Emergency Dentist – Sunnyvale, TX 

Professional Dental Care Right When You Need It

Pained woman who needs to visit her Sunnyvale emergency dentist

A dental emergency, just like any other, can seemingly pop up out of nowhere and really ruin your day in the process. If you find yourself dealing with a broken/knocked-out tooth or severe toothache, know that you can get the urgent care you need with just a phone call. Dr. George T. Philip is ready and able to accept emergency patients, and we’ll work to provide immediate care so that no one is ever left waiting in pain.

Why Choose Dr. George T. Philip, DMD for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Talented & Compassionate Dental Team with Years of Experience
  • Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
  • Flexible Dental Financing to Make Emergency Care Affordable

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Man showing his Sunnyvale emergency dentist his toothache

If you’re in a stressful dental situation, Dr. Philip is the person you want to see. He has years of experience handling all kinds of dental emergencies, and he’ll be the source of calm you really need. To help with dental emergencies, he’ll use the latest imaging technology so he can catch, diagnose, and treat an issue as quickly as possible. He will also make every effort to accommodate your case as soon as possible so that you don’t have to wait days for relief.

Should you encounter a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to give us a call. From there, here’s what you can expect:

  • We’ll evaluate your situation over the phone, provide first-aid tips, and schedule you an emergency appointment, often for the very same day.
  • During your appointment, Dr. Philip will work quickly to get you out of pain and examine the extent and source of your emergency.
  • Philip will review his findings with you and fully explain all your treatment options, including his recommendation and their approximate length and cost.
  • Whether you need a filling, crown, root canal therapy, or something else entirely, we’ll get to work right away to protect your teeth and repair your smile.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Even if you are unsure if you need urgent dental care, give us a call anyways. Not all dental emergencies are easy to identify, but leaving one untreated can lead to serious and painful complications. If you are in pain, have a damaged tooth, or are experiencing worrisome dental symptoms, call us. We can help you determine if you need to come in for an emergency appointment and what to do to manage your situation from home. Below are some of the most common dental emergencies we help our patients through.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Wallet of money for cost of emergency dentistry in Sunnyvale

Before we have the ability to tell you the exact cost of your emergency treatment, it’s important that we figure out what’s going on with your smile. We can’t do this until we’ve conducted a thorough examination of your mouth. Based on our findings, we can outline a custom treatment plan and walk you through your insurance coverage and other financial options. In the meantime, here are some thing for you to consider.

Every Dental Emergency is Different

Man with dental emergency in Sunnyvale

The cost of a dental emergency will vary on a few different factors, but the initial visit is usually relatively inexpensive. During this appointment, our team will take the time to assess your oral health and determine what further treatment you need to restore your smile. Until you are able to come to practice to have the problem examined, it is pretty much impossible to predict the overall cost. Some of the more common solutions to dental emergencies include the following:

  • Root canal therapy
  • Extractions
  • Dental crowns
  • TMJ treatment
  • And more!

Rest assured that our team will explain our findings, the recommended treatment plan, and the estimated costs beforehand so that you know exactly what to expect.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Dental insurance form for cost of emergency dentistry in Sunnyvale

In most circumstances, dental insurance plans offer some form of coverage for dental emergency situations. In many plans, as least one emergency exam is fully covered, while common services associated with tooth pain, like root canals and extractions, can receive partial coverage – anywhere between 50% and 80%. It’s important to note that each plan is different and yearly maximums usually come into effect. At our practice, we are in-network with multiple popular dental insurance plans, but we are also happy to accept policies that are out-of-network  

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Woman calculating cost of emergency dentistry in Sunnyvale

If you don’t have dental insurance, this doesn’t always mean that you are left completely on your own when it comes to emergency treatment. Affordable financing is available through both Mastercard and CareCredit. Our friendly team would be happy to help you explore both options in greater detail to determine which is best for your personal situation.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Woman brushing teeth to avoid dental emergency in Sunnyvale

Not all dental emergencies are entirely preventable. Unavoidable, unexpected accidents occur all the time. However, by implementing some extra steps into your life, you can reduce the probability of experiencing oral health issues and needing emergency treatment as a result. By avoiding dental emergencies when you can, you can save hundreds, or even thousands of dollars over time.

Remember to always keep an eye out for changes in your mouth. New oral pain or visible changes can indicate that you have an issue that needs to be addressed. By caring for dental problems as soon as they occur, you can keep them from progressing and becoming more serious. The longer you put off dental treatment, the more it is likely to cost. For instance, by heading to the practice for a much-needed root canal now, you may be able to avoid the cost and hassle of an extractions and tooth replacement in the future. You can ultimately save time, money, and discomfort!

Dental emergencies happen unexpectedly, so we’re always happy to help. We offer same-day appointments for patients facing dental emergencies. Give us a call so we can get to the bottom of your issue.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

young woman smiling against gray background

Dental emergencies are often stressful, frightening, and inconvenient. For that reason, it’s best to try and avoid those unfortunate situations in the first place. Even though there’s no way to completely prevent an oral injury, there are many steps you can take to reduce your chances of one happening. Below, we’ve shared a few tips to protect your smile from harm. If you happen to find yourself experiencing a dental emergency in Sunnyvale anyway, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

patient getting dental checkup in Sunnyvale

It’s incredibly important that you visit Dr. Philip every six months for a checkup and cleaning. These routine appointments allow him to monitor your oral health and catch problems as early as possible. With early intervention, you can prevent problems from worsening or happening in the first place.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home

man flossing teeth in bathroom mirror

Aside from regular dental checkups, you should have a solid at-home dental hygiene routine. It’s your first line of defense against oral health issues, preventing harmful oral bacteria from accumulating in your mouth. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing every day with an ADA-approved mouthwash are essential practices that’ll help you spare a trip to your emergency dentist’s office.  

Be Careful with Your Diet

woman eating healthy food

Did you know that your diet has an impact on your oral health? Overindulging in sugary, starchy, and acidic foods can wreak havoc on your enamel, leaving your teeth susceptible to decay and infection. That’s why you should stick to a healthy diet full of nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy products, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Wear a Mouthguard

young woman holding up clear mouthguard

If you regularly play sports, you should ask Dr. Philip about a custom-made athletic mouthguard. It’ll protect your teeth and gums from any impact should you sustain a blow to the face. Meanwhile, a nightguard is an excellent solution for those who grind their teeth at night. It’ll keep your enamel from wearing down and lower the risk of damage to your tooth or restoration.  

Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

man opening bottle with mouth

When you can’t tear open a package or crack open a bottle, you may be tempted to use your teeth as a last-ditch effort. However, using your pearly whites for anything other than chewing food can easily result in a chipped or cracked tooth. That’s why it’s always best to wait until you have the right tool or ask someone to lend you a helping hand.

Dental Emergency FAQ’s 

Woman wondering about her toothache in Sunnyvale

No one ever expects a dental emergency to happen, but 1 in 6 Americans will face one each year. If it happens to you or a loved one, do you know what to do? If you’re like many people, you probably have several questions. Your emergency dentist in Sunnyvale is here for you during this difficult time to address your concerns and provide the relief you need. We can walk you through first aid at home and schedule you for a same-day appointment. While you wait, here are the answers to a few of the most common questions we hear to give you the peace of mind you need.

Should I Go to the Emergency Room?

When a dental emergency strikes, it might seem like heading to the hospital is the logical solution; however, this isn’t always the best answer. Most hospitals aren’t equipped to repair teeth or treat the underlying cause of the problem. At most, they can prescribe pain relievers or antibiotics. Instead, it’s best to contact your dentist.

However, you should go directly to your local ER if you are facing a serious or life-threatening issue. This includes a broken or dislocated jaw, bleeding that hasn’t stopped for more than 10 minutes, and swelling in the mouth that’s making it difficult to swallow.

What is causing my jaw pain?

Simply put, jaw pain could be the result of everything from chronic teeth grinding to impacted wisdom teeth. That’s why we recommend coming in for an emergency exam with Dr. Philip if it becomes a persistent problem. At your appointment, he will take X-rays and examine your teeth to determine what the root of the problem is and, of course, how to address it for long-term relief.

Will my toothache go away on its own?

Although the pain and discomfort stemming from your toothache may subside, the root of the problem will continue to progress. In fact, if your symptoms seem to have gone away overnight, it might be because the nerve of your tooth has died. This is a warning sign of even bigger problems to come, which is why it’s so important that you get an emergency exam on the calendar ASAP.

What does throbbing tooth pain mean?

Oftentimes, throbbing tooth pain is the result of an infection within the tooth. However, it could also be due to a large crack in your enamel or even a relatively small cavity. If you’ve read through the above answers, then you already know what we are going to recommend: call our Sunnyvale dental team to explain your symptoms and schedule an appointment so we can pinpoint what’s causing your discomfort.

My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?

Remember, both small and large chips can leave your tooth vulnerable to an infection. That’s why we recommend scheduling an exam, even if you aren’t in any pain. That said, a same-day visit to our office may not be necessary; scheduling an appointment before the end of the week should do.

Can superglue be used to repair broken dentures?

Superglue should NEVER be used to repair broken dentures (or any other restoration, for that matter). The reason why is simple: it contains toxins that are not safe to ingest.

What does chronic bad breath mean?

Have you noticed that there is a persistent odor on your breath? If it’s immediately following a meal that’s filled with fish, garlic, and onions, that’s completely normal. If there doesn’t seem to be a trigger and the smell doesn’t go away even after brushing and flossing your teeth, then an untreated oral health problem may be to blame. We recommend coming in for an exam within the next week or two so we can assess the condition of your teeth and gums. If we notice anything concerning, we will bring it to your attention, discuss your treatment options, and move forward with the necessary care.

Are toothpicks safe to use?

There are two main reasons we don’t recommend using toothpicks. The first is that the sharp edge can have the opposite effect, like pushing the food particles between your teeth into your gums. The second is that they can be deadly if swallowed. That’s why it’s best to reach for floss instead.

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Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? With so many potential causes for toothaches, it’s hard to know if it’s an emergency until we examine your mouth. However, if you notice severe pain, chronic discomfort that lasts for days, swelling or fever coupled with tooth pain, or pimple-like bumps on the gums, call our office immediately.

How you should handle a toothache: Start by using floss to remove any food debris that may be present in between your teeth. If pain continues, you can take ibuprofen to alleviate your toothache in the meantime as well as apply a cold compress to your cheek to reduce any swelling. However, you should never try to pop any pimple-like bumps that appear on your gum tissue.

How we treat toothaches: When you arrive, our office will examine your tooth and determine the best treatment to resolve it. Depending on the cause, we could recommend any number of treatments, including dental fillings, crowns, gum disease treatment, root canal therapy, and even extractions (only as a last resort).

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? More often than not, chipped teeth do not constitute as a dental emergency. However, you should still schedule a visit to see us so that we can perform an exam. Chipped teeth are at higher risk of becoming more damaged, harming your oral structures (such as your gums and facial tissue), and developing an infection.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Collect any pieces of your tooth that you can and bring them to our office. Take ibuprofen to alleviate any pain and use a cold compress to manage swelling. Do not touch the tooth or attempt to repair it with any broken pieces of your tooth.

How we treat chipped teeth: While chipped teeth can be repaired with tooth-colored composite resin. In some cases, chips can be very visible in the smile. For that reason, a veneer may be a better solution for maintaining your natural appearance.

Learn More About Direct Bonding

Learn More About Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? If teeth have only experienced minor damage, you can probably wait until regular business hours to have it treated. However, if you are in pain or a crack extends below the gum line, call our office right away. If you notice pain while biting down, cracks may be present even if you cannot see them.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Avoid touching or applying pressure to the tooth to prevent future cracking. Use a cold compress to reduce swelling if it is present, but don’t apply it for more than 10 minutes at a time. After removing the cold compress for 10 minutes, you can repeat the on and off process for up to one hour.

How we treat cracked teeth: When damage to the tooth is minor overall, we may be able to restore the tooth using tooth-colored composite resin or direct bonding alone. However, more severe cracks could require a dental crown. If the tooth is very badly cracked, an extraction may be the only option to avoid long-term damage to your oral health.

Learn More About Direct Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Sensitive teeth can be a result of enamel erosion, a chipped tooth, or a cracked tooth. In any of these cases, it’s important to visit your emergency dentist to avoid more serious problems down the road, like tooth infections.

How should I handle very sensitive teeth? If your teeth are always sensitive, you could try using a special toothpaste like Sensodyne to remineralize your enamel and minimize discomfort. However, if it’s a result of a chipped or cracked tooth, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication.

How we treat very sensitive teeth: Our team can fix sensitivity caused by dental damage with direct bonding, a dental crown, or root canal therapy, depending on what the underlying issue is and its severity.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is my knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Yes, and you should always call our office immediately, because time is of the essence in this situation. We recommend that patients who knocked out a tooth get to our practice within an hour of the incident to increase the chances that we can successfully re-plant the tooth back in its socket.

How should I handle a knocked-out tooth? First, call your emergency dentist in Sunnyvale immediately. Retrieve your tooth, being sure to only handle it by the biting surface, and rinse it under a cool, gentle stream of water. If you’re able to place it back in its socket, you can do so, or you can store it in a sealable container of milk or salt water to keep it viable. Just don’t forget to bring the tooth to your appointment!

How we treat knocked-out teeth: If we’re able to successfully re-plant the tooth in its socket, that’s the only thing that we’ll need to do. However, if we can’t, we’ll discuss tooth replacement options with you to restore your lost tooth in Sunnyvale.

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? Even though a missing filling or lost dental crown in Sunnyvale may not require immediate attention, it’s still crucial for you to address this issue in a timely manner to ensure that it doesn’t progress into something more serious.

How should I handle a lost filling or crown? If you’re able to find your lost restoration, rinse it off under a cool stream of water. You can place it back onto your affected tooth using a dab of denture adhesive or toothpaste. If you can’t find your filling or crown, you can go to your local corner store/pharmacy and get a lost filling and loose crown repair kit as a temporary solution.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns: If your restoration is repairable, we’ll do that; however, if it isn’t, we’ll need to professionally replace it to protect the inner, more vulnerable structures of your tooth.

Broken Dentures

Is my broken denture a dental emergency? Broken dentures in Sunnyvale are a dental emergency, because without them, basic tasks like eating and speaking will be incredibly difficult. Plus, if you continue to wear your broken or cracked dentures, it could lead to oral infections or painful irritations on the gums.

How should I handle a broken denture? Some patients panic and try to superglue their dentures back together, but you should never try to fix a broken denture on your own. Instead, call your emergency dentist in Sunnyvale, and Dr. Philip will try to fit you in the same day to repair your prosthetic.

How we treat broken dentures: In some cases, broken dentures can be repaired with composite resin or be readjusted in our office so they fit better. However, if they’re completely broken, they’ll need to be professionally replaced. If you’re interested, we can speak with you about the possibility of upgrading to implant dentures as well.

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a loose permanent tooth a dental emergency? A loose permanent tooth can be partially dislodged and cause you pain, which should be addressed with an emergency dental appointment. Our team can help keep it from needing to be completely removed if you act quickly.

How should I handle a loose permanent tooth? To help with discomfort, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication or place a cold compress on your face for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, for no longer than an hour at a time. Be sure to call our office immediately and do not remove the tooth from its socket.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: We may be able to salvage your tooth, depending on the extent of the damage, by re-planting it back in its socket. If we aren’t able to, we’ll likely remove it and recommend a tooth replacement solution like an implant-retained crown to restore it.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? If you cut or injure your mouth, it’s a good idea to clean up the wound (if possible) and have the area examined by a professional to make sure there’s no collateral damage.

How should I handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue? To stop any bleeding, you can place a piece of sterile gauze onto the area and gently press against it. For pain, you can take an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or place a cold compress on the affected part of your face for 10 minutes at a time.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: If the bleeding doesn’t stop within 10 to 15 minutes, you may require stitches, so we recommend visiting the emergency wound. If you’re worried about oral damage that you can’t see, feel free to schedule an emergency appointment with us so we can examine your mouth more closely.

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? Jaw pain can be a regular occurrence if you have a condition known as TMJ disorder, so it doesn’t always require immediate attention. When you visit our office, we’ll be able to examine your jaw and determine what the source of your discomfort is though, so we recommend you come in sooner rather than later.

How should I handle jaw pain? Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and cold compresses applied to the face to numb the area can help with the discomfort. When you call our office, we can also provide you with some jaw exercises and massages as well. If your jaw hurts because it could be broken or dislocated, then you should visit the emergency room for immediate medical attention.

How we treat jaw pain: The treatment you’ll receive will depend on what is causing your jaw pain. If it’s a result of bruxism (nightly teeth grinding), then we can craft you a customized nightguard to ease your tension and jaw discomfort. If it’s due to TMJ disorder, we offer TMJ therapy that’s customized to meet your needs.

Something Stuck Between Teeth

To remove something that’s stuck between your teeth, try to gently maneuver a piece of dental floss around the area. If you’re still not able to dislodge it, we ask that you don’t try to remove it with anything else because you could damage your gums. Instead, visit our office. We have special tools that we can use to easily and safely remove the debris.

Have Questions? We’ve Got the Answers.