repair, it may be a great opportunity to consider upgrading to dental implants.

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency?

A loose permanent tooth is at immediate risk of falling out and being lost permanently. Contact our office if you notice that your tooth is wiggling about in your gum tissue.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth:

Avoid probing at the troubled tooth with your tongue or fingers and take special care to chew on the opposite side of your mouth. We don’t recommend brushing or flossing at this time, but you can clean your mouth by rinsing with a solution of a quarter teaspoon of salt and eight ounces of warm water.

How we treat loose permanent teeth:

We can treat a loose tooth or dental implant to encourage it to reintegrate with the bone and gum tissues. However, we may need to extract your tooth if it cannot be saved.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy

Learn More About Sports Mouthguards

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency?

Injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue can be startling, but we may be able to address the wound if the bleeding isn’t severe. Contact our office to discuss your symptoms and learn what to do next.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue:

Begin by gently cleaning the cut with water to remove debris. Then, apply pressure through a clean washcloth or gauze until the bleeding stops. You can also address swelling and discomfort with a cold compress.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue:

If the wound is small enough, we can probably stitch it shut and provide you with instructions for keeping it clean while it heals. However, head to the ER if the bleeding does not stop after ten minutes of applied pressure.

Learn More About Sports Mouthguards

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency?

Jaw pain isn’t usually a dental emergency if it is mild or only lasts for a short while. However, contact our office if the pain becomes chronic or unbearable.

How you should handle jaw pain:

We’ll be happy to provide guidance for managing the issue over the phone before your appointment. We may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers or using an ice pack to address discomfort and swelling. However, go to the ER if you believe your jaw is broken or dislocated.

How we treat jaw pain:

If your pain is caused by grinding your teeth in your sleep, we may recommend a customized nightguard that can reduce the pressure this puts on your jaws and smile. If the problem is the result of your wisdom teeth emerging, we may recommend having them extracted.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Learn More About Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Having something stuck between your teeth is rarely a dental emergency. If the offending bit of debris cannot be dislodged by swishing water through your teeth or a thorough brushing and flossing session, contact our office for help. Dr. Seif is trained and equipped to gently and safely remove stubborn objects between teeth in his office. Never attempt to remove an object stuck in your teeth with a sharp object such as tweezers or a toothpick.