Emergency Dentistry – Montgomery, MN
Dental Pain or Injury? Visit Your Emergency Dentist in Montgomery
Most people probably couldn’t tell you off the top of their head what a dental emergency is, but they usually know as soon as they experience one. A dental emergency is any situation where a person’s teeth are injured or in pain to the point that they need immediate medical attention. When you’re in the middle of one, it can be tough to know what to do, but thankfully, you only need to remember one thing: call Dr. Geoffrey Iverson, your one stop for emergency dentistry in Montgomery, MN.
Dr. Iverson and our team are trained and equipped to handle a wide variety of dental emergencies, and should you ever need urgent dental care, you can always rely on us. When you call in with an emergency, we’ll do everything we can to see you as soon as possible, including schedule a same-day appointment. If we can’t see you immediately for whatever reason, we’ll give you instructions on how to get the care you need as quickly as possible.
Common Dental Emergencies
It’s nice knowing that you have an emergency dentist, but when should you actually call them? What kinds of situations warrant immediate dental care? In most cases, we tell our patients to simply trust their instincts. If something is wrong with your teeth and you don’t know what to do, just give us a call and we’ll let you know if you need to come in or not.
However, there are a few specific situations in which you should definitely stop whatever you are doing and come see us:
- Knocked out tooth
- Partially dislodged tooth
- Chipped, cracked, or broken tooth
- Severe toothache
- Object stuck between the teeth
- Lost or damaged dental work (crowns, fillings, bridges, etc.)
- Injury to the gums
- Injury to the jaw
- Pain or swelling in the face
When it comes to dental emergencies, you should always call us first for help, unless you’ve also experienced any broken bones or are bleeding profusely. In that case, head straight to your local emergency room first and call us only after you’ve been cleared by your attending physician.
How to Avoid Dental Emergencies
While it is impossible for you to reduce your risk of dental emergencies to zero, there are a few simple things you can do to make them much less likely:
- Wear a protective mouthguard whenever you play sports, as sports-related accidents are the most common cause of dental emergencies.
- Avoid harmful habits like chewing on pens, pencils, ice, or other hard objects.
- Don’t use your teeth as a tool to open packages or bottles.
- Visit your dentist at least twice a year for checkups. This will give us a chance to stop a small problem from turning into an emergency in the future.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
The last thing on your mind should be your financial situation when experiencing a dental emergency. It’s normal to be concerned about the cost of emergency dentistry in Montgomery, but you don’t have anything to fear. After addressing any pain, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to rehabilitate your smile. A member of our team will review your payment options, so you don’t have to worry about a large bill.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
No two dental emergencies are the same, so it’s impossible to have a flat fee. Your emergency dentist in Montgomery will examine your mouth to create an individualized solution to repair your smile. While every plan differs, common treatments needed for immediate oral health problems can include:
- Tooth extractions
- Root canal therapy
- Gum disease treatment
- Dental crowns
- TMJ therapy
We will review the costs associated with your treatment, so you’ll know exactly what you will have to pay before committing to anything.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Most dental plans offer coverage for emergent oral health issues. Depending on your policy, you can use your benefits for the consultation, as well as certain restorative services. After meeting your deductible, you can use your dental insurance to offset the cost of specific treatments until reaching your annual limit. Depending on the procedure, your benefits can pay up to 80% of the cost. A member of our team will file the necessary forms to maximize your coverage, so you have one less thing to worry about.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
In addition to your dental insurance, our office offers multiple financial options to keep your care within your budget, including:
- Traditional Payments: We accept cash, checks, and credit cards. We also provide a 5% savings for any amount paid in full.
- Third-Party Financing: Use monthly installments to pay for your treatment using CareCredit. Based on your credit approval, you’ll enjoy interest-free financing.
We will discuss all your payment options during your consultation, so you can repair your smile, even if money is tight.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
You can’t always stop a dental emergency from occurring, but there are many things you can do to lessen your risk of one. The best way to stay out of the dental chair is through prevention. Maintain your oral hygiene at home and visit your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. Your dentist will monitor your smile to resolve any issues before they turn into a big problem. If you develop any concerns between your routine visits, don’t wait to see your dentist.
Besides keeping your mouth clean, safeguard your smile from preventable complications. Wear an athletic mouthguard if you play sports or use a nightguard if you have bruxism to protect your teeth. It is also best to break any bad oral habits, like using your teeth to open bottles or chewing on your fingernails.
We’re Here to Help
Dental emergencies can be extremely stressful situations, and should you find yourself in the middle of one, you can take solace in the fact that you have an emergency dentist on your side.
If you ever have an issue with your teeth, whether you think it is dire or not, be sure to give us a call, and we’ll always be able to help.
To learn more about how to handle a dental emergency or prevent them in the first place, please contact us today.
Dental Emergency Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that handling a dental emergency on your own can be a difficult and confusing experience. You may not even know when is the best time to come to our dental office for care! After all, dental emergencies are not exactly common. That’s why we’ve included a series of questions that Dr. Iverson often hears. If your question isn’t listed and you’re in need of care, please don’t hesitate to call our dental office directly.
Do I need to visit for a chipped tooth if there’s no pain?
If a tooth is chipped, you should always come to our dental office to have it more closely examined. Eventually, the tooth will begin to break down further if it’s not covered by a crown. However, there are some instances where a chipped tooth is not necessarily a dental emergency. For example, if the chip is very small or there is no discomfort associated with the damage, you can wait a few days and have the issue handled during regular business hours.
How can I prepare for a dental emergency?
Just like for traditional medical emergencies, it’s always better to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. While a dental emergency kit won’t resolve an emergency outright, it will make it easier to manage until you get to our dental office. A proper dental emergency kit should include dental cement, nitrile gloves, gauze pads, cotton balls, hydrogen peroxide, oral swabs, dental mirrors, salt and painkillers (such as acetaminophen.)
When is teeth sensitivity a dental emergency?
In most cases, teeth sensitivity is not considered a dental emergency. If it comes and goes or only appears when exposed to hot or cold stimuli, such as hot soup or ice cream, it can be examined by our dental office at a later date. However, if the sensitivity is constant, becomes unbearable, or turns into discomfort rather than just sensitivity, call our dental office right away. This could be a result of an oral infection, which is considered a dental emergency.
Do I visit if my child’s baby tooth was knocked out?
If your child’s baby tooth was already quite loose and it happens to fall out, it’s likely not a dental emergency. If the tooth was not loose whatsoever and it ends up being knocked out, treat it like a dental emergency and get to our dental office. You can keep the tooth preserved by keeping it in the socket or inside a container of milk or salt water.
What foods can break my teeth?
Many people don’t realize that hard foods can easily crack teeth if they aren’t careful. For example, you should never chew ice cubes if you want to avoid dental emergencies. The same goes for hard candy, popcorn kernels, toffee, and very hard and crunchy breads. All of these have the potential to cause damage to your teeth.