Emergencies

Emergency Dental Care

If you call during office hours, Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. we will schedule an appointment to evaluate an accident, pain, or facial swelling as quickly as possible.  A benefit of establishing a dental home with our practice is you will have Dr. Miller’s cell number to contact him directly after hours. The focus of the emergency visit will be to alleviate or resolve the specific dental emergency. Most dental emergencies are best managed within the first twenty-four after the accident. The sooner the better.

  • If you call after office hours and are a patient of our dental home, contact Dr. Miller directly on his cell phone.
  • If, however you are not a patient of record, please proceed to your nearest emergency room.

Non-Emergent Care

Dr. Miller will meet with you and your child to address your concerns and perform a complete dental examination or your child’s smile. We will first review their dental and medical history forms, and if indicated take X-rays of their teeth and mouth. If a need is identified for further care, this would be scheduled at our next available appointment. (FYI- not all children need a “cleaning” at their first visit. Cleaning and fluoride application is only indicated by the presence of a mature biofilm (plaque).

If you are experiencing a dental emergency please do one of the following.

  • Office Hours: Our office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Please call (432) 333-4123.
  • After Hours: We provide emergency call for only our patients of record. If you are an active patient, please call Dr. Miller directly on his cell; (432) 553-6283.  If you are not a member of our family, please proceed to your nearest emergency room.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

If your child has bitten their lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (a cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is.

Object Caught In Teeth

If your child has something caught between their teeth, use dental floss to remove it gently. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you cannot remove the item with dental floss, call us.

Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth

If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of their tooth, have them rinse their mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off. Call us immediately.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If your child’s tooth has been knocked out of the mouth, find the tooth and rinse it with water (no soap), taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it’s in place). Place the tooth in a clean container with milk. Call us immediately and/or head to the hospital. If you act quickly it's possible to save the tooth.

Loose Tooth

If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.

Toothache

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse their mouth with warm water and inspect the teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children’s pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately.

Broken Jaw

If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our emergency number and/or head to the hospital immediately. In many cases, a broken jaw is the result of a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Avoiding Injury

You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house to avoid falls. Don't let your child chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods. Always use car seats for young children and require seat belts for older children. And if your child plays contact sports, have them wear a mouthguard. Ask Dr. Miller about creating a custom-fitted mouthguard for your child. Finally, prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office.

What others say about us
Dr. Miller saved my life this morning, my son woke up with a big lump (eruption tissue) behind his tooth. As a first time mom, I had never seen anything like that. He was able to help me by text message and gave me instructions on how to remove it and explained that it was his first molar growing behind it. He also gave me the option to come in to the office if I wanted to. Just like he said we were able to remove at home it with no pain.
I appreciate Dr. Miller, he's our dentist here in Odessa. I highly... I mean HIGHLY recommend him and his team. My cousin has severe Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy and he can't do anything for himself, but Dr. Miller makes sure to get his teeth clean and back in order where we are lacking because It's difficult to keep his teeth clean. I thank you so much, Dr. Miller.
I am overjoyed at the service that Dr. Miller and his staff offer to my daughter. She went in terrified and came out excited and asked to go back. I work at Reznik Orthodontics, and he’s one of our top referrers, and I can personally see why! Thank you, Dr. Miller and staff for taking such good care of my girl today!
We have been coming to Dr. Miller’s for years, he sees all three of my children. We like him so much we are willing to drive over an hour each way. A few years ago my oldest son had a trampoline accident that resulted in him losing his front grown-up tooth. Since it was a weekend we called the emergency number and we saw him right away the next day.
My 15-month-old grandson got to see Dr. Miller and his team today. Lane is the second generation in our family to see him. His team got us in within a few days because we were worried about two teeth coming in. Dr. Miller is still the most patient person I have ever seen with children. As always, he was very thorough with the exam and answered ALL of our questions.
It was my first time coming here with my son and I love this dentist. The staff are very sweet. I love the way that they greet you and the way that they talk to you. I love Dr. Miller! He explains everything thoroughly and gets straight to the point. I love how my son loves Dr. Miller and the staff.
Hands down the VERY BEST pediatric dentist in the Permian Basin. Dr. Miller and his staff are just incredible. He was my dentist all through my childhood and now he is my son's dentist. Never have we had any issues or concerns. He is so good with children, and it shows that he definitely loves his job. He does a wonderful job keeping the children calm and feeling safe. I would, and have, recommended Dr. Miller to folks.
I have been taking my two youngest to Dr. Miller for 4 years. He is the best. He has patience with the kids and myself and is always helpful when you have questions. The staff is professional and helpful as well. Definitely one of the best pediatric dentists in the area!
Dr. Miller is amazing!! Such a sweet kind man and really understands how to get a kiddo to love the dentist! I went here for 15 years and I can remember looking forward to every visit and counting and shinning my teeth. So blessed to get to bring my daughter here now, the staff and Dr. Miller are always so so sweet and make going to the dentist such a fun experience.
Hands down best pediatric dentist around. Dr. Miller is amazing with children. Talks to the kids, explains everything he is doing, makes even the scary stuff a walk in the park. He is very personable and very informative! He also has an amazing staff! So glad my family has found him!
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