In a dental emergency, call your dentist first, as early in the day as you can. On weekdays, Custerpoint Family Dental in Plano works to see urgent problems the same day at 972-265-9033. If you have facial swelling that is spreading, a fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
When should you go to the ER instead of the dentist?
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have swelling that is spreading into your face, eye or neck, a high fever with tooth pain, or any trouble breathing or swallowing.
Those signs can mean a dental infection is spreading, which needs urgent medical care. The ER will treat the infection and swelling, then you follow up with a dentist to treat the tooth that caused it.
Also go to the ER for a jaw that may be broken or dislocated, or for heavy bleeding that does not slow after 15 to 20 minutes of firm pressure, or any injury to the head beyond the teeth.
Is it a dental emergency?
If you are in severe pain, have lost or broken a tooth, or have swelling, treat it as urgent and call the same day.
- Call now: a knocked-out adult tooth, a badly broken tooth, severe or throbbing pain, swelling in the gums or face, or bleeding that will not stop.
- Call today: a chipped or cracked tooth, a lost crown or filling, a broken denture, or a toothache that keeps you awake.
- Call to book: mild sensitivity, a small chip with no pain, or a loose bracket or retainer that is not cutting your mouth.
What should you do if a tooth gets knocked out?
Act quickly: a knocked-out adult tooth has the best chance of being saved if a dentist sees it within about 30 minutes to an hour.
Knocked-out tooth: what to do right now
These steps come from standard first-aid guidance for adult teeth. Baby teeth should not be put back in.
- 01Pick it up by the crown
Hold the tooth by the chewing surface, not the root, to protect the cells that help it reattach.
- 02Rinse gently
If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Do not scrub it or wrap it in tissue.
- 03Try to put it back
If you can, press it gently back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it there.
- 04Or keep it moist
If it will not go back, keep it in a small container of milk, or in your cheek if you are an adult and alert.
- 05Call and come in
Call 972-265-9033 right away. On weekends, go to an emergency room.
What should you do for a broken or chipped tooth?
Rinse your mouth with warm water, save any pieces you can find, and call your dentist the same day.
Hold a cold compress on your cheek for 10 to 20 minutes at a time to limit swelling. If there is a sharp edge, sugar-free gum or dental wax from the pharmacy can cover it until you are seen.
Many broken teeth can be repaired with a filling, bonding or a crown. At our Plano office, we mill many crowns in-house, and most of those crowns are completed in a single appointment.
What should you do for a severe toothache?
Rinse with warm water, gently floss around the tooth to remove anything stuck, and call your dentist.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, taken as the label directs, can help until you are seen. Do not put aspirin or any pill directly on the gum, because it can burn the tissue.
Throbbing pain, pain that wakes you at night, or pain with swelling often points to an infection or an inflamed nerve. That usually calls for an exam and X‑ray, and sometimes a root canal to save the tooth.
What if you lose a crown or filling?
Keep the crown if you have it, avoid chewing on that side, and call to have it checked.
A pharmacy dental cement can hold a crown in place temporarily if the tooth is not painful, but do not use household glue. The exposed tooth may be sensitive to cold. Bring the crown with you, since it can sometimes be recemented if both it and the tooth are sound.
What should you do about swelling or a possible abscess?
Call your dentist the same day, and go to the ER if the swelling spreads or you develop a fever or trouble swallowing.
A pimple-like bump on the gum, a bad taste, or a swollen area near a tooth can mean an abscess, which is an infection that will not clear on its own. Rinse with warm salt water and use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek. Do not apply heat, and do not try to drain it yourself.
What happens when you call Custerpoint Family Dental with an emergency?
We ask what happened, how much pain you are in, and whether there is swelling, then find the earliest time to see you.
On weekdays we work to see urgent problems the same day, especially when you call early in the morning. When you arrive, we take the X‑rays or 3D images needed, show you what we see on the chairside screen, and focus first on getting you out of pain.
If treatment is needed beyond the urgent fix, you receive a written plan and cost before anything else is done. We file PPO claims for you, and CareCredit is available for patients who want to pay over time, subject to credit approval. Details are on our insurance and financing page.
What if it happens on a weekend?
Our office is closed on Saturday and Sunday, so for serious problems on a weekend, go to the nearest emergency room.
That includes swelling, fever, a knocked-out tooth, uncontrolled bleeding or a possible jaw injury. For pain you can manage with over-the-counter relief, a lost filling, or a small chip, call us first thing Monday at 972-265-9033 and we will work to fit you in.
How can you prevent dental emergencies?
Most dental emergencies grow from problems that were quiet at first, so regular checkups catch many of them early.
- Keep up with checkups and cleanings, which find cracks and decay before they hurt.
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sports and a night guard if you grind your teeth.
- Do not chew ice, hard candy or pens, or open packages with your teeth.
- Get a sensitive or cracked tooth checked early, before it breaks further.
Need a dentist today in Plano?
If you are in pain or have broken a tooth on a weekday, the first step is a phone call. Call Custerpoint Family Dental at 972-265-9033 as early in the day as you can, and we will work to see you the same day. Our emergency dentistry page explains what we treat. We serve patients from across Plano, Allen, Murphy and Richardson.
