What to Do Right Now If You Have a Dental Emergency
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency in North San Antonio, take these immediate steps while determining your next move:
Immediate Actions to Take:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area
- Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze if there’s bleeding
- Use a cold compress on your cheek to reduce swelling
- Take over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the package to mitigate the pain from a severe toothache
Dealing with a knocked out tooth? Locate the tooth and hold it by the crown. Rinse it gently without scrubbing and try to place it back in the socket if possible. If that’s not feasible, keep it moist in milk or saliva.
Your Next Steps
During Our Normal Business Hours
Blanco Crossing Dental is a general dentistry office in Stone Oak that offers emergency dental care during normal business hours Monday through Friday. Unfortunately, we aren’t a 24 hour emergency dental service, and don’t provide weekend dentist availability.
If you’re in need of emergency dental care during our normal business hours, call now. We can generally get most people in for same day emergency dental services. The earlier you call during the day, the more likely it is we will be able to fit you in.
Urgent Dental Care Outside of Normal Business Hours
If your emergency happens after hours, focus on managing pain and preventing further damage until morning. You’ll then wish to call Blanco Crossing Dental first thing in the morning when we open – which is 8am on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 9am on Wednesdays. We prioritize same-day emergency appointments for patients experiencing urgent dental issues in the Stone Oak area.
After Normal Working Hours and Need Immediate Attention?
- Your Regular San Antonio Family Dentist – Your regular dentist may have Extended Hours – Most dental offices have a day or two each week where they over emergency dental care past 5 pm. It is worth checking to see if your normal dentist offers these additional hours
- Emergency Dentistry Offices – When this article was published, there were multiple emergency dental care centers in Northern San Antonio which offer emergency dentistry services as late as 9pm. It is difficult for us to keep this list current, so your best bet would be to use your favorite search engine and search for after hours dentists in San Antonio (for best results include your zip code).
- Emergency Room – For extreme cases you may wish to consider going to your local San Antonio ER. The emergency room is not a substitute for an emergency dentist, but if your dental problem is severe (or life threatening), they can provide you with some assistance to fight infection and keep pain in check. We’ll cover more information about visiting the ER below.
American Dental Association Guide to Dental Emergencies
The American Dental Association has advice on dental emergencies. View the video below for guidance.
Common Dental Emergencies
Below is a list of some of the more common dental emergencies:
- Knocked-out tooth — requires immediate action; placing the tooth back in its socket or keeping it moist in milk gives a dentist the best chance of reimplanting it within the first hour.
- Severe toothache — severe pain often signals an underlying infection or abscess, causing intense throbbing pain, swelling, and potentially fever if left untreated.
- Cracked or fractured teeth — caused by biting hard objects or trauma, these can range from minor chips to deep splits that expose the nerve and need urgent care.
- Lost fillings or crowns — leave the tooth vulnerable to sensitivity and further decay; temporary dental cement or sugar-free gum can protect the area until you see a dentist.
- Soft tissue injuries — cuts or lacerations to the gums, tongue, lips, or cheeks can bleed heavily and may require stitches.
- Dental abscesses — particularly dangerous because the infection can spread to the jaw, head, or neck if not drained and treated with antibiotics promptly.
- Objects lodged between teeth — can cause pain and gum damage; gentle flossing usually helps, but sharp objects should be handled by a dentist.
- In any of these situations, contacting a dentist or visiting an emergency room quickly is the single most important step you can take.
When to Go to the ER vs. Wait for Your Dentist
Emergency rooms can stabilize life-threatening conditions but lack the tools and specialists to treat dental problems, while urgent care facilities typically don’t handle tooth emergencies at all.
Why the Emergency Room Can’t Fix Dental Problems
Hospital emergency rooms in Stone Oak and North San Antonio treat medical emergencies, not dental ones. If you visit an emergency room for tooth pain, doctors can prescribe antibiotics for infections and pain medication for relief, but they cannot perform fillings, extractions, or root canals.
ERs don’t have dental chairs, specialized lighting, or the equipment needed for dental procedures. The staff includes physicians and nurses trained in medicine, not dentistry.
You’ll likely face long wait times and high costs—sometimes exceeding $1,000—only to receive temporary relief and a referral to see a dentist anyway. The ER becomes necessary only when you experience:
- Uncontrolled bleeding that won’t stop after 15 minutes of pressure
- Severe facial swelling affecting your breathing or ability to swallow
- Jaw fractures from trauma or accidents
- High fever above 101°F with facial swelling
If you’re experiencing standard tooth pain without these symptoms, waiting until morning to call Blanco Crossing Dental will save time and money.
What About Urgent Care?
Like the ER, Urgent care centers in the Northern San Antonio area generally do not treat dental emergencies. These facilities focus on minor injuries, illnesses, and basic medical care.
Most urgent care locations lack dental equipment and don’t employ dentists on staff. Like emergency rooms, they can only provide temporary solutions such as pain relievers or antibiotics for dental infections.
Calling urgent care about a toothache typically results in being told to contact a dentist. Some facilities might address facial trauma or wounds near the mouth, but they cannot fix cracked teeth, replace lost crowns, or address abscesses at the source.
If you experience a dental emergency after hours in Stone Oak or surrounding areas, contact Blanco Crossing Dental first thing in the morning.
How to Manage Tooth Pain at Home Tonight
When tooth pain strikes after hours, you need immediate relief strategies while you wait to contact Blanco Crossing Dental in the morning.
Immediate Pain Relief Methods:
- Cold compress: Apply to the outside of your cheek for 15-20 minutes to reduce swelling and numb pain
- Salt water rinse: Mix half a teaspoon of salt in warm water and swish gently to reduce inflammation
- Over-the-counter pain relievers: Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed on the package
- Elevation: Keep your head elevated with pillows to minimize blood flow to the affected area
Avoid applying aspirin directly to your gums, as this can burn tissue. Do not use extremely hot or cold foods and beverages, which can worsen sensitivity.
If you’re dealing with a broken tooth or lost filling, temporary dental cement (like Dentemp or Recap-it) from your local pharmacy in North San Antonio can protect the area overnight. For food stuck between teeth causing pain, gentle flossing may provide relief.
When to Seek Emergency Care:
You should go to an emergency room if you experience severe swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or signs of infection with fever.
For dental emergencies in San Antonio, call Blanco Crossing Dental first thing in the morning. The practice prioritizes same-day emergency appointments for patients experiencing dental pain.
Same-Day Emergency Appointments at Blanco Crossing Dental
Blanco Crossing Dental offers same-day emergency appointments for patients but we unfortunately don’t have a 24-hour availability.
Our Hours and How to Request an Urgent Slot
The office is open Monday and Tuesday from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Wednesday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and Friday from 8:00am to 2:00pm. If you experience a dental emergency after hours or on the weekend, call (210) 314-7949 first thing the next business day to request a same-day emergency slot for immediate care.
Our San Antonio dentist, Dr. Jabbour, and his team prioritize urgent cases like severe tooth pain, chipped teeth, and dental trauma for our central Texas patients. Same-day emergency dentist appointments are generally available most weekdays, allowing you to receive prompt care without waiting days for relief.
You can call the office directly or book online, though calling typically ensures faster scheduling for urgent situations. The staff will work to accommodate your emergency within regular business hours, providing professional care for your dental issue when you need it most.
Emergency Dental Costs With and Without Insurance
Emergency dental costs in Stone Oak and North San Antonio vary depending on the type of treatment you need. Understanding potential expenses helps you prepare when dental emergencies strike.
Common Emergency Dental Costs:
- Emergency exam and X-rays: $100-$400
- Simple tooth extraction: $200-$600
- Root canal therapy: $700-$2,500
- Dental crown: $800-$2,500
- Treatment for abscessed tooth: $300-$3,000
With Dental Insurance
Most PPO dental insurance plans cover 50-80% of emergency dental procedures after you meet your deductible. Your out-of-pocket costs typically range from $50-$500 for basic emergency visits.
Insurance coverage often includes diagnostic services, pain management, and necessary treatments to stabilize your condition. Always verify your specific benefits before treatment.
Insurance Carriers We Accept
Note that we accept PPO insurance plans from most major insurance providers. A list is provided below (note that we may accept insurance providers that aren’t listed on this list). Sorry, but we don’t accept HMOs or Dental HMO (DHMO) insurance plans.
- Aetna
- Ameritas
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
- Cigna
- Delta Dental
- Dental Select
- GEHA
- Guardian
- Humana
- MetLife
- Principal
- United Concordia
- United Healthcare
Without Insurance (Emergency Dental Care Without Insurance)
If you don’t have insurance, you can either pay Cash, or take advantage of many of the payment plan offerings (like CareCredit) to get the emergency dental care that you need.
Blanco Crossing Dental works with patients to create affordable payment solutions. When you experience a dental emergency after hours, call the office first thing in the morning to secure a same-day emergency slot. The team will discuss all costs upfront and help you understand your payment options before beginning treatment.
