Emergency Dentist in Clear Lake Texas

Our Clear Lake dentist knows that dental emergencies never seem to happen at a convenient time, so we’re here to help you during those situations in which every minute counts.

Recognizing A Dental Emergency

So how do you know if you do, in fact, have a dental emergency? Any of the following is a situation in which you should seek the care of our Clear Lake dentist right away:

Severe Toothache:

Sensitivity and the occasional mild discomfort can be addressed during normal business hours. But if you have severe pain that’s keeping you up at night, then you have a dental emergency on your hands. This situation is typically an indication that you have an abscessed tooth. At the very least we could get you started on an antibiotic to help get the active infection under control. Ultimately, you’ll need to have the tooth treated which would likely require root canal therapy or an extraction.

A Broken Front Tooth:

A tooth breaking apart isn’t always considered a dental emergency.  As long as you’re not in pain you can be seen by our dentist at your convenience. However, we understand that when this type of situation occurs on a tooth that shows when you smile, you’ll want to get it repaired right away.  In that case, give us a call and let us know what’s going on and we’ll get you fixed up in no time.

A Loose or Knocked-out Tooth:

A tooth that has loosened due to trauma can typically be reinforced with some type of splint and it will re-tighten in place over time.  Knocked-out teeth can be re-implanted successfully if done so within a timely manner. In either one of these situations, you’ll want to seek the help of our Clear Lake dentist right away.

If your tooth is knocked out with the root and all, you can gently rinse any obvious debris from it (do not scrub the root clean) and try to gently insert it back into the socket. If the tooth doesn’t go in smoothly, then don’t force it.  Instead, put the tooth in some cold milk and bring it with you to our office right away.

If you have a tooth that fell out on its own and was already loose for some time, then don’t try to reimplant it.  This is typically a consequence of periodontal disease and there likely isn’t any bone to secure the tooth in place.

When To Go To The Hospital Emergency Room Because of A Tooth

A hospital emergency room won’t be able to do anything to repair your tooth, however, if you have a severe injury with heavy bleeding or facial swelling, then this is probably the best place for you to be.

A severe infection and symptoms that warrant your needing to go to the ER include the following:

• A fever: A high temperature means that you have an active infection. At the emergency room, you’ll likely be put on IV antibiotics that go directly into your system, rather than waiting on pills to kick in, which typically take at least two-three days.
• Swelling in your face or throat: This condition should not be taken lightly. Swelling in your throat can get so bad that it blocks off your airway or spreads into your brain. ER staff can put you on IV antibiotics or have the infection site drained.
• Broken jaw: A hard impact like a fall, car accident, or an elbow to the chin can cause your jaw to dislocate, or the jaw bone to break. If you experience severe pain in your jaw, chin, teeth, and/or around your ears, are unable to open your mouth very wide, are having tenderness or bruising along your jawline, or if your teeth feel out of alignment ー then you should go to the ER to be examined. You may need surgery to repair a broken jaw.

Your ER Visit Isn’t A Cure-All

Please know that whatever is done in the hospital emergency room for a toothache won’t be a cure.  You must follow up with a dentist and have the tooth professionally treated. Whether the solution is to remove the tooth or perform root canal therapy, the only way to keep the above symptoms from reoccurring is to treat the source of the problem ー your tooth.

Emergency Dentist in Clear Lake

If you are experiencing a dental emergency or need help determining whether you should be seen right away, it’s time to call Rosas Family Dentistry. We are conveniently located in Clear Lake, Texas, and serve the League City, Webster, Seabrook, Friendswood, Kemah, and NASA areas. Give us a call today for fast pain relief.