ServicesEmergency Dentistry
Emergency Dentistry in Hickory Creek, TX
A cracked tooth, a lost crown or a toothache that keeps you up at night needs a look soon. We find the cause, get you comfortable and lay out a clear treatment plan with costs, so a painful tooth doesn't turn into a bigger problem.
Urgent dental care, then a real plan
Most dental pain doesn't come out of nowhere. A small crack spreads, an old filling wears thin, or a cavity finally reaches the nerve. By the time it hurts, the tooth has been asking for attention for a while. We see patients with these problems at our office and work on the pain first.
Relief is the first step, not the last. Once you're comfortable, we show you what caused the trouble and what it takes to fix it for good. That might be a root canal, an extraction or a crown. You get each option with its cost, and time to decide.
We have over 10 years of experience in general and implant dentistry. That means we can tell you plainly when a tooth is worth saving and when it isn't.
What an urgent visit covers
Exam and digital X-rays
We look at the tooth that hurts and the teeth around it. Digital X-rays show cracks, decay and infection under the surface. If we need a 3D view of the bone or roots, we take a CBCT scan.
Pain relief
We numb the area and treat the source of the pain when we can. If there's an infection, we may drain it or prescribe medicine to calm it down before further treatment.
Temporary fixes
A lost filling gets a temporary one. A loose crown can often be cleaned and put back. Sharp, broken edges get smoothed so they stop cutting your tongue or cheek.
Treatment at that visit when it fits
If time allows and it's the right call, we may start a root canal or remove a tooth that can't be saved. If not, we protect it and book the next step.
A written treatment plan
You leave with a plan that lists what needs doing, in what order, and what each step costs. No guessing about the next bill.
Signs a tooth needs to be seen soon
- Throbbing pain that won't settle
- Pain that wakes you at night or keeps coming back after painkillers wear off often means the nerve is involved. It rarely goes away on its own.
- Swelling in the gum or face
- A bump on the gum or a puffy cheek usually points to infection. If swelling spreads toward your eye or makes it hard to breathe or swallow, get to a hospital right away.
- A cracked or broken tooth
- Even a small chip can let bacteria in. A crack that hurts when you bite or release can get deeper with every meal.
- A lost crown or filling
- The tooth underneath is now exposed and can decay or break quickly. Keep the crown and bring it with you.
- A loose or knocked-out tooth
- After a fall or a hit to the mouth, time matters. The sooner we see it, the better the chance of keeping the tooth.
- Lingering sensitivity
- Cold or heat that hurts for more than a few seconds after you stop eating can be an early warning that a tooth is in trouble.
How your visit works
- 1
Tell us what's going on
Give us a ring and describe the pain, the swelling or what broke. We find the soonest appointment we have and tell you how to manage until then.
- 2
Exam and imaging
We check the tooth, take digital X-rays and add a CBCT scan if the problem needs a closer look. You see the images and we explain what they show.
- 3
Get comfortable first
We numb the area and treat what's causing the pain, or stabilize the tooth with a temporary fix. Gentle care comes before anything else.
- 4
Plan the lasting fix
We go over your options and their costs, check your insurance, and book any follow-up visits. You decide the pace that works for you and your budget.
What affects the cost of urgent care
The first visit starts with a $25 focused evaluation, which covers the exam, digital X-rays, a CBCT scan if needed and a treatment plan. What comes after depends on what we find. We give you the costs before any treatment starts.
- What the tooth needs
- A temporary filling costs far less than a root canal and crown. An extraction, and what replaces the tooth later, is its own line on the plan.
- Your dental insurance
- We're in-network with 15+ major PPO dental insurance plans. We check your benefits so you know your share before treatment.
- No insurance
- Our in-house Membership Plan for uninsured patients helps lower the cost of care. Ask about it when you set up your visit.
- Spreading the cost
- We offer 0% interest financing for up to 24 months. Checking for preapproval has no credit score impact.
Questions about urgent dental care
- Can you see me soon if my tooth hurts?
- We work to fit urgent problems in as quickly as our schedule allows. When you phone, tell us about the pain and any swelling. We'll give you the earliest opening we have and simple steps to stay comfortable until then.
- What should I do if a tooth gets knocked out?
- Pick it up by the top, not the root. Rinse it gently and try to set it back in the socket, or keep it in milk. Then get to a dentist as fast as you can, because the tooth has the best chance in the first hour.
- Will you just pull the tooth?
- Not unless that's the right answer. Many painful teeth can be saved with a root canal and a crown. If a tooth is too broken or infected to keep, we explain why and show you what an extraction and replacement would involve.
- If the tooth can't be saved, how do I replace it?
- Dental implants and dentures are the most common choices, and we cover both on their own pages. If you choose an implant, our warranty covers replacing it should it fail during the 4-month healing phase. We plan the replacement once the area has healed.
- I don't have dental insurance. Can I still be seen?
- Yes. Many of our patients are uninsured. Our in-house Membership Plan and 0% interest financing for up to 24 months help make treatment manageable, and you'll know the costs before we start.
Get that tooth looked at before it gets worse
A painful tooth is easier and cheaper to fix early. Phone us, tell us what's happening, and we'll set up a visit to ease the pain and plan the fix.