(508) 644-5200Emergency Dentist — Assonet, MA
Urgent Dental Care Right When You Need It
Why Choose Woodside Dental Care for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Appointments Available
- Conservative, Honest, and Personable Care
- Advanced Dental Technology
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Contact our office right away. The sooner you give us a call, the more likely we’ll be able to resolve your situation that very same day. Over the phone, we’ll share tips to help you manage your emergency in the meantime.
- See Dr. Cornetta for an emergency exam. When you get to our office, we’ll quickly evaluate the situation, discuss your treatment options with you, explain your payment options, and help you get back on the road to a healthy, fully functional smile.
- Get the care you need. During your visit, we may be able to temporarily relieve your pain with certain treatments. However, you might need to return to fully address the underlying issue. Some common solutions for dental emergencies include fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, gum disease treatment, and extractions.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies tend to come in two main varieties. One, they develop slowly over time, which is the case with a severe toothache due to longstanding decay, or two, they occur suddenly, usually as the result of an accident. Both can lead to quite a bit of pain, and you should give us a call immediately if either one pops up. Before you can reach our dental office, however, review the tips below to help take control of the situation.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
The cost of treating a dental emergency can vary quite a bit from patient to patient depending on their situation. That’s why we can’t provide you with an accurate estimate of the cost online! The good news is that we can provide some helpful information on the topic here – from whether or not dental insurance covers a portion of it to how taking good care of your smile benefits your wallet. So, read on!
Every Dental Emergency is Different – Here’s Why!
Patients often assume that there is a flat fee for emergency dentistry, but that’s not the case! The reason why is that every situation is different. For example, one patient struggling with a toothache might need a small filling, while another might need a root canal and crown, or to have a tooth removed and replaced. Don’t worry – you won’t be left in the dark about the price. Before providing the necessary restorative care, we can quickly go over your options before we provide treatment so you can know exactly what to expect.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
If you have dental insurance, take a look at the fine print on your plan! Many include benefits, like a complimentary emergency exam each year, which can lower your out-of-pocket expenses significantly. If you have any trouble understanding your coverage or the red tape associated with it, like waiting periods or annual maximums, don’t hesitate to ask us for help! We’d be happy to help you with the process of utilizing your benefits so you can get the care you need without the stress.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Uninsured? That’s okay – there are other ways you can make the cost of emergency dentistry more affordable. To start, our Woodside Dental Care Smile Plan comes with several cost-saving benefits, including an emergency exam – without any red tape too! We also are happy to welcome payment plans with CareCredit, which is a trusted third-party financier. This allows you to space out the cost of your care into smaller, monthly chunks that work for you and your budget.
How Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
It goes without saying that avoiding an emergency altogether is always the best way to go. But is that possible? The good news is that many dental injuries can be prevented with good oral hygiene habits, like brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently. You also need to wear a mouthguard when playing sports, visit us twice a year for a checkup and cleaning, and schedule an emergency exam when you first notice that something is wrong, like your gums are bleeding. That way, we can pinpoint and address the problem before extensive restorative treatments are necessary.
If you have any questions about the cost, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have so navigating the financial side of your treatment isn’t a source of stress.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Whether you’re a busy college student, you’re a new parent, or you’re focused on your career right now, dealing with a painful dental injury isn’t on the agenda. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to protect your smile from harm and, in turn, reduce your risk of needing emergency dental care. To learn what they are, read on!
Schedule Routine Dental Checkups and Cleanings
In short, routine checkups enable us to fix small problems before they can turn into an unexpected emergency later. So, make sure to visit our Assonet dental team every six months, even if you aren’t in any pain now! In addition to screening for tooth decay, gum disease, damaged restorations, and oral cancer, we will remove plaque, tartar, and other debris to keep your smile happy and healthy.
Commit to Good Oral Hygiene Habits At Home
You can also help keep your teeth nice and strong by taking good care of them! That starts with brushing your teeth for two minutes each morning and evening and extends to using an ADA-approved mouthwash to rinse your mouth every night before bed. Remember, the tools you use matter too. For example, you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush instead of a hard-bristled one, and you should replace it every quarter.
Stick to a Nutritious, Well-Balanced Diet
While sugary foods can eat away at your enamel, extremely crunchy ones can lead to a serious crack or fracture. So, if you want to avoid a painful dental injury and a stressful trip to the dentist, the best thing to do is stick to a nutritious, well-balanced diet. Foods like plain yogurt, bananas, oatmeal, and cooked carrots are ideal because they benefit your oral health and they are easy to chew!
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
Sports-related accidents are one of the primary causes of chipped, cracked, and knocked-out teeth. So, whether you’re an athlete or you just like to participate in sports to stay active, be sure to wear a protective mouthguard! If you don’t have one already, don’t buy a one-size-fits-all one (they can be quite uncomfortable and a choking hazard). Instead, give us a call so we can have a custom one made to fit perfectly and reduce your chances of experiencing a serious dental injury.
Quit Unhealthy Dental Habits
Habits like biting your nails and chewing on ice cubes may seem harmless, but they can quickly lead to considerable chips and cracks in your enamel. So, it’s important that you break bad habits like these. In an effort to protect your teeth from harm, we also don’t recommend using them as tools – whether it’s using them to tear open plastic wrapping or remove a bottle cap.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Do you have questions about dental emergencies? Are you feeling unsure about what to do or where to go in the event you or someone you love knocks out a tooth, busts a lip, or suffers from excruciating tooth pain? Before you go into panic mode, your emergency dentist at Woodside Dental Care, Dr. Cornetta, has compiled some of the most frequently asked questions for you to review. Once you are finished, if you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our dental office.
What Should I Do If a Dental Emergency Occurs While I’m On Vacation?
Since accidents can happen at any time, you may be faced with a busted tooth or severe toothache while trying to enjoy your family vacation. If this is the case, don’t wait until you get home to receive treatment. If possible, seek out a local dentist who can treat your problem immediately. Make sure to alert our dental office to the situation, though. This will allow us to go ahead and schedule an appointment for you to come in once you return and assess the situation to determine if additional care is needed.
Why Shouldn’t I Just Go to The Emergency Room?
Here are a few reasons why you should avoid the ER and instead, see your emergency dentist:
- You will wait long hours in the emergency room lobby
- A general doctor does not have the training or educational background in many dental injuries
- Only your symptoms will be treated, not the root cause
- Hospitals are hotbeds for bacteria because of all the sick individuals needing help
- Unless you are experiencing facial trauma (i.e., a broken or fractured jaw), continuous bleeding from the mouth, or increased swelling, let an emergency dentist take care of your situation.
Will Insurance Cover My Visit?
It is likely that your dental insurance company will pay some or all of your emergency visit. However, this is dependent upon what type of treatment you need. Whether you need a minor or major restorative service will determine your out-of-pocket expenses, which will typically run anywhere between 20-50% of the total cost after it is filed with your insurance. If you need additional assistance paying for the remainder of your treatment, our team can help by offering alternative payment methods for you to consider.
Why Should I Have a Dental Emergency Treated Right Away?
Even if you are not experiencing serious pain or discomfort, injury to your teeth and/or gums can cause lasting harm to your oral health. A chipped tooth can damage your soft tissues or make you more vulnerable to tooth decay and cavities. An exposed tooth root can cause increased sensitivity when eating anything cold or hot.
It’s necessary that you have our team examine your problem area and make a recommendation regarding treatment. Not only will this help to restore your smile, but it will also reduce your chances of developing more serious problems down the road.
I Need a Checkup & Cleaning I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I am Missing One or More Teeth I Want a Prettier Smile View Our Services