What does an emergency dentist do?
An emergency dentist is a Doctor of Dentistry who sees patients that require immediate attention.
If you are experiencing a dental emergency and wind up at the emergency room of a hospital you may find that there is not much that a medical doctor is willing to do to resolve your dental issue. ER medical doctors may be able to provide a temporary solution like prescription pain relievers and antibiotics that can hold you over until you can get to your primary dentist but any further treatment is highly unlikely.
Medical emergency rooms are not equipped with the proper dental equipment and medications that are necessary to treat your condition. These facilities typically do not have a Doctor of Dentistry on staff who can make providing a long-term solution possible.
Emergency Dentist for Children & Adults
Most emergency dentist offices in Harrisburg NC treat both adults and children. However, providing pediatric emergency dental services can be different from addressing adult dental emergencies. An ideal practice will have clinicians who have experience treating both adult and pediatric dental patients.
It is recommended that you seek the assistance of your family dentist for pediatric services before settling on a dentist whom your child is not familiar with. Reaching out to your child’s pediatric dentist is best for the child since it may help the child to be more at ease while being treated by a physician whom they are familiar with. Your child’s pediatrician will also have a comprehensive understanding of the child’s dental history.
If you don’t have a family or pediatric dentist make an appointment with Drs Icard or Strein at Icard & Strein in Harrisburg NC.
What services do they provide
Emergency dentist for children and adults will treat dental emergencies that are not life-threatening. An emergency room may be a better option if you feel that your dental problem could lead to a life-threatening issue.
Services that can be treated by an emergency dentist include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Sports injuries like dislodged, chipped, broken or knocked out tooth.
- Foreign objects stuck between the teeth.
- Filling fall out or loss
- Severe tooth pain
- Broken and loose braces and wires, in some cases
- Infections like an abscess
How to find a qualified emergency dentist?
You can find out much of what you need to know about emergency dentistry services in your area simply by doing a Google search or better yet contacting your insurance company to find out if there are any emergency dentist in-network in your area.
A google search is always helpful in allowing you to read real patient reviews about service and affordability. If you’d like to do additional digging, check multiple review sites to get a clear understanding of patient experience.
Paying for emergency dental services
The number one deterrent to seeking emergency dental care is cost. The high cost associated with treatment is usually the reason why most people avoid seeing a dentist at all. People tend to ignore dental problems, hoping they’ll go away, they will not and they may even worsen which will cost you more money in the end.
The best way to reduce cost related to dental emergencies is to have a daily oral care routine that will help you to maintain good oral health. Daily care can minimize or eliminate emergencies related to infections and some extractions.
Paying Unexpected Dental Cost
Financing options for dental services are determined by each office. The office might accept payment plans, care credit, cash payments or sliding scales fees. Contact the practice to find out which options are available to you.
Check with your insurance company to find in-network emergency dental practices in Harrisburg NC. This is the best option for finding an affordable dentist in your area.
If your insurance company does not have in-network providers in your area then it is likely that they have other payment reimbursement options that you may want to take advantage of. Typically an insurance company will allow you to submit charges for reimbursement in times of an emergency. In this case, you should at least come to the dental practice prepared to pay the costs related to x-rays and the examination fee.
Sources:
WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/handling-dental-emergencies
Consumer Guide To Dentistry: https://www.yourdentistryguide.com/emergency/
Dental Loans: https://dentalloans.com/we-can-help-with-dental-costs/