Emergency Dentistry — Worcester, MA
Advanced Dental Care When You Need It Most
Dental emergencies are not as common as other types of emergencies, which is just one of the reasons why patients don’t know what to do if and when they occur. Unfortunately, many also aren’t aware of what constitutes a dental emergency. At University Dental Group, we want to help you get your emergency treated as soon as possible, whether it’s a severe toothache or a broken or knocked-out tooth. We’re prepared to answer the call if you have an oral infection caused by tooth decay or experience a bad fall while playing sports. Give us a call to get started!
Why Choose University Dental Group for Emergency Dentistry?
- In-Network With Most Major PPOs
- Early Hours Every Day – Doors Open at 8 a.m.
- VA – Approved for Veterans in Need of Emergency Care
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Call Our Office: If you ever find yourself experiencing a dental emergency, the very first thing you should do is call our office! After you’ve explained what happened over the phone, we’ll be able to give you guidance on how to go about handling the situation while you wait for your appointment.
- Schedule & Attend Your Appointment: When you arrive for your visit, we can quickly inspect your mouth and figure out the best way to treat your issue with a customized treatment plan.
- Get the Urgent Care You Need – Once we’ve reviewed our findings with you, our top priority becomes treating your situation, addressing your discomfort, and getting your smile back into tip-top shape.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
It’s simply not possible to anticipate dental emergencies, and they often have a knack for occurring when it’s least convenient. In fact, roughly one in every six Americans will experience a dental emergency annually, meaning that they’re also more common than you may realize! That said, if you’re one of those unlucky few, it’s in your best interest to seek treatment promptly; time is of the essence when it comes to some of these common dental emergencies:
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
The cost of your dental emergency treatment will vary depending on the type of emergency you’re having as well as the severity. Regardless, the last thing you should do is put off your treatment and allow your condition to worsen. Of course, our dental team will be as accommodating as possible when it comes to both the treatment itself as well as navigating the cost. If you want to learn more about the price of emergency dentistry, then keep reading!
Why Every Dental Emergency is Different
We touched on the fact that the type of dental injury and the severity of it will impact the cost of your treatment. For example, if you only need antibiotics to treat your oral infection rather than a full-blown root canal treatment, it will be less expensive. Similarly, saving a cracked tooth with a dental crown will be more affordable than removing it and putting a dental bridge or implant in its place. As always, our Worcester dental team will provide you with an estimate of the cost beforehand, and we will share all of the financial solutions available to you as well.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Good news: dental insurance providers often cover a portion of the cost! Once we have a better idea of the treatment needed, we’ll be able to review the details of your plan, including if there are any waiting periods or annual maximums. From there, we can provide you with an estimate of your out-of-pocket expenses, answer any questions you have, and file the claims on your behalf. Our goal is always the same: to make navigating the financial side of your treatment as stress-free as possible.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you’re currently uninsured, you might be wondering, “How can I make the cost of emergency dentistry more affordable?” At University Dental Group, we offer our patients two solutions: flexible financing through CareCredit and our periodic specials. While CareCredit allows you to space-out your payments into smaller, monthly chunks, our promotions help lower your out-of-pocket expenses upfront. If you are interested in learning more about either of these options, just ask – we’re here to help!
Remember, Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
In short, if you take good care of your smile, you’re significantly less likely to experience a dental emergency. As a result, good oral hygiene best practices benefit your wallet too! If you aren’t already, make sure to implement a solid at-home oral hygiene routine, which should include brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently. Furthermore, make sure to visit us every six months for a checkup and cleaning as well as avoid unhealthy dental habits entirely, like smoking and biting your nails. Lastly, wear a mouthguard if you chronically grind your teeth or participate in sports.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies are often painful, and they can be inconvenient and stressful to handle. While accidents can’t be 100% avoided, there are proactive steps you can take to avoid a dental injury. Here are a few of our Worcester emergency dentist’s recommendations!
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Routine checkups and cleanings at our dental office are essential. In addition to preventing tooth decay and gum disease, these periodic visits allow us to catch oral health concerns in the early stages. As a result, we can intervene with the appropriate restorative treatment before it becomes a dental emergency, like a cracked, loose, or chipped tooth.
Dental Emergency FAQs
What does chronic bad breath mean?
The culprit of chronic bad breath is often diet. So, if you haven’t already, try removing pungent foods from your breakfast, lunch, and dinner (i.e., pickled onions, fish, garlic). If the odor persists, then the root of the problem may be an untreated oral health issue, like a cavity. In that case, scheduling an appointment with us should be a top priority. When you come in, we can conduct a comprehensive oral exam, provide the necessary restorative care, and give you helpful tips on how to keep your smile happy and healthy from home.
What is causing my jaw pain?
Persistent jaw pain that surfaces between the ages of 17 and 25 is often the result of wisdom teeth. So, if you are in that age group and you haven’t had your wisdom teeth removed yet, it’s a good idea to schedule an emergency exam with your Worcester dentist. Since it’s also possible for the root of the problem to be something else tied to your oral health, like chronic teeth grinding, you should come in before the end of the week for an exam, especially if your pain seems to be getting worse.
Do chipped teeth heal?
Although enamel is incredible in many ways, it cannot regenerate. We recommend coming in for an exam (even if the chip is minor) so we can make sure the tooth isn’t at risk of breaking further. At this time, we can also review your treatment options, like veneers, so the look of your smile isn’t compromised for long.
How long can a restoration be temporarily attached?
Thanks to the bonding agents we use, many patients feel like their temporary restoration is extremely secure. That’s good – we want it to last until your final one arrives! Any longer than that, however, and the restoration won’t remain stable or provide your tooth with the necessary protection. Plus, there are certain things that you can’t do with a temporary restoration, like chewing on that side of your mouth, which is another reason to have it replaced as soon as possible.
Will my toothache go away on its own?
Unfortunately, you can’t “wait out” a toothache. That’s because the more time that passes, the worse the root of the problem will be. As your dental team, our goal at University Dental Group is to intervene with the necessary restorative or cosmetic care while the tooth can still be saved. Of course, if that’s no longer an option, don’t worry – we will make the extraction process as comfortable as possible, and we will restore the look, health, and function of your smile with a dental bridge, denture, or dental implant too.
Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?
ER visits should be reserved for potentially life-threatening situations, like if you’re having trouble breathing, you’re bleeding uncontrollably, or your jaw is fractured. For toothaches, damaged restorations, knocked-out teeth, and similar dental injuries, you should call our Worcester office instead. In addition to scheduling an emergency appointment, we will provide helpful instructions over the phone on how to handle your dental injury until you arrive.