Emergency Dentist — San Antonio, TX
Quick, Compassionate Care When Emergencies Strike
If you or a loved one experiences a dental emergency, do you know where to turn? Unfortunately, many people spend unnecessary time, money, and hassle going straight to the emergency room when they need urgent dental care. That’s why we encourage you to
call us
first instead! We’ll walk you through first-aid tips over the phone and schedule your appointment as soon as possible. Dr. Troy Jones and Dr. George Knight offer quick, compassionate care when emergencies strike and a range of dental services to help you overcome nearly any oral health issue.
Why Choose Jones & Knight, DDS for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Advanced Dental Technology
- Insurance-Friendly Dental Practice
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Call our office. The sooner you give us a call, the better chance we have of restoring your oral health. We’ll pencil you in at your earliest convenience. In the meantime, an experienced team member will provide first-aid instructions to help manage your situation.
- Have an emergency exam. When you get to our office, we’ll perform a detailed examination to identify the cause of your issue. Using our findings, we’ll create a custom treatment plan to get you out of pain.
- Get the care you need. Our team will work quickly to get your smile back on the right track. Some common treatment options include fillings, dental crowns, root canal therapy, and gum disease treatment.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
A dental emergency in San Antonio can refer to many different situations. Some are the results of a sudden injury, while others can develop over a long period of bad dental habits. Whatever the case, we’re here to help! While we’ll give you specific instructions over the phone, here are some tips for handling common dental emergencies until you can reach our office.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
Your financial situation should never stand in the way of getting the urgent dental care you need. Many factors affect the cost of emergency dentistry in San Antonio, but we strive to keep our services affordable for everyone. We will create the personalized plan you need to stop your pain and restore a healthy smile without it costing you an arm or a leg.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
There's no flat fee for emergency dentistry because every situation differs. You wouldn't want to pay for anything you don't need. Your emergency dentist in San Antonio will examine your mouth to create a personalized treatment plan that accommodates your budget. They will also review your payment options, like cash, checks, or monthly installments.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Most dental insurance offers coverage for emergency situations. Your benefits may cover your consultation and diagnostic services. You can also use your benefits to pay for medically necessary procedures. Restorative services are typically covered by 50% to 80% after meeting your annual deductible until reaching your yearly limit. A member of our office will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your benefits to lower the amount you will pay out-of-pocket. They'll explain how your coverage is being used and your options for any remaining balance.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Besides using your dental insurance, we offer various financial solutions to keep emergency dentistry affordable, like:
- Traditional Payments: Our office accepts cash, personal checks, and credit cards for your convenience.
- Monthly Payments: Based on your credit approval, you can make monthly installments with little or no interest in financing through a third-party company, like CareCredit.
Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Although you may never expect a dental emergency to happen to you, 1 in 6 Americans experience an urgent oral health problem every year. While you can't always stop accidents from occurring, you can take several steps to lessen your risk of oral health emergencies. Brushing and flossing will keep your teeth and gums healthy. Commit to visiting your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup. They'll monitor your smile for anything concerning to address it while it's still small. This will prevent a minor issue from turning into a big problem. Wear an athletic mouthguard if you play sports to protect your pearly whites. If you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, ask your dentist for a nightguard. It's best to break any bad habits that may damage your teeth, like crunching ice or chewing on your fingernails.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Not every dental injury can be avoided, but there are a few precautions you can take to reduce your risk of needing to visit our emergency dental office in San Antonio. Here are a few steps we encourage our patients to take (as well as some habits we recommend breaking) to help prevent a painful dental injury.
Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year
In short, your routine visits to our office ensure that we can catch common dental problems, like cavities, in the early stages. Plus, our dental hygienists remove built-up plaque and tartar during your cleanings, which helps reduce your risk of oral health issues moving forward. So, if it has been more than six months since your last appointment, don’t wait any longer – give us a call to schedule your next checkup and cleaning!
Brush and Floss Consistently
In addition to coming to our office every six months for a checkup and cleaning, you need to take good care of your smile on a daily basis. The first step? Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste to brush your teeth twice a day (or after every meal, if possible). Then, focus on flossing daily and rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash regularly to help prevent plaque and tartar buildup as well as bad breath.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
All too often, patients underestimate the importance of eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. The truth is that filling your plate with nutrient-dense foods, like broccoli, apples, and oatmeal, will benefit both your oral and overall health. Conversely, starchy and sugary snacks increase your risk of dental decay, so it’s important to indulge sparingly. It’s also important to avoid (or, at the very least, exercise caution with) extremely crunchy foods, such as hard pretzels.
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
Wearing a mouthguard during sports is usually required, especially in contact ones like football and soccer. However, we recommend wearing one even during solo activities, like riding your bike and lifting weights. Not only will this protect your smile from harm if you accidentally fall, but it will also protect your teeth from grinding and clenching. So, if you don’t have a mouthguard already, let us know so we can have one made for you!
Break Bad Habits
Lastly, do your best to break bad habits. That starts with obvious ones, like smoking, and extends to seemingly harmless ones, like biting your nails. We also encourage our patients not to use their teeth as tools, not to chew on ice cubes, and not to bite on the back of their pens or pencils while they work.
Important note: If you do accidentally chip, crack, or fracture a tooth, don’t wait – call us ASAP so we can schedule an emergency exam, alleviate any pain you’re experiencing, and restore your healthy, happy smile.
Dental Emergency FAQs
You probably never expect one to happen to you, but dental emergencies are quite common. If you suddenly need an emergency dentist in San Antonio, do you know what to do? You likely have several questions. Don’t worry, we’ll be by your side to help you through the difficult situation. In the meantime, here are the answers to a few of the most common questions patients ask us to ease any apprehensions until your visit.
Does dental insurance cover emergency visits?
Every policy differs; however, most dental insurance plans offer coverage for emergency visits, such as for the exam and X-rays. You can also use your benefits to help offset the cost of any treatment. Depending on your specific policy, your insurance carrier can cover as much as 80% after reaching your deductible until meeting your annual limits. A member of our team will work with your insurance company to help you maximize your benefits to lower the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket.
Do I need an extraction?
An extraction will eliminate a problematic tooth at the source, but it isn’t always the best option because it can lead to new complications. Instead, it’s best to always save your tooth when possible. Often, an infected or damaged tooth can be treated with root canal therapy, allowing it to thrive with the right aftercare.
What happens if my toothache goes away?
You might believe an occasional toothache is normal, especially if it goes away; however, it’s never a good sign. The underlying issue is still there. If it isn’t treated, it will continue to brew in your mouth until it turns into a big problem.
Can I be seen the same day?
As with any emergency, time is of the utmost importance. We will do everything we can to get you into the office the same day. If you need immediate attention, contact our office right away.
What should I take for pain relief?
If you have any discomfort, take an over-the-counter pain reliever. You can also rinse your mouth with a salt and water mixture to help ease inflammation and pain.