Dental Emergency
Toothache may be the most painful thing that you have ever experienced. It will certainly give you reason to hurry to your dentist for treatment as soon as possible.
Emergency dentists are usually good at dealing with some kinds of emergencies, but there are certain kinds of emergencies that they just can’t handle.
Here’s an example: If you have a severe nosebleed, you should go to the hospital or call the emergency number right away.
A regular dentist doesn’t usually need to take an emergency patient to an urgent care clinic, and an urgent care clinic isn’t usually equipped to handle a situation that severe.
There are several things you can do to get relief from a severe and unexpected allergic reaction to dental materials or medications you were prescribed by your dentist. If you’re not sure what to do, you should call your dentist and ask for advice. For example, if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms that might be a sign of a serious issue, such as an abscess or an infection in your tooth.
You should always call the police or fire department if your emergency occurs during business hours. This will give them more time to help you and your family. Dentists who provide 24-hour emergency service are few and far between. They’re not always available to answer calls at night and on weekends.
Here are some clinics almost entirely focused on treating dental emergencies.
All of these offices are staffed by dentists and assistants who work in shifts so that there is always a dentist or an assistant on-call, even on holidays and in the middle of the night.
You can find a 24/7 dental clinic by searching for a 24/7 emergency dentist in your area. A spare toothbrush and toothpaste are a great way to keep in your bag in case you experience a dental emergency outside of the time your regular dentist is
Remember that even a 24/7 emergency dental clinic is not the same as an emergency room in a hospital. They can only treat true dental emergencies and not all types of traumatic injuries.
The other hand is that you don’t want to take an unnecessary trip to the emergency room. So how do you know if you have a true dental emergency?
Common dental emergencies include problems like:
- A cracked or chipped tooth
- A dental restoration that has fallen out
- A knocked-out tooth
- Broken denture
- Loose braces
- A cut on your lip, cheek, tongue, or gums
- Dental abscess
- Severe toothache
A dental emergency is rarely black and white, but there are clear distinctions between more severe and less serious cases.
When you call an emergency dental office, you will likely have to explain your condition over the phone. They will then screen your situation and determine whether you need to be seen right away.
Before Seeing an Emergency Dentist
If you aren’t sure whether your situation qualifies as a dental emergency, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you have bleeding from a tooth, tooth extraction site, soft tissue injury, or oral surgical site that won’t stop?
- Are you in severe pain that won’t let you sleep or that doesn’t respond to painkillers?
- Do you have signs of infection in your jaw or gums (e.g. tenderness, swelling, heat)?
- Has a tooth been knocked out?
If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, you’ve got a legitimate dental emergency. But if you’re not sure, it’s perfectly okay to call an emergency dentist to see what they think.
Don’t put off your dental treatment just because you’re not feeling well. It’s wise to be prepared for a dental emergency to the best of your ability.
Have phone numbers of your regular dentist and an emergency dentist ready in case you need to use one.
You may also want to make sure to back a kit of emergency dental supplies that you can have ready to go if you expect to be traveling to a place where you won’t be near an emergency dentist or if you’ll be participating in an activity that has a risk of causing injury to your teeth.
Seeing an Emergency Dentist with Insurance
When you visit your regular dentist or emergency dental clinic for a dental appointment, make sure you have up-to-date insurance information. It’s good to keep your current records somewhere handy such as having a card in your wallet. This is an easy way to get what you need in a hurry as you head to the dentist.
If you don’t have your documentation readily available, then this will add more time to your check-in process at the doctor’s office and have you waiting in pain for longer than necessary.
You can check with your dental insurance to find out if the local dentists who are in your plan’s network are available to accept your insurance provider’s co-
If you have to see a different dentist for your emergency appointment, at least you can rest easy knowing that you are covered.
Seeing an Emergency Dentist Without Insurance
Finding an emergency dentist when you don’t have dental insurance can be a little anxiety-inducing. If you have a dental emergency, it’s probably a good idea to check out a new dentist who can see you and treat your emergency.
If you’re in the market for a new dentist office, it pays to look for a practice that accepts emergencies. You will likely find an emergency dentist who is going to become your regular dentist from now on.
If you find yourself in a serious dental situation you may need to find an emergency dentist, but you should consider the urgency of your situation before you begin looking for If you’re afraid, you might go to the first dentist you find and end up with a major shock at the bill.
If your emergency is something that can wait a day or so, it’s best to look for a more affordable emergency dental care provider. Check out the dental school program at the nearest university, for example. Nearly every dental school offers emergency dental services. Dental school students are still learning, so the experience they offer is more affordable than the services offered by an experienced dentist.
In the meantime, it’s important to take steps to relieve the pain of gum disease by gently swishing with warm salt water and taking an over-the-counter painkiller for your headache, other than aspirin, which can aggravate bleeding.
Finding an Emergency Dentist Near You
If you think you might have a true dental emergency (or worse yet, a real emergency), then it’s time to find a dentist who can address it quickly.
How to Find an Emergency Dentist Near You
If you need a dental emergency, first call your regular dentist. It’s a good idea to find a new dentist now that you’re starting a family, because your regular dentist knows you best. You can share your current medical and dental history, and they’ll have documentation of your allergies and current insurance information. This will speed up your check-in process and help you get relief and treatment as quickly as possible. In an emergency situation it’s ideal.
Some dental practices are open at all times to see emergency patients. If your regular dentist isn’t available, you’ll have to start asking your friends and family members for recommendations or look up an emergency dentist near you.
Even if your regular dentist is closed, it’s still a good idea to call your regular dentist in a dental emergency. This service number may have some helpful information or recommend another number that you can call in an emergency.
How Much Is an Emergency Dentist?
Despite your dental pain and fear, you still can’t help wondering how much it costs to visit an emergency dentist.
Cost of seeing an emergency dentist with insurance
You don’t want to visit your dentist for an emergency appointment unless it’s an emergency. In that case, you don’t want to pay anything for the visit. You should be charged the same rate for services performed in an emergency as you would for similar services performed under other circumstances. Your insurance should cover the cost of the emergency services at the same rate.
Remember, your insurance plan could have a deductible or limitations that would make it difficult for you to pay for your entire bill if you need to see a dentist in an emergency.
Let’s say you’ve already had two crowns placed in the past year and your insurance only pays for two. If you need to fix another broken tooth with a crown then that expense will be on you.
Cost of seeing an emergency dentist without insurance
Emergency dentists can tell you their rates before you even begin treatment. They can also determine whether or not you can afford them.
Emergency dentists may also be able to set you up with special financing if you need it.
Preventing a medical emergency is the best way to save money if you don’t have insurance that covers a dental emergency. You can prevent many an emergency by keeping your teeth clean and by getting routine dental care like cleaning, dental sealants and simple procedures like filling cavities and crowns.
For example, $200 filling might not seem like a big deal to you. But if you don’t do anything about it, you’ll have to shell out close to $1,000 for an emergency root canal, and another $1,000 for a crown down the road.
If you don’t have dental insurance, then definitely don’t wait until an emergency to arise to get regular dental care.
See Dentist For Life
Looking for an experienced and trusted dentist in Marysville, Ohio? Look no further than Dentist For Life! We provide comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. We take a wide variety of insurance plans and are currently accepting new patients. You can reach us at (937) 707-1111 or schedule your appointment online here.
