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Emergency Dentist

Contact us in immediately if you or a loved one needs urgent dental care; the doctors at Thrive Dental will arrange to see you as soon as possible for emergency dentistry.

Dental emergencies don’t wait. If you’re in pain, have a broken tooth, a knocked-out tooth, or a dental abscess right now — call your nearest Thrive location. We do everything we can to see emergency patients the same day.

 

Find your nearest location and call now

 

Same-Day Emergency Dental Care Across Dallas

At Thrive Dental & Orthodontics, we reserve appointment slots specifically for dental emergencies at all six of our Dallas-area offices. When you call us with an urgent situation, our team will get you in as quickly as possible — in most cases the same day.

We serve emergency patients in Allen, Frisco, Sachse, Richardson, North Dallas, and Dallas. Call the location closest to you and let us know you have a dental emergency — we’ll take it from there.

Dental emergencies are stressful. Our team is trained to handle urgent situations calmly and efficiently, and we’ll talk you through exactly what to do while you’re on your way in.

 

Is This a Dental Emergency? Signs You Need to Be Seen Today

When in doubt, call us. Some situations are clearly urgent; others feel ambiguous. Here is guidance on what requires same-day care and what can wait a day or two.

 

Situations that require immediate care — call now

Situations that are urgent but can wait a day or two

 

  • A lost dental crown or filling with no severe pain — cover with dental wax or temporary cement from a pharmacy
  • A chipped tooth with no pain or sharp edges — rinse and save the fragment if possible
  • Mild toothache without swelling — monitor and call us in the morning
  • A broken orthodontic wire causing mild irritation — cover with orthodontic wax and call your orthodontic office

 

The rule of thumb: if you’re in significant pain, have visible swelling, or have a knocked-out tooth — don’t wait. Call us now.

What to Do in a Dental Emergency — Step by Step

Knocked-out permanent tooth

This is the most time-sensitive dental emergency. Every minute counts.


  1. Pick up the tooth by the crown — never touch the root
  2. If it’s dirty, rinse gently with clean water — do not scrub, dry, or wrap in tissue
  3. If possible, gently reinsert the tooth into the socket and hold it in place by biting down on a clean cloth
  4. If reinsertion isn’t possible, keep the tooth moist — in a glass of milk, in saline solution, or tucked inside your cheek between gum and cheek
  5. Call us immediately and come straight in — do not wait
  6. Do not store the tooth in plain water — it damages the root cells

A permanent tooth reimplanted within 30 minutes has the best chance of survival. After an hour, the odds drop significantly. Call while you’re on your way.


Do not attempt to reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth — this can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Call us for guidance.

 

Severe toothache

  • Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clean the area
  • Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed — do not place aspirin directly on the tooth or gum
  • Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek for 15–20 minutes at a time
  • Do not put heat on the area — it can worsen swelling
  • Call us as soon as possible — a severe toothache often indicates infection or pulp damage that won’t resolve on its own

 

Cracked or broken tooth

  • Rinse your mouth gently with warm water
  • Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
  • If there are sharp fragments, do not try to remove them yourself
  • Save any large pieces if possible and bring them with you
  • Take over-the-counter pain medication as needed
  • Call us immediately — a cracked tooth that has reached the nerve requires root canal treatment or extraction if left untreated

 

Dental abscess

A dental abscess is a pocket of infection in or around a tooth root or in the gum tissue. It is not something to manage at home and wait out.


Signs of an abscess include a severe, persistent toothache, sensitivity to hot and cold, fever, swelling in the face or jaw, a foul taste in the mouth, and a pimple-like swelling on the gum.


A spreading dental infection can move to the jaw, neck, and in serious cases the airway. If you have facial swelling alongside tooth pain and difficulty swallowing or breathing, go to an emergency room immediately — this is a medical emergency. Otherwise call us and come in urgently.


Do not lance or try to drain an abscess yourself. We will treat the infection, relieve the pain, and determine whether a root canal or extraction is needed to resolve the source.

 

Lost crown or filling

  • If you can, temporarily re-cement a crown using dental cement available at most pharmacies (Dentemp is a common brand)
  • Do not use super glue
  • Avoid chewing on that side of the mouth
  • If the exposed tooth is causing significant sensitivity or pain, call us for a same-day appointment
  • If it’s manageable, book the next available appointment — don’t leave a crown off for more than a few days, as the tooth can shift

 

Soft tissue injuries — cuts to the gums, tongue, or cheeks

  • Rinse gently with warm salt water
  • Apply firm, steady pressure with a clean cloth or gauze for 15–20 minutes
  • A cold compress on the outside of the face helps with swelling
  • If bleeding doesn’t stop after 20 minutes of steady pressure, go to an urgent care or emergency room

Emergency Dental Treatments We Provide

When you come in for emergency care at Thrive, our team assesses the situation fully before recommending treatment. We will always explain what’s happening and what your options are before proceeding. Emergency treatments we provide include:

 

Emergency root canals — when infection has reached the tooth pulp, a root canal relieves the pain and saves the tooth. This is among the most common emergency procedures we perform and is far more comfortable than most patients expect.

 

Emergency tooth extractions — when a tooth is too damaged or infected to save, extraction eliminates the source of pain and prevents further spread of infection. We discuss tooth replacement options at the same appointment.

 

Emergency dental crowns — for broken teeth, a crown restores structure and function. In some cases we can place a temporary crown the same day.

 

Treatment of dental abscesses — drainage of the infection, antibiotic prescription as needed, and treatment of the underlying cause.

 

Re-cementing crowns and replacing lost fillings — quick, same-day fixes for displaced restorations.

 

Tooth reimplantation — for knocked-out permanent teeth when the patient arrives promptly with the tooth properly preserved.

 

Sedation dentistry — for patients with significant dental anxiety or those facing more involved emergency procedures, we offer sedation options to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

Emergency Dental Care for Children

Kids have dental emergencies too — and they’re often scarier for the parent than the child. Our team is experienced with pediatric dental emergencies and handles them with extra care and calm.

For a child who has knocked out a baby tooth, do not reinsert it — bring the tooth and your child to us and we will assess whether any intervention is needed. For a knocked-out permanent tooth in a child, follow the same protocol as for adults — time is equally critical.

Common children’s dental emergencies we treat include knocked-out or displaced teeth, broken teeth from falls or sports, toothaches from untreated cavities, dental infections, and injuries to the lips, gums, or tongue.

We create as calm and reassuring an environment as possible for children in stressful situations — and we’re always happy to walk parents through what to do before you arrive.

Orthodontic Emergencies

Broken brackets, poking wires, lost aligners, and loose bands are orthodontic emergencies that need prompt attention. While most don’t rise to the level of a medical emergency, they can cause pain and disrupt your treatment progress if left unaddressed.

For a poking wire, cover the end with orthodontic wax immediately. If it’s causing significant injury and can’t be managed with wax, you can carefully clip the end with clean nail clippers as a temporary measure. For a broken bracket or loose band, call our emergency orthodontist line — we’ll get you in quickly for a repair.

Do not stop wearing your Invisalign aligners if one is lost or damaged — revert to the previous set and contact us right away to minimize tooth movement.

How Much Does Emergency Dental Care Cost?

Emergency dental costs vary depending on what treatment is needed — a re-cemented crown costs very differently from a root canal. What doesn’t vary is our commitment to transparency: we’ll always discuss costs and options before beginning treatment so there are no surprises.

We accept most major dental insurance plans, and our team will verify your benefits on the spot when possible. For patients without insurance, our dental discount plan provides meaningful savings on emergency and restorative procedures. Financing options are also available for larger treatment costs. Visit our insurance page for details.

Do not let cost concerns prevent you from seeking urgent dental care. An untreated dental infection can become a serious — and far more expensive — health situation very quickly.

If you’re in dental pain right now, stop reading and call us. Our team is ready to help.

Find your nearest Thrive location Allen, Frisco, Sachse, Richardson, North Dallas, or Dallas.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Braces

What counts as a dental emergency?

Any situation involving severe pain, facial swelling, a knocked-out tooth, uncontrolled bleeding, or signs of infection (abscess, fever alongside tooth pain) is a dental emergency requiring same-day care. When in doubt, call us — we’d always rather assess a situation that turns out to be non-urgent than have a patient wait too long on something serious.

Call another Thrive location — we have six across the Dallas area. If you’re experiencing facial swelling spreading toward the eye or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or uncontrolled bleeding, go to an emergency room immediately

Our hours vary by location — check your nearest Thrive office for current weekend availability. We recommend calling rather than booking online for dental emergencies so we can triage properly and confirm same-day availability

The pain may come and go, but the underlying cause — decay, infection, or pulp damage — will not resolve without treatment. A toothache that improves on its own is often a sign that the nerve has died, not that the problem is gone. The infection can still spread. See us as soon as possible.

Signs include severe, persistent tooth pain, swelling in the gum or jaw, a bad taste in the mouth, fever, and sometimes a pimple-like bump on the gum. An abscess requires professional treatment — it will not resolve on its own and carries real risk of spreading if untreated.

It depends on the severity. A small chip with no pain or sharp edge can wait a day or two. A break that has exposed the nerve — causing sharp pain when you breathe air, bite, or touch the tooth — is urgent and should be seen same-day. When in doubt, call us and we’ll help you assess.

When a dental emergency happens, the pain and stress can feel overwhelming. I want patients to know that getting prompt care can make all the difference. We’re here to help relieve discomfort quickly, protect your smile, and guide you through the steps to recovery with compassion and clarity.

Dr. Christine Coughlin

Dr. Christine Coughlin

Chief Clinical Officer - Dentist

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