Emergency Dentistry – Mt. Pleasant, WI
Quickly Get Back to Enjoying a Pain-Free Smile
When an urgent, painful dental problem strikes, the last thing you want to do is waste precious time sitting in a waiting room only to have an ER doctor be unable to treat you. In a dental emergency, time is of the essence, and you can get the expert care you need right away by calling Sweet Smiles Family Dentistry. Our team will schedule an appointment for you as soon as possible so that you can quickly get back to enjoying a pain-free smile thanks to emergency dentistry in Mt. Pleasant!
Why Choose Sweet Smiles Family Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?
- Calming Nitrous Oxide Sedation Available
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments
- In-Network with Many Leading Dental Insurance Providers
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
Whether a sudden injury has broken your tooth, a crown has fallen out, or you’ve developed a searing toothache out of nowhere, the first thing you should do in any dental emergency is call our Sweet Smiles Family Dentistry team. From there, you can expect us to help by:
- Booking your appointment and providing first-aid tips – In most cases, our team can schedule an emergency dental appointment on the very same day that you call. We can also advise you on how to handle your situation in the meantime.
- Performing an emergency exam – One of our dentists will ask you about your symptoms, look over your mouth, and take X-rays if needed.
- Creating a treatment plan – After sharing our findings from your exam, we’ll help you explore your options for treating your emergency. We can also discuss ways to ensure your care fits within your budget.
- Restoring your smile – Once we’ve agreed on a course of treatment, we’ll begin relieving your pain and healing your smile.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
The term “dental emergency” is fairly broad, so it can be difficult to tell when you urgently need to call a dentist. As a rule of thumb, you should contact our dental office if you’re experiencing discomfort or any oral issue that is affecting your daily activities. Even if you aren’t quite sure whether you have a “real” emergency on your hands, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your smile. Here are some examples of the most common dental emergencies we treat.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
Because of the nearly endless possibilities of dental emergencies, we can’t name a price for your treatment until we’ve had the chance to examine your mouth. At that point, our dentists can recommend which treatment(s) would be best for restoring the health of your smile, as well as the fees associated with those treatments. We’ll help you explore your options for making your care affordable, such as dental insurance and alternative financing. Read on to learn more about the cost of emergency dentistry in Mt. Pleasant.
Every Dental Emergency Is Different
Although our team would love to provide a price estimate over the phone, this simply isn’t possible. Since every dental emergency is unique, and some situations will cost more or less to address compared to others, we won’t be able to give you the exact cost of your treatment until we’ve been able to see you. For instance, you’ll likely spend much less on a tooth-colored filling than you would on root canal therapy. Once our team has assessed your condition, we can walk you through your treatment options and their costs.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Our practice is in-network with a wide variety of dental insurance providers, so we’ll be able to work with you if you have a plan. In many cases, insurance policies will offer some form of coverage for dental emergencies, or at least full coverage for one emergency exam. Other treatments like root canals and extractions may receive around 50-80% as long as you’ve met your deductible. To make the most of your insurance, be sure to speak with our knowledgeable team so we can help you navigate your policy and maximize your benefits.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
While some people may not have dental insurance, our practice wants to ensure everyone can get the dental care they deserve for a healthy smile. That’s why, if you aren’t currently insured, we offer alternative financing options for those working with a budget. Our team has an in-house membership plan that can give major discounts on all dental services with a single flat annual fee. We also offer third-party financing through CareCredit, which can split your treatment cost into smaller, low-to-no-interest monthly installments.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Although we can help you find ways to save money on your dental care, it’s important to remember that preventive practices are always the first way to keep money in your pockets. In most cases, a dental emergency arises due to a developing oral health issue that could have been stopped or prevented early on. That’s why it’s best to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day to keep your mouth clean throughout the year. Make sure to also visit us every six months so we can help remove plaque/tartar that you can’t reach on your own as well as address any underlying problems we might detect. In this way, you’ll be able to save time, money, and trouble in the long run.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Most dental emergencies are actually more preventable than you may think. Sure, accidents can’t be avoided entirely, but you can keep your risk of smile damage to a minimum by taking a few easy precautions. These are five we recommend to our patients in Mt. Pleasant:
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
When it comes to maintaining a healthy smile, one of your top priorities should be visiting our Mt. Pleasant dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning (or sooner if you have gum disease or are prone to cavities). These semi-annual visits allow us to spot the warning signs of an emergency early on and stop it in its tracks. Furthermore, we can use special tools during the cleaning portion of your visit to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria before it results in tooth decay or another serious oral health concern.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
A solid oral hygiene routine is about so much more than just brushing twice a day. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you need to consistently floss and rinse with mouthwash as well. Plus, you need to use the right products, including a fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Lastly, make sure to use the proper techniques. If you’re brushing twice a day, but you’re applying too much pressure, then you can still end up with a mouthful of cavities due to severe enamel erosion. As always, if you have any questions on which products you should be using or need a refresher on the proper techniques, you can give our team a call.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
There’s no denying it; what you eat and drink impacts your oral health. One example of this is foods and beverages with added sugar. If you consume them in excess, then you will be at an increased risk of developing tooth decay. If, on the other hand, you focus on filling your plate with nutrient-dense foods, then you will give your body the nutrients it needs to keep your teeth healthy and fight off infections.
Wear a Mouthguard
Simply put, you always need to wear a mouthguard if you play sports (even during practices). Remember, roughly five million teeth are knocked-out each year, and this is far from the only dental injury that you can sustain while on the court, field, or mat.
Note: we also encourage you to talk to our team about having a custom nightguard made if you grind your teeth while you sleep. That way, we can prevent premature wear that can take a toll on the look and function of your smile.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Although your teeth are sharp, you should never use them to open packaging, carry grocery bags, or for anything other than biting and chewing. This is one of the easiest ways to crack or fracture your tooth, which can be quite painful and warrants an immediate call to our emergency dentist.
Root Canal Therapy
Sometimes, an intense toothache is caused by a bacterial infection or decay deep within the tooth. If this is the case, we may need to perform root canal therapy to prevent the tooth’s condition from worsening. This procedure involves numbing your mouth, removing the diseased tissue from the tooth’s center, and sealing the tooth back up with a crown. Contrary to popular belief, root canals are nothing to fear; modern anesthetic techniques make this treatment feel quite similar to a filling.
Tooth Extractions
Our team does everything we can to preserve your natural pearly whites for as long as possible, but there are some cases where a tooth extraction is the healthiest thing we can do for your overall smile. This usually occurs when the tooth has sustained such extreme decay or damage that it cannot be salvaged by any other treatment. If we decide to move forward with a tooth extraction, we’ll thoroughly explain the process beforehand so that you know precisely what to expect.
Learn More About Tooth Extractions
Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Many people don’t have enough room in their mouths for the wisdom teeth, which emerge in the back of the mouth between the ages of 17 and 25, on average. Not only can wisdom teeth cause pain by pressing against the adjacent teeth, but they’re also harder to clean, making them more susceptible to decay. Additionally, they often become impacted, or stuck under the gumline, contributing to a host of oral health problems. Our dentists can safely remove these teeth to give you a much more comfortable and healthier smile.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Prior to experiencing a dental emergency, you might not think twice about what to do if you knock out, fracture, or damage a tooth. Of course, that all changes once you find yourself in this situation. Then, multiple questions flood your mind, like “Where should I turn for help?” Don’t worry – you’ll find the answers to FAQs right here. Plus, you can always give our Mt. Pleasant dental team a call if you need immediate assistance!
Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?
There is one case where the answer is “yes,” which is if you’re experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms. Uncontrollable bleeding, difficulty swallowing, and trouble breathing are a few examples of when immediate medical attention is needed, necessitating a visit to the ER.
Since hospitals rarely have dentists on-staff, however, you shouldn’t go to the ER if you have a toothache or something similar. Instead, you should get in touch with our Mt. Pleasant emergency dentist ASAP to schedule an appointment!
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
Sometimes, same-day appointments aren’t warranted. In that case, it can be helpful to have some tips and tricks for sleeping with a toothache.
We recommend starting the process of preparing well before bedtime. At dinner, stick to soft foods that aren’t particularly acidic, spicy, or sugary. Then, about 30 minutes before bed, take an OTC pain reliever and use a cold compress for about 10 minutes at a time. Directly before bed, prop up a few pillows so your head stays elevated throughout the night.
Are knocked-out baby teeth a dental emergency?
Sometimes, yes! After all, a baby tooth that falls out prematurely can result in several complications, like the surrounding teeth moving out of position. So, the best thing to do is call us ASAP to schedule an appointment.
Do I need to visit for minor chips to teeth?
Yes, you do! There are a few reasons for this, starting with the fact that your teeth cannot regenerate on their own. Furthermore, the chip could lead to other problems, like serious infections and uncomfortable sensitivity. While same-day treatment may not be needed, we do recommend getting an appointment on the calendar within a day or two.
Are toothpicks safe to use?
Since toothpicks can break and can be deadly if swallowed, they are not safe to use. In fact, any sharp tools, like toothpicks and tweezers, are not recommended. If you have something stuck between your teeth, the best thing to do is use some floss.
Will my toothache go away on its own?
Toothaches typically don’t go away on their own, especially if it’s the result of a large cavity or gum disease. That’s why you shouldn’t ignore tooth pain. Instead, you should bring it to our attention! Over the phone, we can learn more about your symptoms and how severe they are. From there, we can determine if you’d benefit from a same-day exam.