Emergency Orthodontist — Allen, TX

Every Orthodontic Emergency Is Different

The cost of your treatment will depend primarily on the details of your emergency situation. Something like a loose bracket or wire may be fairly simple to correct and not require a lot of money. If something is stuck between your teeth, it should be pretty easy to remove.

On the other hand, if the situation is more complex, you may end up paying a lot more money. For example, if you broke your retainer, you may need to pay for a replacement. If you have a severe oral health issue, such as a deep cut in your soft tissue or spots of decay in your teeth, we may have to perform extensive treatment. We might even need to coordinate with your general dentist or another specialist to make sure everything gets taken care of.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Orthodontic Emergencies?

Every dental insurance plan is unique, so there is no way to predict how your benefits might apply to your situation. Some dental plans have a lifetime orthodontic maximum. If you used the entirety of that maximum to pay for your braces upfront, you might not have any coverage available. If your emergency is directly related to the state of your teeth, though, your regular dental coverage might pay for a portion of your care. Our team welcomes insurance, and we will do all we can to help you understand how your benefits apply in any given situation.

Other Options for Making Orthodontic Emergencies Affordable

Beyond insurance, there are other provisions that might make it easier for you to manage the cost of your orthodontic emergency. For example, the Allen Orthodontics team offers no-interest payment plans for various services. This in-house service is easy to sign up for, and it can allow you to pay for your treatment gradually over time.

You might also be able to use your healthcare savings account or flexible spending account to pay for your treatment.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

The best way to reduce the cost of orthodontic emergencies is by taking great care of your smile. Here are some tips that can help you to reduce your risk of running into an emergency situation (or reduce the severity of an emergency):

• Be sure to attend all scheduled orthodontic checkups.
• Do not neglect regular preventive care with your general dentist.
• Be careful when you are eating — you should avoid sticky and hard foods that might damage your braces.
• If you feel that something is wrong with your orthodontic treatment, reach out for treatment as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the situation will worsen and lead to increased expenses.

Prioritize Your Check-In Visits

In addition to prioritizing your biannual dental checkups and cleanings, you should prioritize your check-in visits with our Allen orthodontic team. At each appointment, we take the time to ensure your braces are in good shape and no problems or issues are present. We also use these visits as an opportunity to make sure your teeth are moving as anticipated and that we answer any questions you have.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Since tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems can result in treatment plan delays, it’s extremely important that you do what you can to keep your teeth and gums healthy. That starts with brushing your teeth (and braces) after each meal and extends to flossing and rinsing with mouthwash daily. You might find it helpful to buy some special oral hygiene products, like an interproximal toothbrush and pre-threaded floss.

Don’t Eat Anything Crunchy

At the beginning of your orthodontic treatment, we’ll let you know if you need to adjust your diet in any way. If you have traditional braces or a lot of attachments, then we recommend not eating anything hard, sticky, or crunchy. Raw carrots, certain nuts, popcorn, tortilla chips, and thin pizza crust are a few examples. The best thing to do is stock up on plain yogurt, oatmeal, eggs, soups, whole-grain pasta, and other softer foods that are also nutrient-dense.

Wear a Mouthguard When Playing Sports

The good news is that starting orthodontic treatment doesn’t mean ending your participation in sports like soccer, football, and wrestling. Instead, it means that you need to wear a protective mouthguard while on the field, court, or mat. In fact, we may even recommend having a custom mouthguard made if you skateboard, surf, or participate in another solo sport.

Quit Unhealthy Dental Habits

Do you bite your nails? Do you chew on the back of your pen? Do you use your teeth to tear into plastic wrapping? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, there’s no time like the present to quit. After all, the last thing you want is to damage your teeth and braces in the process, resulting in a painful dental injury and delays to your treatment plan.

How should I sleep with tooth pain?

Throughout your orthodontic treatment, you may experience some tooth pain (typically following your adjustment appointments). The good news is that there are several measures you can take to alleviate your discomfort and sleep soundly. First, don’t eat anything particularly chewy or crunchy for dinner, like tortilla chips. Next, take an OTC pain reliever about 30 minutes before bed. You can also place a cold compress against the outside of your cheek for 10 minutes at a time, which will help alleviate uncomfortable inflammation.

Should I visit the emergency room first for orthodontic emergencies?

Remember, hospitals don’t typically have dental professionals on staff. Therefore, you shouldn’t head there first unless you’re experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding, difficulty swallowing, or a fractured jaw. For “straightforward” orthodontic emergencies (i.e., broken brackets, loose wires, lost retainers), your first call should be to our Allen orthodontic office.

What does throbbing tooth pain mean?

Although some soreness is normal with braces, throbbing tooth pain is not. Typically, this is a symptom of a serious dental emergency, like a large crack or an infection. That’s why we recommend bringing any abnormal symptoms to our team’s attention early on. That way, we can determine what the cause is and what the next best steps are ASAP.

Do I need to visit for minor chips to teeth?

In short, the answer is “yes.” Even though small chips may not seem like much of an issue (and may not cause you any pain), they do warrant a visit. We need to make sure none of your other teeth were damaged and that the chipped tooth isn’t at risk of becoming infected or splitting further.

Are toothpicks safe to use?

If you have something stuck between your teeth or around a bracket, don’t use a sharp object, like a toothpick or tweezers. This can quickly result in a soft tissue injury that does require immediate attention. Instead, we recommend loosening the debris by rinsing your mouth with a mixture of warm water and salt. Then, use your toothbrush or some floss to clean the area thoroughly. If you don’t have any luck with this, then call our team to schedule an appointment.