Emergency Dentist in Decatur, TX: Same-Day Care for Pain, Trauma, and Infection
A dental emergency is any problem that needs prompt attention to stop pain, control infection, or save a tooth: a severe toothache, a broken or knocked-out tooth, an abscess, swelling, or bleeding that won't stop. At Christian Family Dentistry, we reserve time for same-day emergency appointments, and you don't have to be an existing patient to get one. Call us, describe what's happening, and we'll tell you exactly what to do next, whether that's coming straight in or heading to the ER first. When you arrive, Dr. Nwokorie diagnoses the cause, gets you out of pain, and treats the problem, often in the same visit.
Same-day appointments · New patients welcome · On-site 3D imaging · English and Spanish spoken
A knocked-out tooth has its best chance of being saved when it's back in place within 30 minutes.
Dental emergencies are time-sensitive. The sooner you call, the more options we have to relieve your pain and save your tooth.
Call Us Today, or Go to the ER First?
Most dental emergencies belong in a dental office: an ER can control pain and prescribe antibiotics, but it usually can't fix the tooth itself. A small number of situations are medical emergencies first. Here's how to tell the difference.
Urgent Dental Care We Treat In-Office
- Severe toothachePersistent pain that doesn't improve with over-the-counter medication. See what helps a toothache until your visit →
- Broken or chipped toothEspecially with pain, sensitivity, or a sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek.
- Abscess or gum swellingSigns of infection like a bump on the gum, pus, or a bad taste. An abscess will not resolve on its own.
- Knocked-out or loose toothMinutes matter. Follow the steps below and call while you're on the way.
- Lost crown or filling with painExposed tooth structure is sensitive and vulnerable. We can protect it quickly.
- Bleeding that won't stopGum or mouth bleeding that continues after 10 to 15 minutes of gentle pressure.
Medical Emergencies That Come Before Dental Care
- Trouble breathing or swallowingAny difficulty breathing, swallowing, or a feeling that your airway is closing.
- Swelling spreading toward the eye or neckRapidly worsening swelling beyond the mouth can mean a spreading infection.
- Major facial traumaSevere injuries to the face or jaw from a car accident, fall, or sports injury.
- High fever with facial swellingA fever alongside facial or mouth swelling can indicate a serious infection.
After the ER stabilizes you, call us: the tooth that caused the problem still needs definitive treatment, and the ER can't provide it.
Not sure which side you're on? Take a look at our quick guide on whether it's a dental emergency, or just call us. Describing your symptoms over the phone takes two minutes and we'll point you in the right direction.
Is It a Dental Emergency? At a Glance
Knocked-Out Tooth? Do These Four Things Right Now
A knocked-out permanent tooth can often be replanted if it's handled correctly and treated quickly. Here's the protocol, and call us while you're doing it.
Hold It by the Crown
Pick the tooth up by the top (the part you chew with), never the root. The root surface is covered in living cells that replanting depends on.
Rinse Gently
If it's dirty, rinse briefly with water. Don't scrub it, don't use soap, and don't wrap it in tissue.
Keep It Moist
Best option: place it back in the socket and bite gently on gauze. If you can't, keep it in milk or a tooth-preservation solution. Avoid tap water for storage.
Get Here Within 30 Minutes
Time is the single biggest factor in saving the tooth. Call (940) 304-0205 on the way and we'll be ready for you.
One exception: never reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth. Keep it moist, bring it in, and we'll check that the adult tooth underneath wasn't damaged.
What Happens at an Emergency Dental Appointment
Emergency visits follow a simple sequence: find the cause, stop the pain, treat the problem. Here's what that looks like at our Decatur office.
- Exam and history: Dr. Nwokorie reviews your symptoms, medications, and health history, then examines the area
- Imaging when needed: digital X-rays or a 3D cone-beam scan show what's happening below the gumline before anything is done
- Pain and infection control: numbing the area, draining an abscess, or prescribing antibiotics when clinically indicated
- Treatment or stabilization: many problems are treated the same day. Complex cases are stabilized with a clear plan for definitive care
- A plan you understand: before anything happens, you know what we found, what we recommend, and what it involves
Nervous on top of being in pain? That's normal, and it's exactly what our sedation dentistry options are for.
Can We Pull the Tooth the Same Day? Often, Yes.
If a tooth is beyond saving, an emergency tooth extraction can usually happen the same day, after an exam and X-ray confirm it's the right call and it's safe to proceed. Because Dr. Nwokorie completed residency training in oral surgery, even surgical extractions and broken-down teeth are handled in our office instead of being referred out. Curious who handles what? See our guide on when you need an oral surgeon vs. a dentist.
Two honest caveats. First, severe swelling, certain medical conditions, or sedation needs can mean we manage the infection first and extract at a short follow-up: rushing an extraction into an infected, swollen site isn't good care. Second, if the tooth can be saved, we'll tell you. A root canal often relieves the same pain while keeping your natural tooth, and extraction isn't automatically the fastest path out of pain.
- Same-day extractions for most qualifying cases
- Surgical extractions performed in-house
- 3D imaging before any extraction near nerves or sinuses
- A straight answer when saving the tooth is the better option
You Don't Have to Be an Existing Patient to Get Emergency Care
Plenty of the emergencies we see are people who've never set foot in our office: new to Decatur, between dentists, or whose regular office couldn't fit them in. We take same-day emergency appointments from new patients whenever our schedule allows, and we keep room in the schedule for exactly this reason.
When you call, tell us: what hurts and how badly, whether there's swelling, fever, or bleeding, when it started, and whether there was an injury. That two-minute conversation lets us triage properly, give you first-aid instructions for the drive, and have the right operatory ready when you walk in.
What to bring: a photo ID, your insurance information if you have it, a list of medications and allergies, and any recent dental X-rays if they're easy to get. Don't have insurance? Come anyway. We'll talk through costs before treatment, and our patient forms are available online so you can save time in the waiting room.
What Emergency Dental Care Costs in Decatur
The cost of an emergency visit depends on what's wrong and what it takes to fix it: an exam and X-ray to diagnose the problem, then whatever treatment the tooth needs, from a filling or crown to a root canal or extraction. Most dental insurance plans cover emergency exams and a meaningful portion of the treatment that follows. We verify your benefits and give you a clear number before treatment begins, not after.
No insurance? We offer an uninsured-patient discount and CareCredit financing, so getting out of pain doesn't have to wait for payday. What we won't do is let cost questions go unanswered: you'll know where you stand before you're in the chair.
In pain right now?
Call us. We'll triage your symptoms over the phone, tell you what to do until your visit, and get you the first available same-day slot.
(940) 304-0205 Send Us a MessageQuestions Patients Ask When Something Goes Wrong
What are the most common dental emergencies?
Severe toothache, abscess or facial swelling, broken or chipped teeth, knocked-out or loosened teeth, lost crowns or fillings with pain, and bleeding that won't stop are the emergencies we treat most often. If pain, infection, or trauma is involved, it's worth a call, and we'd rather you call about something minor than sit at home with something serious.
Can a dental emergency wait overnight?
Some can, some absolutely shouldn't. A mild, stable problem may wait until morning after a phone conversation with our team. A knocked-out tooth, uncontrolled bleeding, spreading swelling, or any trouble breathing or swallowing should not wait. When in doubt, call: phone triage is exactly what it's for.
Will the ER pull my tooth?
Almost never. Most emergency rooms don't have dental staff, so they can manage pain, prescribe antibiotics for a spreading infection, and treat trauma, but they can't perform fillings, root canals, or routine extractions. If you've been to the ER for tooth pain, you still need a dentist to treat the tooth itself, and that's where we come in.
Can a tooth abscess go away on its own?
No. The pain may temporarily ease if the abscess drains or the nerve dies, but the infection is still there and can spread into the jaw, face, or neck. An abscess needs treatment at its source: drainage plus a root canal or extraction. Antibiotics alone may limit the spread but don't eliminate the cause.
Do you take emergency walk-ins or new patients?
New patients, yes, and same-day appointments whenever our schedule allows. We recommend calling first rather than walking in: it lets us triage your symptoms, give you first-aid instructions, and have a room ready, which usually means you're seen faster than an unannounced walk-in would be.
Can an emergency dentist do a root canal?
Yes. Dr. Nwokorie performs root canal treatment in our Decatur office, and for an infected or badly damaged tooth it's often the treatment that both relieves the pain and saves the tooth. Complex cases involving unusual root anatomy are occasionally referred to an endodontist, and we'll tell you up front if yours is one of them.
Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?
It depends on the chip. A small, painless chip in the enamel can usually wait a few days for a regular appointment. A deep fracture, pain, temperature sensitivity, bleeding, looseness, or visible pink or red tissue inside the tooth means the break may have reached the nerve, and that needs urgent care. Save any broken pieces, keep them moist, and bring them with you.
What happens if you ignore a dental emergency?
It gets more expensive and less fixable. Cracks deepen, decay reaches the nerve, and infections spread, so a tooth that could have been saved with a filling or root canal may end up needing extraction. Untreated abscesses can spread into the jaw, face, or neck and, rarely, become life-threatening. Pain that suddenly stops isn't an all-clear either: it can mean the nerve has died while the infection continues.
Call First. We'll Handle the Rest.
Whether it's a toothache that kept you up all night or a tooth in a cup of milk on your passenger seat, the next step is the same: call us, tell us what's happening, and let us get you out of pain.
(940) 304-0205Address: 2100 South Reeves Lane · Decatur, TX 76234
Pain Doesn't Keep Business Hours. Call Anyway.
Dental emergencies never pick a convenient time. Call Christian Family Dentistry, and if it happens after hours, leave a message: our team follows up on emergency calls first thing.
Call (940) 304-0205Christian Family Dental
A team working to ensure you receive the best treatment.
OFFICE HOURS:
Mon – Thurs: 9am – 5pm
Friday: 9am – 2pm
(break 12pm – 1pm daily)
Closed Saturday & Sunday
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© 2022 Christian Family Dental. All Rights Reserved.
Site by InnovaFire Web Design Solutions