No matter how well you care for your teeth, your smile is always vulnerable to injury. Are you prepared for your next dental emergency? Don’t be caught off guard when the least expected happens to you or someone you love. Our experienced and caring team of dentists offer emergency care for when you need it the most. Call us for a same-day appointment if you’re in pain or experiencing out-of-the-ordinary dental symptoms.
How to Handle Dental Emergencies
- Call Us: The first step you should always take when facing a dental emergency is to call our office. Our trusted and experienced dental team will provide you with first aid guidance over the phone and schedule a same-day appointment for you, if required.
- Get Evaluated: Once you arrive, our team will kick into action, gathering any necessary diagnostic images and speaking with you about your symptoms. This will allow us to make an accurate diagnosis of the issue at-hand.
- Receive a Treatment Plan: Once we’ve diagnosed the problem you’re experiencing, we’ll create a treatment plan to address it and get you out of pain as soon as possible.
- Get Treated: Our team will answer any questions or concerns you have, and once you’ve consented to undergo treatment, we’ll work quickly to address the problem. If necessary, we may recommend administering dental sedation to help you feel more comfortable.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
In general, if you are experiencing pain, have broken something in your mouth, or are bleeding from the gums, lips, tongue, or cheeks, you should seek emergency dental attention. Don’t head to the emergency room for treatment. Your dentist in Fort Worth is prepared for most dental and oral emergencies.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
There is no flat rate for emergency dental care since every situation is different, so we won’t be able to provide you with an accurate estimate of how much you’ll pay until we’ve examined your mouth and determined how to address the issue. That said, the cost can vary based on the severity of the problem, but it’s always going to be in your best interest to act quickly; your smile and wallet will thank you! Our team would also be thrilled to work with you to use your insurance benefits and any other options available to make sure that your care is affordable. Keep reading to learn more about the cost of emergency dentistry in Fort Worth.
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Every Dental Emergency is Unique
You should know that emergency dentistry might not always be as expensive as you think, and certain emergencies generally have lower out-of-pocket costs. For instance, a slightly damaged tooth will usually be cheaper to address than something like root canal therapy. When you come in for your appointment, we’ll conduct an examination to quickly determine which treatment is best for your needs. That means that until we see you, we won’t be able to give you an exact cost of treatment. However, our team will be sure to walk you through each step of your treatment plan and give you every price detail you need once we’ve determined a course of action.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Emergencies?
Similarly, dental insurance plans vary from patient to patient, meaning that it’s always wise to understand the details of your coverage. It’s worth mentioning that most providers will cover some or all of the cost of at least one emergency dental visit every year. Some of the more common treatments used to address dental emergencies, like dental crowns, root canal therapy, and tooth extractions, also generally receive partial coverage. Our experienced team would be happy to sit with you and navigate the details of your policy to ensure that you’re getting the most out of it.
Other Options for Making Emergency Dentistry Affordable
We understand the importance of being able to afford emergency treatment when you need it. That’s why even if you don’t currently have dental insurance, we’re pleased to offer alternative financing through CareCredit. This allows you to split up the overall cost of your treatment into smaller, monthly installments, often with little to zero interest.
Taking Care of Your Smile Will Help You Save Money
Of course, one of the best ways to lower the cost of emergency dental care is by simply avoiding the need for it; and a healthy and clean set of pearly whites will go a long way toward this. Instead of waiting to see if minor concerns become bigger problems, take a proactive approach by brushing daily, flossing regularly, and seeking preventive dental care. The longer you wait to address an issue in your smile, the more costly the necessary procedure may be to fix it!
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Since accidents can’t be avoided entirely, there’s no way to completely eliminate your risk of experiencing a dental emergency. There are, however, plenty of preventive measures you can take to drastically reduce your chances of knocking out, cracking, or fracturing a tooth. These are a few best practices our Fort Worth emergency dentist recommends:
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Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Your biannual visits to our office are crucial. Sure, they allow us to answer any questions you have about your oral health, provide pointers on how to improve your dental care regimen, and share recommendations on the best products to use. However, they are also important because they ensure that we can catch and treat serious dental concerns early on, before they require emergency care. Therefore, if it’s been over six months since your last checkup and cleaning, don’t wait – schedule your next appointment ASAP.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
To prevent your teeth from decaying or your gums from becoming infected, you should brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste with fluoride. Additionally, floss at least once per day and rinse with antimicrobial mouthwash each morning or evening. Consistency is of the utmost importance, so set a reminder in your phone or place a note on your bathroom mirror to help make everything from brushing for a full two minutes to flossing every day a habit.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
One of the most common ways teeth get fractured is by biting into excessively hard or crunchy foods. A few examples include accidentally biting into a popcorn kernel or chewing on a cube of ice. Instead, do your best to maintain a balanced diet that’s filled with fruits, vegetables, and calcium-rich foods. Lastly, don’t eat or drink products with added sugar in excess since this can dramatically increase your chances of developing tooth decay.
Wear a Mouthguard
In short, we recommend getting a custom mouthguard if you chronically grind or clench your teeth. Naturally, we also encourage patients who participate in sports to wear a mouthguard during games and practices. Remember, about five million teeth are knocked out each year during a sports-related accident. So, it’s of the utmost importance that you take proactive measures to protect your teeth and gums.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Even though they are sharp, you should never use your teeth to open packages. The same goes for bottle caps or any other items you can’t seem to open with your hands – your teeth are not tools! We don’t recommend chewing on hard items, like pens or pencils, either. It’s one of the easiest ways to chip, crack, or fracture your tooth.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Whether you have been fortunate enough to never experience a dental emergency or don’t want to find yourself in the middle of one again, being as knowledgeable as possible is important. To make the research process easier, our team at Fort Dental has answered a few frequently asked questions below. However, if you’d like to speak with our team directly about a specific question or concern on your mind, don’t hesitate to contact our dental office!
Do dental emergencies have to be treated immediately?
From a newly painful toothache to a sudden knocked-out tooth, all dental emergencies require immediate attention. After all, neglecting to seek treatment can lead to further damage and unintended consequences, like severe decay or tooth loss. Fortunately, you can prevent that from happening by scheduling an appointment with our emergency dentist in Fort Worth sooner rather than later. Not only will this be better for your oral health, but it will also save your wallet from extensive restorative and cosmetic services.
Should I go to the ER or my emergency dentist’s office?
For the majority of dental-related injuries, Dr. Cheng, Dr. Thorburn, Dr. Luk, and Dr. Cox are the experts to trust. With that being said, if you experience potentially life-threatening symptoms, like difficulty breathing or swallowing, a broken jaw, or a deep facial cut, then your first call should be to 911. Once you get the medical attention you need, we can schedule an urgent appointment at our dental office to treat the root of the issue.
What can I do to alleviate dental pain at home?
Although all dental emergencies necessitate an urgent appointment, there are a few things you can do to manage your discomfort until you get to our dental office. To decrease soreness stemming from swelling, place a cold compress against the outside of your cheek to reduce puffiness and numb the area. You can also dissolve salt in warm water and rinse with the mixture to kill bacteria in your mouth and prevent infection. If all else fails, you can use over-the-counter pain medication.
What can I do to prevent a dental emergency?
Although accidents aren’t 100% avoidable, there are some best practices you can follow to significantly decrease your risk of encountering a dental emergency:
- Wear a protective mouthguard when playing sports
- Avoid chewing hard foods that can crack your teeth
- Don’t partake in poor dental habits, like smoking or opening things with your mouth
- Visit our dental office every six months for a professional checkup and cleaning
Are dental emergencies covered by my insurance?
While dental plans often vary from one patient to the next, the answer may be yes! Even if the entire treatment isn’t covered, many insurance providers cover at least the diagnostic portion of your visit. However, the best way to find out for certain is by contacting your carrier directly. If you can’t do so because you’re in the middle of handling a dental emergency, you can rest assured our team will file your claims and maximize your benefits to the fullest!