There are few things in life as alarming as tripping, falling, or sustaining a blow to the face and soon after realizing that your mouth has been injured. But if you ever find yourself in this situation, one thing to keep in mind is that seeking professional treatment is your top priority—whether you have dental insurance or not! Continue reading below to learn a little more about dental emergencies and why it’s always going to be in your best interest to seek urgent care, even if you lack coverage.
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
A “dental emergency” is an umbrella term that doesn’t necessarily describe a specific situation, but rather, abnormal symptoms that have caused noticeable or uncomfortable trauma to the mouth. Pain is the first sign to look for in a dental emergency, since tooth or gum injuries can result in damaged nerves and blood vessels, followed by infection. However, these situations come in different forms with varying degrees of seriousness. Here are some common examples of dental emergencies that generally warrant professional care:
- Fractured or broken teeth.
- Abscessed teeth, which result from localized bacterial infections.
- Displaced (knocked-out) or impacted teeth.
- Damaged or lost dental restorations.
Is Emergency Dental Care Always Worth It?
The bottom line is that emergency dental care is always worth it, whether you’re insured or not. The curious thing about dental injuries is that they typically do not go away on their own; rather, they worsen over time if left unaddressed, and this will always lead to a more expensive bill at the end of the day.
A great example of this is tooth loss; one missing tooth, regardless of the cause, might not seem like a huge deal. However, if the tooth isn’t replaced, additional teeth can fall out and create a laundry list of issues that are not fun or cheap to deal with. Tooth infections that result from abscessed teeth are another example of this—that root canal now is going to be much cheaper than a full-blown tooth replacement down the road!
How Can I Make Urgent Dental Care More Affordable?
If you don’t have dental insurance, you should be happy to hear that you aren’t entirely out of luck when it comes to easing the financial burden of urgent care. While coverage will certainly make things easier and cheaper to deal with, there are other means of assistance, including:
- Some practices offer dental saving plans and in-house payment plans, which allow you to gain access to discounted rates and break up your total bill into affordable installments, respectively. Third-party financers are also often used.
- Government resources such as Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) may be available to those who qualify.
- Visiting a hospital emergency room is often considered a temporary option for extreme dental emergencies; however, general health insurance is used for this treatment.
Emergency dentists are trained and equipped to deal with all kinds of dental emergencies—and dental insurance is designed to make this care affordable and accessible! However, you’ll never be outright denied treatment due to a lack of insurance; in any case, it’s still sensible to enroll in a plan and safeguard your smile.
About the Practice
The talented team at Smile More Dentistry has proudly served the dental needs of the Tappan, NY area for several years. The practice offers a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatment options, as well as emergency dentistry for those dealing with urgent circumstances. If you have any questions about dental emergencies in general, or if you or someone you know has sustained a dental injury, don’t hesitate to contact the team today for assistance! Telephone: (845) 675-1512.