You are out for a nice dinner on the weekend. You bite down on a piece of food, and suddenly, you hear a crack and feel something break. Oh, boy, it’s a front tooth. A substantial part of the tooth structure has cracked off, and now the pain starts.

Luckily, you have the number of your emergency dentist in Fort Worth right in your phone. You call Fort Dental for advice. It’s a weekend night, but you hear friendly voice answer the phone, ready to give you directions on how to care for your dental emergency.

The Best Care in an Emergency

Drs. Stovall, Cheng and Thorburn at Fort Dental in Fort Worth are known for their excellence in preventive, restorative and cosmetic dentistry in Fort Worth. But, did you know that they also respond rapidly when you have a critical dental problem? Quick answers and same day appointments as needed–even on a weekend–are a vital part of their innovative dental practice. The dentists and their team prioritize stabilization of injury, relief of pain and anxiety and restoration of oral function and smile aesthetics. You will receive exceptional care for your dental emergency at Fort Dental.

What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is a pressing oral health need such as a:

• Severe, throbbing toothache
• Lost filling, crown, veneer or other restoration
• Broken full or partial denture or bridgework
• Oral laceration (lips, gums, cheeks)
• Dislocated or broken jaw

When bleeding is profuse and does not resolve within 15 minutes, or in the case of a serious jaw injury, transport to the hospital emergency room immediately for medical evaluation and treatment. The other scenarios require a call to Fort Dental where a friendly staff member will triage your situation and give you advice on how to stabilize your condition. As needed, she will arrange a same day appointment so one of the dentists can repair your problem.

The Broken Front Tooth

Getting back to your broken front tooth, your emergency dentist likely will want to see you right away to repair your smile and relieve your pain. But, before you go to the office, save the tooth fragments in a closed container with water, milk or over the counter tooth preservative (most pharmacies sell this product). Also, if the tooth has jagged edges, apply some toothpaste or orthodontic wax to protect the soft tissues of your mouth. For pain, take over the counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

When you arrive at Fort Dental, Dr. Stovall, Cheng or Thorburn will examine your mouth and X-ray the tooth. Depending on what the doctor finds, he may advise:

• Composite resin bonding to repair the damage and reshape the tooth
• Root canal therapy to remove damaged soft tissue from injured interior canals
• A porcelain crown to cover and protect remaining tooth structure (Fort Dental offers CEREC same-day restorations)

Throughout the process, the doctor and his team will ensure your complete comfort with local anesthesia, oral sedation or even IV conscious sedation as needed.

Never Hesitate

Anytime you have a problem with a tooth or other oral structure, contact Fort Dental immediately. Good oral health preserves systemic health, smile aesthetics and an overall sense of well-being. All three of our award-winning dentists have your best interests in mind, and of course, love to see you for routine check-ups and exams to keep your smile strong and bright.