Emergency Dentist — Sweeny, TX

Why Choose Sweeny Family Dental for Emergency Dental Care?

• Same-Day Appointments Available for Emergency Patients
• Team with Years of Emergency Experience
• Early Office Hours Five Days a Week

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

• Same-day appointment: The moment you call our practice, our team will do everything possible to get you in the same day you contact us. On the phone, we’ll also provide first-aid tips that work to protect your smile and prevent further damage. With same-day appointments and early office hours available five days a week, there’s no reason not to get in touch when you need help the most!
• Emergency exam: Once you arrive, Dr. Funk will bring you to a dental chair and begin an emergency exam to determine the cause of your symptoms. This process may also include digital X-rays if needed to locate the issue, especially if it’s not easily visible.
• Review findings: Upon examining your mouth and getting you out of discomfort, Dr. Funk will recommend treatments that he believes will address your emergency at the source. This custom treatment plan will be explained in detail ahead of time, so you can make an informed decision on your care.
• Get the care you need: The length of treatment and the estimated costs can vary depending on the service you need. Common procedures we recommend for dental emergencies include dental fillings, crowns, root canals, and tooth extractions, but we may recommend another option if necessary as well.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Whether due to a sports-related incident, motor vehicle accident, or just a clumsy fall at home, broken and knocked out teeth are some of the most common emergencies we see. Fortunately, Dr. Funk is able to repair extremely damaged teeth and even replant ones that have been fully dislodged, given that patients contact him as quickly as possible. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to improve and manage your situation ahead of your emergency appointment.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Costs for your dental emergency largely vary depending on the type of emergency you’re dealing with and the overall severity. We cannot know exactly what your costs will be until you arrive and we have a chance to perform a detailed emergency exam. After evaluating your mouth and symptoms, we’ll have a better idea of what treatments are needed to resolve your emergency and provide costs from there. You’ll always know what your costs will be before we start any phase of treatment. We do not recommend putting off essential care due to costs as waiting could increase the risk of needing to spend more later.

Every Dental Emergency is Different

While some dental emergencies can be relatively simple to treat, others require more complex attention and services to alleviate. Toothaches that can be resolved with dental fillings or simply using a prescription mouthwash for the next couple of days or weeks are relatively affordable to treat, but more serious toothaches that need crowns, root canal therapy, or extractions will cost substantially more. No matter what treatments we recommend for your emergency, you’ll have an opportunity to review your costs ahead of time.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

In most dental insurance plans, they offer some type of coverage for emergency situations. For example, it’s common for them to offer one yearly emergency exam as well as partial coverage for treatments related to emergency dentistry. This includes dental crowns, root canal therapy, and extractions. However, this coverage only falls between 80% and 50% in most cases. The effects of yearly maximums can also influence how much your plan will cover costs. Make sure to confirm what coverage you can expect from your insurance company ahead of time. Our team is prepared to help you with this process.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Just because you don’t have dental insurance doesn’t mean you can’t get the care you need at an affordable price. One financing option that many people rely on to make expensive treatments fit into their budget is CareCredit. Through this third-party financing option, you can pay for services on a monthly basis and with little to no interest attached. These plans allow you to pay for care over several months or a couple years, ensuring you won’t have to put off your most important dental treatments.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Dental emergencies can be unavoidable at times, but more often than not they occur due to untreated infection or oral injury. The sooner you invest your time into routine dental appointments and consistent oral hygiene at home, the more likely you are to save potentially hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year on oral healthcare costs.

Regardless of what symptoms you may be experiencing, it’s important that you don’t wait to give our office a call as doing so could lead to higher costs later. For example, going now could mean you only need a dental filling or crown to address tooth pain, while waiting could result in needing root canal therapy to treat an infection. Waiting even longer could result in needing a tooth extraction and a tooth replacement, such as a bridge or dental implant!

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

The majority of dental emergencies can be avoided when you know the right tips to keep in mind during your day-to-day. While it’s impossible to avoid all of them, sticking to healthy habits like brushing and flossing daily as well as keeping up with routine dental checkups every six months can make all the difference. Furthermore, eating a healthy diet, using a custom-made mouthguard while playing sports, using a nightguard to counter teeth grinding and clenching, and using tools for tasks (and not teeth) all play a role in reducing the risk of dental emergencies.