Emergency Dentistry – St. Albans, VT

Every Emergency is Different

The emergency visit itself has its own cost, and its relatively inexpensive; it’s mainly meant to assess the damage and figure out what kind of treatment you’ll need. As for the ultimate cost of emergency care, we can’t give you a generalized estimate before we’ve examined you. There are so many different kinds of dental emergencies and no one single treatment that can address all of them. As such, your treatment plan may be as simple as having a crown or a filling placed, or it may involve a tooth extraction. While we’re explaining our findings, we’ll make sure you understand the costs involved so that there are no unwelcome surprises moving forward.

Saving Money with Proactive Care

Avoiding dental emergencies altogether is the best way to keep the costs of emergency care down. Of course, you can’t guarantee that an accident won’t occur, but you can take simple steps like brushing and flossing on a daily basis to protect yourself from tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems that could potentially cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the long term.

When a real dental problem does occur, call our office right away. Ignoring a toothache, a fractured tooth, or other oral health issues is never the right answer. The problem will only grow worse as time goes on, and the cost of treating it will grow the more severe it becomes. Root canal therapy can save an infected tooth, but if it’s not performed in time, we might have no choice but to remove it and replace it. Maintain your health and your bank account by taking the initiative when something goes wrong.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Most dental plans include coverage for one emergency examination per year. As for the treatment, the benefits you receive can vary from plan to plan. You can expect the most common emergency services associated with hurting or damaged teeth (such as crowns and root canals) to be covered by your dental plan, but you should still call your insurance company first to confirm. Our team can go over your benefits with you and help you figure out the best way to maximize them.

Other Options for Making Emergency Dentistry More Affordable

If you don’t have insurance, you might want to apply for CareCredit financing. You select a payment plan that divides the cost into a series of installments, and little to no interest is involved. This can take a lot of the financial stress off of your emergency care.

Wear a Mouthguard When You Play Sports

It goes without saying that you need to wear a mouthguard if you play football, basketball, or another contact sport. You should also wear one while skateboarding, rollerblading, and surfing. That way, your teeth are protected from unexpected impact.

We also recommend wearing a nightguard if you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep. This small device will play a big role in preventing premature wear and tear.

Don’t Chew on Hard Items, Like Ice Cubes

Smoking is often the first thing people think of when they are asked about bad habits they should avoid. However, that’s just one of the many things that can lead to dental damage. Even seemingly harmless things, like chewing on ice cubes, biting your nails, and using your teeth to remove plastic wrapping can lead to serious harm, like a large crack in your enamel. So, it’s important to break bad habits like these ASAP.

Brush and Floss Consistently

The best way to prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease is by committing to a solid at-home oral hygiene regimen. That starts with brushing your teeth each morning and night for a full two minutes. You should also floss and rinse with mouthwash each day; this will help prevent plaque build-up, inflammation, bad breath, and countless other issues.

Get Regular Dental Checkups and Teeth Cleanings

Unless instructed otherwise, you should get a dental checkup and teeth cleaning twice a year. These routine appointments ensure that oral health problems, like cavities, are treated as conservatively as possible. Plus, an oral cancer screening is conducted at each visit, and harmful substances, like plaque and tartar, are removed during the cleaning to keep your smile happy and healthy between visits.

Eat a Healthy, Well-Balanced Diet

It’s no secret that sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. That’s why patients are encouraged to keep their consumption of foods and drinks with added sugar to a minimum. Instead, it’s best to focus on getting all of the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals you need into your diet. These are largely found in fresh fruits and vegetables, so that’s a great place to start!