Emergency Dentistry – Chelsea, MI
Get the Urgent Care
You Need
Whether you have severe oral pain, cracked tooth enamel, or loose or knocked-out teeth, you are experiencing a dental emergency that needs immediate attention. With the help of our specialists at Healthy Smiles Dental Care, who are experienced in handling a variety of dental emergencies, they can see you as soon as possible and get your emergency treated before it worsens. The moment you believe something is wrong, give our dental office a call for emergency dentistry in Chelsea, MI.
Why Choose Healthy Smiles Dental Care for Emergency Dentistry?
- Comprehensive List of Dental Services
- See Multiple Specialists Under One Roof
- Kind and Caring Team and Sedation Options
Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can occur in many different ways. However, the most common cause for them is poor oral hygiene and physical trauma. When you give our dental office a call, you’ll speak directly with a team member who you will need to tell what happened and explain your symptoms. Once you’ve given us the details, we’ll be far better able to help you deal with the issue. Below, you can learn more tips on handling your dental emergency before you arrive.
Toothaches
Start by pulling floss in between your teeth and rinsing your mouth out with salt water. This should dislodge any food debris. If pain persists, take a painkiller, and get to our dental office to confirm if root canal therapy is needed. When taking your painkiller, make sure to not apply it directly to your gum tissue.
Chipped/Broken Tooth
Closely examine the damage to your tooth. There may be some chips and cracks present that are purely cosmetic. However, in other cases the entire tooth could be so broken down it needs to be removed. Before your appointment, do your best to keep the tooth intact by not chewing food on the side of your mouth where the tooth sits. Hold an ice pack on your cheeks to reduce swelling.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Do your best to stay calm and locate the tooth. When found, pick it up by the crown portion only and do not touch the root. Rinse it off using warm water before you place it back into your open socket. If it does not stay in place, keep it in a container of milk or in your cheek to keep it preserved. Get to our dental office within the hour to give yourself the best chances of reimplanting the tooth.
Lost Filling/Crown
Find the restoration and have it with you when you visit us. To soothe any sensitivity, apply a small amount of clove oil to the tooth and use dental cement to protect the exposed portion until you can get your restoration replaced. Do not eat any tough or chewy foods. Stick to a soft diet until you get to our dental office.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
While dental emergencies cannot be completely avoided, you can reduce your risks. You can do so by:
- Removing harmful substances and bacteria from teeth by brushing twice a day.
- Flossing once a day. This helps you clean areas that a toothbrush cannot.
- Avoiding habits that can break teeth, such as biting or chewing on ice cubes or your fingernails.
- Reducing your consumption of hard or crunchy foods that can chip away at enamel.
- Using proper protection when playing sports (i.e. wearing a mouthguard.)
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
When an urgent dental problem arises, try not to think about the cost of emergency dentistry in Chelsea until you’ve been examined by our dentists. Our team’s top priority is determining the quickest and most effective way to stop your pain and treat the emergency at the source. From there, we’ll explain your treatment options and make sure you understand the costs associated with them. Then, we can help you file insurance claims or determine other financing options before moving forward.
Learn More About the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
Every Dental Emergency Is Different
You’ll be pleased to hear that more often than not, an initial visit with an emergency dentist in Chelsea is actually relatively inexpensive. This appointment primarily consists of our dentists take a close look at your mouth, evaluate the extent of the damage, and formulate a plan to fix your smile.
It’s virtually impossible for us to give you a cost estimate for your treatment until we can physically see you in our office and figure out the root of the problem with our own eyes. We may recommend one or more of a variety of treatments, such as:
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Root canal therapy
- Tooth extractions
Rest assured that there won’t be any unpleasant surprises during your care. Our team will carefully explain our findings and the details and associated costs of our recommended treatment plan before going through with any procedures.
Being Proactive About Your Smile Can Save You Money
Believe it or not, the majority of dental emergencies are not sudden accidents, but the result of oral health issues that have been steadily worsening over time. That’s why regular checkups and daily at-home oral hygiene are crucial to minimizing your emergency dental costs. Investing in preventive care could end up saving you thousands of dollars in dental bills over the course of your life!
Another way to save money on emergency dental care is to contact our office as soon as you become aware of an issue. Even if it doesn’t seem that urgent, it’s best to treat dental problems sooner rather than later. Teeth can’t heal themselves on their own, so the damage is only going to worsen. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to need an expensive procedure to repair your pearly whites.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Luckily, most dental insurance providers offer some degree of coverage for emergencies. Many plans cover one emergency exam per year as needed. Additionally, some of the most common services associated with damaged teeth (crowns, root canals, etc.) are usually eligible for partial coverage – typically between 50 and 80 percent.
Of course, each insurance plan is different, and deductibles and annual maximums must be considered. Just let one of our friendly team members know which plan you have – our insurance experts will be happy to look over your policy and maximize your benefits!
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
We understand that not every patient has insurance, and those who do might need some extra help funding their care. Fortunately, we provide low- to no-interest dental financing. If you qualify for one of these payment plans, you can split up your treatment costs into monthly installments that are easier to handle.
For patients without any insurance, our in-house dental savings plan makes a wonderful alternative. All you have to do is pay a flat monthly or annual fee, and you get one free emergency exam a year, free preventive care (checkups, cleanings, etc.), and a 20% discount on all other procedures completed at our practice. Plus, there are no deductibles, waiting periods, or annual maximums to worry about!
Dental Emergency FAQs
If you need an emergency dentist in Chelsea, you likely have several questions racing through your mind. There isn’t any reason to worry. We’re here to make a stressful time a little easier by providing the quick, comfortable dental care you need. Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions to calm your nerves until your appointment.
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Will my toothache go away on its own?
Contrary to common belief, an occasional toothache isn’t normal. It indicates a dental problem brewing in your mouth, like a cavity. As a result, toothaches don’t often resolve on their own. Even if it does, you don’t want to ignore the issue. Several factors can cause discomfort, so it’s best to see a dentist to ensure there isn’t something serious going on in your mouth to prevent it from turning into a bigger problem. You’ll preserve your natural smile while reducing your long-term oral health expenses by addressing the source of the pain while it’s still minor.
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
It can be difficult to focus on anything else but the pain in your mouth, which can make it impossible to fall asleep. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do at home to manage your discomfort to get some rest, like sleeping with your head elevated. This will prevent the blood from pooling in your head to avoid throbbing discomfort. You can also take an OTC pain reliever and apply an ice pack to the outside of your face before going to bed. It’s a good idea to skip acidic, hard, or cold foods before bed to avoid aggravating your tooth.
Will a chipped tooth heal on its own?
Your enamel cannot regenerate. As a result, once it is gone, it is gone for good. If you chip a tooth, no matter how minor, your enamel will not grow back. Your tooth will be vulnerable to bacteria, infection, and other complications if it isn’t treated. Even if you’re not in any discomfort, you have a dental emergency in Chelsea and you need to see a dentist soon. We’ll repair the chip to safeguard your tooth from additional complications. Depending on your specific needs, you have multiple options to repair your tooth, like dental bonding, a veneer, or a crown. Your results will look natural to restore your smile to its previous health and appearance.
Can I fix a denture with superglue?
Although superglue is strong, you should never use it to repair any oral appliances, including dentures. The chemicals in the glue can be toxic, cause allergic reactions, and change the way your food tastes. Not to mention, superglue doesn’t do well in moist environments, so it won’t hold for long. It’s better to leave the repairs to the professionals. Depending on the extent of the damage, we will repair or replace your dentures to restore your beautiful, functional smile quickly.