Emergency Dentist – Houston, TX

Get the Urgent Smile Care You Need

Woman in pain before emergency dentistry

The last thing you need when a dental emergency strikes is to waste precious time in the waiting room at the ER. Instead, you can get the urgent smile care you need by calling Hiner Family Dentistry. We’ll work to get you seen by Dr. Matt or Dr. Reagan Hiner as soon as possible. Our dental office has even treated dental injuries for members of Houston sports teams, including the Texans and the Rockets. You can trust that no matter the emergency you’re dealing with, our emergency dentists will get your smile back on track!

Why Choose Hiner Family Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Appointments for Dental Emergencies
  • Convenient Dental Office Location with Accessible, Free Parking
  • We See Patients of All Ages

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Dental patient providing emergency dentistry
  • Get you seen ASAP – Call us right away if you’re experiencing a dental emergency. Over the phone, our team can ask you about your symptoms, give first-aid tips for alleviating your pain, and schedule your appointment quickly.
  • Examine your mouth – Soon after you arrive at our dental office, one of our dentists will perform an emergency exam and take digital X-rays to locate and confirm the cause of the problem.
  • Share our findings – After the exam, we’ll break down what we’ve found and discuss which treatments would best address the issue. We’ll also review the financial aspects of such treatments.
  • Provide the care you need – Once we’ve reached an agreement on a course of action, we’ll begin caring for your smile and preventing the emergency from returning later.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Although many dental emergencies can be temporarily handled at home, the only way to fully address the issue is to have one of our dentists take a look. Here are some of the most common dental emergencies we see, as well as some tips for managing your symptoms until your appointment.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

An artificial jaw mockup biting dollar bills while sitting next to dental tools

While you might want emergency dentistry, you may fear it’s too expensive. After all, doesn’t urgent dental care involve specialized knowledge and treatment? Surely that fact means an emergency visit is pricey. In truth, though, the cost of emergency dentistry varies by patient. You’d need to consult with our dentists to know the exact number. Still, you can trust Hiner Family Dentistry to make your care budget-friendly. To learn more, keep reading or contact our office.

Every Dental Emergency is Different

A sad man enduring a dental emergency

An emergency dental visit, in itself, should cost you relatively little. After all, it only includes a quick oral exam and further treatment suggestions. The bulk of the expense comes from the later procedures. Therefore, you need to consult with our office before we can give you an estimate.

Depending on your situation, you may need one (or more) of our emergency procedures. The number and type will strongly influence your final cost. That being said, possible services include:

  • Root Canal Therapy
  • Periodontal Therapy
  • Tooth Extraction(s)
  • Dental Crown(s)
  • TMD Therapy

Rest assured: Before moving forward, our team will explain our findings, treatment plan, and the relevant costs. That way, you know exactly what to expect.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

A person looking at a computer screen marked ‘Dental Benefits’

In most cases, dental insurance will cover a dental emergency. Many policies, in fact, cover at least one yearly emergency exam. Common emergency services, meanwhile, can receive partial coverage. This may extend to covering 50-80% of, say, a root canal’s cost.

On the other hand, remember that every plan is different. Your dental insurance may have different rules or features. Therefore, confirm your benefits before pursuing treatment. If you’d like, our team can help you do so.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

A woman paying the cost of emergency dentistry

There’s no need to worry if you don’t have dental insurance. In fact, other ways exist to get affordable emergency dental care. We at Hiner Family Dentistry, for example, offer the following financing options:

  • Special Offers – Our team is currently running a special offer on emergency dentistry. For only $130, we’ll give you both a limited emergency exam and dental X-rays.
  • In-House Membership Plans – For a low monthly fee of $31 per month (or $25 per month for kids), our office will provide a complimentary emergency exam yearly.
  • Flexible Financing – We offer flexible financing via CareCredit, a third-party financier. They’d allow you to pay for your emergency with low-interest, monthly installments. That way, you could cover the cost of care gradually.

Taking Care of Your Smile Saves You Money

A large ceramic tooth sitting next to a piggy bank and dollar bills

True, you can’t avoid some dental emergencies that incur major costs. Even so, most of them stem from poor oral care, leading to infections and other damage. You could thus save thousands of dollars by attending dental visits and practicing good oral hygiene.

Should an emergency happens regardless, you can make it less expensive with quick treatment. Putting off needed care only makes the final expense larger. Getting a root canal now, for example, could save your infected tooth. Delaying it, however, may entail pricey extraction and implant work.

As you can see, Hiner Family Dentistry will help you navigate dental emergency costs. Therefore, go ahead and book a visit to our office!

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman brushing teeth to prevent dental emergencies

While avoiding all dental emergencies with 100% certainty is nearly impossible, what you can do is lower your risk by taking a few preventive measures, such as:

  • Wearing an athletic mouthguard whenever you engage in sports.
  • Brushing and flossing every single day.
  • Seeing our team for your six-month checkups and cleanings.
  • Not using your teeth as tools to open packaging, hold grocery bags, chew ice, etc.

Dental Emergency FAQs

patient visiting an emergency dentist

Dental emergencies can be unsettling, especially when they happen when you least expect them. Whether you were accidentally hit in the face during a sporting event or walking on the sidewalk, it may seem daunting to seek treatment. To help you feel more at ease during these urgent situations, our team at Hiner Family Dentistry is happy to provide you with the most common questions we get about dental emergencies. Read on or give our emergency dentist a call today if you don’t see the information you’re looking for!

Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?

While it may seem logical to head straight to your local ER for urgent oral care, they won’t be able to properly treat your dental emergency. Firstly, they don’t always have a dentist on staff to address your situation. Secondly, they’re more likely to alleviate your discomfort, put a stop to any life-threatening conditions, and prescribe you antibiotics. For this reason, you should visit your emergency dentist right away if you notice or experience any serious issues in your oral health. However, if you have a fractured/broken jaw, lacerations to your mouth or face, or are having difficulty swallowing/breathing, be sure to visit the ER immediately.

Will My Toothache Go Away By Itself?

Your toothache will not go away on its own. If you do notice any throbbing pain that has vanished, then the inner nerve may have been significantly damaged, which will require emergency treatment. That’s why it’s important to schedule an appointment with our team if you’re experiencing a toothache. We’ll be able to thoroughly examine your mouth to detect and address the root cause of the problem. This will help prevent serious complications which can end up requiring more costly treatments.

What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?

Even if urgent dental situations aren’t always avoidable, being prepared for the unexpected can go a long way in protecting your oral health. That said, you should consider keeping an emergency dentistry kit with you that consists of the following items:

  • An ice pack or cold compress
  • Gauze pads
  • Small container with a lid
  • Denture adhesive
  • Floss
  • Petroleum jelly
  • A topical anesthetic like Orajel
  • Anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen
  • Your dentist’s phone number

What Does Chronic Bad Breath Mean?

Most people have experienced bad breath in the morning or after eating a meal. However, some may struggle with this situation even after practicing regular oral hygiene. Those with chronic bad breath may have an underlying problem that can’t be resolved with mouthwash or mints. Several common causes of this may include gum disease, cavities, and dental infections. Should you notice a bad odor in your mouth that won’t go away after several days, be sure to make an appointment with your dentist. They’ll assess your oral health and provide the necessary treatment for any developing issues they detect.