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5975 S Cooper St Suite 125, Arlington, TX 76017 (817) 468-1212
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Emergency Dentist — Arlington, TX

Fast, Pain-Relieving Dentistry Right When You Need It

Dental emergencies always happen at some of the most stressful moments, which makes it hard to think clearly and prevent further damage to your smile. If you find yourself in the midst of an urgent oral health situation, don’t hesitate to contact our dental office as soon as possible. Our team leaves time in our appointment schedule in order to accommodate same-day emergency dentistry for Arlington, TX dental patients who are in pain. Plus, we’ll provide you with over-the-phone first-aid guidance until you’re able to get to our dental office. For fast, pain-relieving dentistry right when you need it most, don’t hesitate to give our Arlington emergency dental office a call!

Why Choose Dr. Robert A. Whitmore for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Calming Nitrous Oxide Sedation Available for Optimal Comfort
  • Same-Day or Next-Day Emergency Treatment
    *Please Call For Appointment First.
  • Advanced Dental Technology for Fast, Precise Diagnosis

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Woman touching her cheek calling Arlington emergency dentist
  • Step 1: Call Us As Soon As You Can. The best first step to take during a dental emergency is to call our dental office so we can provide you with sound, professional advice and schedule an appointment for you as soon as possible. We strive to accommodate our patients in pain the same day so you won’t have to sit in discomfort.
  • Step 2: See Dr. Whitmore for an Emergency Exam. As soon as you arrive, Dr. Whitmore will see you for an examination. He’ll take a look at your mouth, taking any X-rays and using our advanced intraoral camera as necessary. As he examines, he’ll also work on relieving any serious pain you may be in.
  • Step 3: Review Your Treatment Options & Make a Plan. Dr. Whitmore will then review his findings with you and fully explain all your treatment options. We’ll help you review factors like the estimated cost and length of each service and together, we’ll work with you to make a treatment plan that’s best for your wallet and your oral health.
  • Step 4: Get the Fast, Pain-Relieving Dentistry You Need. Our experienced team will be ready to begin whatever treatment you need as soon as a plan has been made, whether you need a filling, root canal therapy, or something else entirely. We also offer calming nitrous oxide sedation, which can help patients who are feeling anxious or uncomfortable sit back and relax while we work on your smile.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Sometimes it’s easy to tell when you need to visit an emergency dentist, like if your tooth has been broken or knocked out. However, not all dental emergencies are so easy to identify. Some emergencies happen suddenly, while others develop gradually over time, like serious toothaches. Some dental emergencies require immediate attention in order to save your tooth or prevent health complications, while others can wait a day or so to be treated. That’s why we encourage you to give us a call no matter what kind of situation you’re facing. We’ll help you determine how urgent your situation is and instruct you on how to best handle your symptoms until you can reach us.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Man with toothache in Arlington visiting his dentist

If you’re dealing with a serious toothache, a broken tooth, or any other dental emergency, we want to help you as quickly and easily as possible. That’s reflected not only in the efficiency of the care that we offer, but in the process of paying for your services. We’ll be able to give you a full estimate for what your dental care will cost when we meet you in person, but until then, here’s what you should know about the general cost of emergency dentistry.

Every Dental Emergency is Different

Tooth next to a first aid kit

An emergency dentist visit is generally affordable, with our team focused on quickly assessing your needs to determine the appropriate treatment. The exact cost is hard to predict until we examine you, as it depends on the underlying issue. Common treatments for dental emergencies may include root canal therapy, extractions, dental crowns, TMJ treatment, and more. Rest assured, once we've identified the problem, we'll clearly explain our findings, the recommended treatment plan, and provide an estimate of the costs, ensuring you know exactly what to expect before proceeding with any treatment.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Money in a piggy bank

Many dental emergencies stem from untreated infections or damage, which can be prevented with regular dental check-ups and a solid at-home oral care routine. By investing in preventive care, you can avoid costly treatments in the future, potentially saving thousands of dollars. Addressing dental pain or damage as soon as it arises is also crucial, as delaying treatment can lead to more complex and expensive procedures. For example, addressing a toothache promptly might only require a root canal, whereas waiting could result in needing an extraction and a dental implant. In the long run, preventive care is a smart investment in both your oral health and your wallet.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Picture of a dental insurance form

Dental insurance often covers dental emergencies, but the extent of coverage varies depending on your plan. Most plans include emergency exams, X-rays, and necessary procedures like extractions or root canals. However, there may be limitations, such as waiting periods, deductibles, or coverage caps. It's important to review your specific policy details to understand what is covered in an emergency and any out-of-pocket costs you may incur.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Piggy bank on a calculator

For patients without insurance, financing options like CareCredit can make emergency dental care more accessible and affordable. CareCredit offers a flexible payment solution, allowing patients to spread out the cost of their treatment over time, often with low or no interest, depending on the plan. This means you can receive the necessary care immediately without worrying about upfront costs. Whether you need a root canal, extraction, or other urgent dental procedures, talk to us; we’ll do what we can to make your care more affordable.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Woman with healthy smile thanks to her Arlington emergency dentist

Although dental emergencies aren’t completely avoidable, there are a variety of ways that you can reduce your risk of experiencing one. Here are some tips to keep you from needing an unexpected visit with your emergency dentist in Arlington:

  • Wear a protective mouthguard whenever you’re playing sports.
  • Stick to your daily oral hygiene routine.
  • Visit our dental office every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
  • Maintain a nutritious diet.
  • Whenever you experience any out-of-the-ordinary symptoms, come in for a checkup.
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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Yes, a toothache in Arlington is a dental emergency depending on the underlying cause. If there is something stuck between your teeth, you’ll likely be able to remove it without professional help; however, if the pain is caused by an infection, cavity, or facial trauma, it’s imperative that you call our office right away.

How you should handle a toothache: Rinsing with warm water and using dental floss can help to remove an object that may be stuck between your teeth. However, if this is not the problem, make sure to take an over-the-counter pain reliever and wait until you arrive at our office.

How we treat toothaches: Dr. Whitmore and our team will quickly examine your smile to determine the root cause of your toothache. Whether it is due to a cavity, cracked tooth, gum disease, or a serious infection, we will take digital X-rays and determine the best course of action when it comes to treatment. We may recommend a tooth-colored filling, dental crown, periodontal therapy, root canal therapy, or even tooth extraction.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Periodontal Therapy

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? No, a chipped tooth is not technically viewed as a same-day dental emergency. Instead, you are free to wait a day or two before seeing your emergency dentist in Arlington.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Although you do not need to get in the same day for treatment, you should still plan to call our office and seek professional help within a day or two of your injury. During the waiting period, however, make sure to use sugarless gum or dental wax to cover damaged areas, and avoid chewing on that side of your mouth, as it will only cause further irritation.  

How we treat chipped teeth: When dealing with a chipped tooth, Dr. Whitmore will decide whether cosmetic bonding or customized veneers are necessary. Cosmetic bonding can be helpful and more affordable if the chip is minor. However, if it appears in a more visible area of your smile, and you’re concerned with your overall appearance, we may be able to move forward with customized veneers.

Learn More About Cosmetic Bonding

Learn More About Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Yes, a cracked tooth in Arlington is a dental emergency that should be seen by a professional right away. Allowing it to remain untreated will only put your smile at further risk of damage.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Instead of waiting until you arrive at our office, go ahead and take an over-the-counter pain reliever and avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. You are free to use dental wax or sugarless gum to cover any jagged areas.

How we treat cracked teeth: Treating a cracked tooth will require examining the severity of the damage. If it is only minor, we may be able to treat it using cosmetic bonding. However, if the crack is severe, we may recommend a dental crown or tooth extraction, especially if it is no longer functional.

Learn More About Cosmetic Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency?: Tooth sensitivity is a relatively common issue, and it doesn’t always qualify as an emergency. However, it can be considered urgent if it causes severe pain or lasts for multiple days; these symptoms could mean that you have a cracked tooth, advanced gum disease, or another oral health complication that requires immediate attention from a dental expert.

How you should handle sensitive teeth: Take care of the tooth in question. That means avoiding any kinds of foods that could aggravate it. (Usually, this means anything hot, cold, sweet, spicy, or acidic.) When you drink water, make sure that it’s lukewarm. Our team can offer additional advice if you need it.

How we treat tooth sensitivity: We begin by asking, “What is causing the sensitivity?” To find the answer, we will examine your smile thoroughly. There are multiple treatments that we may suggest based on the circumstances. For example, if the tooth is damaged or infected, it may require root canal therapy.

Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency?: Getting hit in the mouth or face can cause you to lose one of your permanent teeth. It is sometimes possible to place the tooth in question back in the jaw if you act quickly enough. However, if you wait too long, the tooth will die, and salvaging it will become impossible. In short, a knocked-out tooth is an extremely urgent issue that you cannot afford to ignore, so take immediate action to get to our office within the hour.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: Be careful when you go to pick up the tooth; it’s okay to touch the end used for chewing, but you should avoid making direct contact with the roots. After you rinse the tooth off, you can try to put it back in its socket. This won’t always work, so as an alternative you can store it in a small container filled with milk.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: Our first choice will always be the one that lets you keep your natural teeth; if the tooth is still salvageable, we’ll immediately start the process of reimplanting it. But if the tooth is too badly damaged, has already died, or has been lost entirely, we can help you determine whether a bridge, partial denture, or dental implant could be used to help fill in the gap.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency?: Having a crown or filling fall off the tooth after a certain number of years is actually fairly normal and should generally be taken as a sign that the restoration needs to be replaced. Get in touch with our office as soon as you can; you don’t want to wait too long to resolve this particular dental issue.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: Do not chew with the exposed tooth, and keep it clean by rinsing with salt water. As for the restoration, if it hasn’t been completely broken, your dentist may be able to reattach it. You should plan on bringing it with you to your appointment; keep it in a place where you know you won’t lose it.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: Restorations that are badly damaged, worn down, or lost entirely will need to be replaced. On the other hand, a restoration that is still in good shape and was originally placed relatively recently might still be usable; we’ll reattach it to the tooth if we can.

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Since a broken denture prevents you from chewing and speaking normally, the answer is “yes.” In fact, the sooner you get in touch with us the better!

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture Although you might be tempted to wear your denture, it’s best that you don’t. After all, you don’t want it to break further! Instead, store it somewhere safe and prioritize getting to our office so we can have it repaired or replaced.

How We Treat Broken Dentures If your denture is over 10 years old or it’s broken beyond repair, then we will start the process of having a new denture made. If, on the other hand, it’s relatively new and the damage isn’t too extensive, then Dr. Whitmore might be able to repair it at our office.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTURES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? The answer is “yes” for a few reasons, starting with the fact that there’s a good chance the tooth will completely fall out. We want to intervene before that happens, so don’t hesitate to call us right away to let us know if this happens to you!

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth Avoid touching the tooth with your finger, wiggling the tooth with your tongue, or eating crunchy, hard, or sticky foods. Instead, call us ASAP to schedule an appointment and periodically rinse with clean, room-temperature water in the meantime.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth The good news is that loose permanent teeth don’t always have to be removed. If, however, that’s the only option, then we will restore the look, health, and function of your smile with a custom tooth-replacement option too, like a dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Soft tissue injuries do require emergency care if they result in uncontrollable bleeding, extreme swelling, or any other potentially life-threatening symptoms.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue If you are experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, then call 911 or go to the ER. If you aren’t, then rinse your mouth with clean, cool water and use a damp, clean washcloth to apply pressure to the cut until it stops bleeding.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue Usually, soft tissue injuries don’t require a visit to our Arlington dental office. That said, we’re always here to answer questions or provide recommendations if you find yourself in this situation and are unsure of what to do.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Patients are often quick to dismiss jaw pain. However, it shouldn’t be ignored, especially if it’s persistent, it’s present in tandem with other abnormal dental symptoms, or it’s negatively impacting your quality of life.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain For short-term relief, try avoiding crunchy foods, using a cold compress, and taking OTC pain medication as directed. Once you arrive at our office, we can conduct a comprehensive exam to determine what the best long-term solution is.

How We Treat Jaw Pain Impacted wisdom teeth are a common culprit of jaw pain. If that’s the root of the problem in your case, then we will need to extract them. If that’s not the root of the problem, then it may be chronic teeth grinding, which can be fixed with a nightguard.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

To help dissolve the debris lodged between your teeth, dissolve some salt in warm water and swish the mixture around in your mouth. Then, grab your floss – the debris should come out easily. If it doesn’t, don’t reach for a toothpick or the tweezers. Instead, give our dental team a call so they can help.