Emergency Dentist – Phoenix, AZ
Relieving Pain and Restoring Smiles
Dental emergencies can turn a fun day into a traumatic event but knowing what to do next could save your smile! At Bell Road Dental Care, we have an experienced emergency dentist in Phoenix who can relieve your pain as quickly as possible. We even offer advanced technologies like CEREC same-day crowns to give our patients quick restorations right when they need one. Read on to learn about some of the most common dental emergencies and how we can help.
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
When an emergency occurs, it typically falls into these two categories: infection or abscess from poor oral hygiene or sudden dental injury. Our friendly and experienced team is ready to relieve your pain and keep you comfortable in both situations. Until you’re able to come into our office, use these tips on handling some of the most common dental emergencies.
Toothaches
Toothaches can happen out of nowhere, causing great pain. First, try flossing around the area to remove any lingering food debris. If your pain persists, call our office right away because you could have an infection. The most common treatment for this issue is a root canal to remove any infected tissue, which prevents even more serious health issues and protects your teeth in the future.
Chipped/Broken Tooth
If you have a chipped or broken tooth, pick up the pieces and rinse them because we may be able to repair it. If there is bleeding, use gauze, and you can also use a cold compress to ease swelling. After you’ve made yourself more comfortable, contact our office for immediate treatment. In some cases, we can save your tooth, but if your tooth is too damaged, our only option may be to completely extract it to relive your pain.
Knocked-Out Tooth
If your tooth gets knocked-out, try rinsing it carefully, putting it back in your socket after. If this isn’t possible, store your tooth in milk or water to keep it moist until you can get to our office. If there’s bleeding, use gauze to stop it and a cold compress to help with swelling. The sooner that you can get to our office, the higher your chances are of your tooth being successfully replanted by your dentist in Phoenix.
Lost Filling/Crown
Fillings and crowns protect parts of your dental structure that have already been damaged or decayed, which is why it can be painful when you lose one. If this occurs, you can seal your tooth with dental cement found at your local drugstore. This will temporarily protect it and also minimize your sensitivity. After, visit our office for a proper dental restoration.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Unfortunately, dental emergencies can never be prevented completely, but there are some ways that you can minimize your chances of disaster occurring:
- Maintain a good daily brushing and flossing routine to keep your teeth healthy.
- Use fluoridated toothpaste to strengthen your tooth enamel.
- Visit our office at least twice a year for routine checkups and cleanings.
- Avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing and speaking.
- Avoid biting down on hard items like ice cubes or nutshells.
- Avoid routinely smoking, using tobacco products, or heavily consuming alcohol.
The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
The price of your dental emergency can range because of the various types of treatments that you may need. It’s hard to estimate the cost of your treatment because different emergencies require different dental services. For example, some toothaches can be remedied by simply taking antibiotics, whereas a cracked or damaged tooth may require more extensive dental restoration. At Bell Road Dental Care, our friendly team will make sure that you can receive quality treatment that is also affordable.
Immediate Care When You Need It Most
At Bell Road Dental Care, we understand that accidents can happen anytime, anyplace. Whether it is a knocked-out tooth, busted lip, severe toothache, or lost dental crown or filling, you want to know that an emergency dentist in Phoenix will be there to provide immediate assistance. The last thing on your mind is how much it will cost. That is until you learn what kind of restorative care you need. Fortunately, Dr. Jafari and his team of experts will help you navigate the financial aspects of emergency dentistry, ensuring you minimize your out of pocket expenses and get the treatment you need. To schedule an appointment, contact our office today.
What Factors Can Influence the Cost of Emergency Care?
No two patients are alike, nor are their injuries the same. Because of this, it is impossible to know how much you can expect your emergency dental care to cost until you’ve scheduled a consultation with Dr. Jafari. It is during this meeting that he will examine your oral cavity and suggest effective treatments that can improve and repair your smile.
Some of the factors that are considered when creating a cost estimate include:
- The location of your dentist’s office: If located in a larger city, the cost of living will likely be much higher. As a result, you will tend to pay more when treating your dental emergency.
- Are you insured? If you have dental insurance, you can expect to pay much less than someone who is uninsured, especially if you are seeing an in-network provider. Fortunately, even if you are uninsured, there are other flexible financing options.
- The type of care you will need: Since each type of injury requires a different method of treatment, the type of restorative care you receive will determine how much your overall cost will be.
Financial Options Available
At Bell Road Dental Care, we accept most dental insurance plans, some of which include:
- Aetna
- Ameritas
- Assurant
- Blue Cross of Arizona
- Cigna Radius
- Delta
- Guardian
- Connection GEHA
- Humana
- Metlife
- Principal
- United Healthcare
- United Concordia
We are also pleased to accept payments from PPO and indemnity plans. To get the most out or your benefits, make sure to tell our team which plan you have so that we can begin to find ways to help you save the most money.
If you are uninsured, there’s no need to worry. We also accept all major credit cards, ATM cards, cash, and personal checks. We also work closely with a third-party financier who offers available payment plans to help you stay within your budget.
Importance of Scheduling a Consultation
It is important that you schedule a consultation with Dr. Jafari before simply agreeing to immediate treatment. Why? Because only then will you fully understand the severity of the problem and what it will take to correct it.
You may discover that you only need antibiotics to treat your problem, or you may suffer a more serious injury that requires treating and replacing a knocked-out tooth with a fixed bridge or dental implants. Ultimately, the decision is yours as to how you want to move forward with treatment, but Dr. Jafari’s expertise and recommendations can ensure you make the right decision about your dental health.
Allowing him to examine your smile and diagnose the problem will provide you with the information you need to determine your budget and how you plan to pay for your upcoming treatment.
Emergency Dentistry FAQ’s
Got a question for your emergency dentist in Phoenix? It’s important to be educated and prepared well in advance before you actually need to respond to a dental emergency. Here are just a few questions that patients often ask. If you have additional concerns, feel free to ask during your next appointment at Bell Road Dental Care; we’re here to give you the tools you need to protect your smile as well as your overall health!
What Exactly is a Dental Emergency?
Typically, dental emergencies involve pain, swelling and discomfort. While symptoms can sometimes be controlled with home treatments such as pain medicine and ice packs, you can’t get rid of the problem by yourself.
Remember: dental emergencies don’t go away by themselves, so never make the mistake of ignoring an emergency or a suspected emergency.
Will I Need to Go to the Emergency Room?
You’ll need immediate medical attention for severe, life-threatening issues. If your emergency involves a jaw fracture, jaw dislocation, severe cuts on the mouth or face, or difficulty breathing and swallowing, you need to call a hospital emergency room right away.
Most emergency rooms and hospitals won’t be able to provide comprehensive dental care. For example, if you’re suffering from a toothache, they may give you antibiotics. This can reduce the swelling, but it’s not a permanent solution; you’ll need a dentist’s help to remove to source of an infection.
What if My Tooth is Broken but Doesn’t Hurt?
Broken or chipped teeth don’t always cause pain or discomfort, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be addressed. If the inner parts of the tooth are exposed, they’re at an increased risk of a bacterial infection; consequently, if the tooth isn’t repaired, it might suffer from decay.
During our examination, we’ll determine the extent of the damage and suggest an appropriate treatment. Oftentimes, fillings or a crown will be enough to repair the structure and prevent further cracks.
Are Sensitive Teeth an Emergency?
If you notice that your teeth have become sensitive to hot or cold foods, it could mean that your gums are receding. This might be a symptom of advanced periodontal disease, which can eventually lead to tooth loss and contribute to other health problems. Another possibility is that there’s a nerve issue that could lead to a dental abscess, which is an infected pocket of pus.
There are other reasons why your teeth might have increased sensitivity, such as worn-down enamel. You should make an appointment as soon as possible to determine the cause.
Should I Do Something About Knocked Out Baby Teeth?
A knocked-out baby tooth doesn’t need to be replanted, but losing it too early might lead to complications with your child’s dental development. Call us as soon as possible so that we can help you determine what needs to be done.