You shouldn't ignore severe pain or injuries that involve your smile. These things point to urgent dental issues, so leaving them alone risks your oral health. The better move is to visit the team at Ambiance Dental Spa for help! At our practice, we offer emergency dentistry in the Bowie area that’ll get your grin back on track. Just keep reading to learn how it works, or book a same-day visit with us!
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
There’s no need to panic over your dental emergency; we’ll gladly walk you through your upcoming visit. To that end, here are four things to expect from our emergency treatment process:
- A Same-Day Visit – When you call our office, we'll schedule your visit for the earliest possible time. We may even see you the same day you contact us! Either way, our team can also provide first-aid tips to help you manage before the appointment.
- Emergency Exam – Our dentists will perform an emergency exam once you arrive at our practice. Doing so will confirm the source of your oral issue and how to relieve your pain.
- A Review of Findings – After the exam, we’ll share our team’s findings and suggest suitable procedures. We’ll then use your feedback to draft a custom treatment plan that ensures top-tier care. Rest assured, we’ll mention the relevant cost and time before you commit to anything.
- Needed Dental Care – When the treatment plan is ready, we’ll quickly work to fix your oral issue. Our team is highly skilled and experienced, so you can expect good results. Whether your smile needs a filling, dental crown, root canal, or something else, we’ll ensure your smile heals.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
You should always contact us if you have a dental emergency. No matter the trouble, we’ll try to see you as soon as possible and deliver crucial care. Still, you can do things to handle the issue while you wait. The right steps would even prepare you for your future visit. To learn more, just click the relevant icon(s) below and use the related tips.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Every single dental emergency we see is slightly different, which means the treatment is always unique as well. Whatever your situation might be, however, acting quickly and seeking out care immediately is always better than simply trying to “tough out” a problem. This will only allow an issue to become worse and increase the chance that an expensive procedure will be needed to fix it. To help make emergency dental care more affordable, we’re happy to accept insurance, flexible financing is available, and we even have our own in-house savings plan.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
While you can’t always avoid dental emergencies, you can reduce your risk of having one. All you need to do is use the following tips:
- Remember to brush, floss daily, and attend six-month dental checkups. These habits help you avoid small oral issues that can worsen over time.
- When you play sports, protect your teeth by wearing a custom mouthguard or sportsguard.
- Try not to chew on hard objects, including ice, popcorn kernels, pens, fingernails, etc.
- Never use your teeth as tools. Instead, rely on the appropriate items (scissors, screwdrivers, etc.).
Dental Emergency FAQs
Will My Toothache Go Away On Its Own?
Remember, unlike the rest of your body, your teeth can’t heal themselves. Once the enamel has been compromised or the inner chamber of the tooth has been infected, you need professional treatment. It may be tempting to take a “wait-and-see” approach to a toothache that isn’t severe, but this only gives it the chance to get worse. If you’ve been dealing with tooth pain for over 24 hours, or if the discomfort is distracting you from everyday life, it’s time to give us a call.
When Should I Visit the Emergency Room?
Most ERs aren’t fully equipped to handle a dental emergency and many don’t have a dentist on staff to perform dental treatments. Therefore, you’ll likely spend more time and money at the emergency room only to have them prescribe you painkillers or antibiotics and tell you to visit a dentist. Instead, call us first for the fast, specialized care that you need.
However, there are some situations that need to be stabilized at an ER before you see us, such as:
- Dislocated, fractured, or broken jaw
- Bleeding that hasn’t stopped after 10 minutes
- Swelling in the mouth that interferes with swallowing or breathing
Do I Need a Root Canal for My Toothache?
Many patients with toothaches avoid seeking the care they need because they dread being told that they need a root canal. Firstly, it’s important to know that root canals aren’t scary or painful! Thanks to modern numbing medication and precise techniques, getting this tooth-saving treatment is typically no worse than getting a filling.
Secondly, toothaches can be caused by a wide range of issues. You may have a hidden crack in your tooth, or a cavity, or the earliest stages of gum disease. Alternatively, your wisdom teeth may be coming in, you may be grinding your teeth in your sleep, or you may have an infection. The only way to tell how to treat your toothache is to come in for an examination. Once we learn more about the source of your discomfort, we can provide the necessary treatment, which could entail anything from a filling or antibiotics to a crown or root canal therapy.
If your tooth hurts, don’t postpone seeking care because you’re worried about what the treatment might be. Doing so will only allow the problem to get worse, which could lead to more invasive and expensive treatments than if you had come to see us right away!
Is Emergency Dentistry Expensive?
Generally speaking, emergency dental exams don’t cost very much, and they’re much less expensive than an emergency medical exam! The overall cost of your dental emergency will depend largely on the treatment you need. Naturally services like a filling will cost less than a procedure like a tooth extraction. Once we’ve examined your smile, we’ll go over all your treatment options. You’ll always know the estimated cost of a treatment before we begin.
