Emergency Dentist Tampa
Fast Attention for Painful Toothaches
Roughly 1 in 6 Americans will experience a dental emergency this year, whether it involves a surprise toothache or knocked-out tooth. In these situations, time is of the essence, which is why our Tampa emergency dentists are happy to see patients right away and provide the relief they deserve. Our emergency dental services at Advanced Dental Associates of Tampa Palms ensure we’re able to solve your urgent problems quickly so you can get back to your life just as fast.
Why Choose Advanced Dental Associates of Tampa Palms for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Dental Appointments Available
- State-of-the-Art Dental Office
- Multiple Sedation Dentistry Options
How We Handle Dental Emergencies
Initial Call: We recommend reaching out to us as soon as you think something might be wrong with your teeth. On the phone, we’ll ask about your symptoms, go over first-aid tips, and let you know if you should visit us immediately.
Emergency Exam: Our team will perform an exam and take X-rays to figure out the root source and scope of your problem.
Presentation of Treatment: Before providing any care, we’ll discuss your options and outline all the details, such as the expected timeline and associated costs.
Delivery of Care: We’ll get you out of pain and fix any damage, and we’ll schedule necessary follow-ups as well.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
The term “dental emergency” can apply to a lot of situations, and below are several that we can help with if you ever experience them. Even if you aren’t sure, we recommend reaching out to our team if you suspect your situation is an emergency—it’s better to be safe than sorry! Click the icons to get more specific guidance.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Even if you need urgent oral care, you should learn its price before you commit. How else will you know whether treatment would fit your budget? Still, the cost of emergency dentistry varies; you’ll have to see our dentists to get a precise estimate. Our team will also work to make care more affordable, walking you through its price factors, dental insurance, and more. Learn the additional details by reading below or by calling us.
Every Dental Emergency Differs
In itself, an emergency dental visit doesn’t cost much; it only charges you for an oral exam, diagnosis, and a list of suggested procedures. A dental emergency’s expense mostly comes from the later treatment. Since that’s the case, you’d be wise to see us for an estimate.
Based on your situation, we’ll suggest one (or more) of our emergency services. These can include:
- Root Canal Therapy
- Tooth Extraction
- Dental Crowns
- Other Options
Whatever the exact problem, you can rest easy. We’ll explain our findings, suggested treatment plans, and estimated costs before you commit, ensuring you know what to expect.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Thankfully, dental insurance usually does cover dental emergencies. Most plans even offer full coverage for yearly urgent oral exams, and many apply benefits to common services. It’s pretty common for an insurance provider to help with a dental emergency’s cost.
All that said, remember that every dental differs. Your own may follow unique rules, or maybe it brings yearly maximums into the mix. That means you should check your plan’s benefits before you settle on your final treatment. If you want, we’ll even help you contact your plan provider.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
With or without insurance, your dental emergency can be affordable. All you need to do is rely on our office’s varied payment options! At Advanced Dental Associates, we happen to offer:
- In-House Membership Plans – By paying a monthly fee, you can join our office’s in-house membership plan. It would give you a yearly emergency exam and 10% off most treatments.
- Flexible Financing – Our practice proudly works with CareCredit and LendingClub, two great 3rd party financiers. They’ll let you cover your emergency costs in small monthly installments.
Smile Care is a Money-Saver
Many dental emergencies are unavoidable accidents, but most stem from bacterial infection and damage. Investing in regular dental visits and good oral hygiene should save you thousands in fees.
Keep in mind that delaying care for a dental emergency is costly. The longer you wait to get help, the higher your care’s final price will be. What would’ve been a low-cost procedure for a toothache could then become a pricey tooth extraction.
From the above, you can see we want your emergency care to fit your budget. Learn how to finance it by visiting our office soon!
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
While we’re always happy to help with any dental emergencies life might throw at you, it’s better to avoid them altogether if possible! A few preventative measures can go a long way towards saving you time and money. Below, we’ve put together a list of general tips that can decrease your risk of oral health conditions and accidents. Of course, if you’d like more specific advice about preventing a specific dental problem, we’ll gladly provide personalized suggestions over the phone or during your next visit.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
We recommend scheduling regular checkup and cleaning appointments once every six months, or twice a year. This gives us the opportunity to examine your mouth for dental emergency warning flags, and help you form a treatment plan while the problem is still in its early stages. It also lets us scrub the plaque and tartar from your teeth – both of which are just as hazardous for your oral health as bacteria, and harder to remove at home!
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home
Your day-to-day oral hygiene routine should at least consist of brushing twice and flossing once. Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash or warm water is also a good idea, but brushing and flossing should be your priority. These two simple actions clean harmful bacteria from your mouth, mitigating build up and decreasing your risk for cavities and gum disease.
Be Careful With Your Diet
Certain foods and drinks are better for your general health than others, and that goes for your oral health, too. Sugary and acidic treats in particular can cause a number of complications when consumed in excess. Sugar accelerates bacterial growth, while acid wears down your enamel – both of these effects make your teeth more vulnerable to tooth decay, gum disease, infection, and dental sensitivity.
Wear a Mouthguard
Not all dental emergencies have to do with your oral hygiene! High contact sports, for example, sometimes result in chips, cracks, or tooth loss. While you could say that’s the name of the game, you don’t have to play unprotected. We provide mouthguards so you can play hard and worry less.
Another special type of mouthguard we can provide is a nightguard. Typically prescribed for nightly teeth grinding, this appliance will protect your teeth from premature wear due to excess pressure.
Use Tools, Not Teeth to Open Packaging
When your hands are full or a snack packet is especially difficult to open, you might be tempted to make use of your teeth. Your pearly whites are meant for chewing and tearing, but not into cardboard or plastic! Not only can this habit wear down your teeth faster, it can also cause damage if what you’re biting into is hard enough or trigger chronic jaw aches. Simply put, your teeth are not a suitable bottle opener.
Dental Emergency FAQs
What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?
If you are experiencing a throbbing pain in your tooth, this is likely a sign of infection or inflammation. Cavities or cracks inside your tooth can allow air and bacteria to reach the sensitive, inner area of your tooth where the pulp is located. This can often result in irritation and infection of the pulp nerves, causing pain. This may also happen if there is tooth decay present.
In other cases, your tooth throbbing may be a result of chronic teeth grinding (bruxism) or jaw clenching. Regardless of the cause, you should be seen by your dentist as soon as possible.
Will a Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
Unfortunately, toothaches usually do not go away on their own. Because of this, we recommend that you schedule a checkup with your dentist as soon as possible. There are many potential causes for a toothache, and your dentist can help determine which is responsible for yours so we can get you the treatment you need.
Taking care of a toothache quickly can also help us catch any underlying oral health problems before they get worse.
In some cases, toothaches that are caused by pain around the tooth and not inside it can go away on their own, such as gum irritation.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
Unfortunately, most emergency rooms aren’t equipped to handle dental emergencies properly. However, if you experience any of the following, you should always go to the emergency room first:
- Jaw fractures and dislocations
- Serious cuts or lacerations to the face or mouth
- An abscess or infection that has swollen to the point where you cannot breathe or swallow
If none of these apply to you, it is best to contact Advanced Dental Associates and schedule an urgent appointment with your dentist first. We offer same-day appointments as well as sedation options to help ease pain and anxiety during treatment.
Can I Pop a Dental Abscess on My Own?
Never under any circumstances should you attempt to pop or drain a dental abscess yourself. If you have one, please contact us as soon as possible. This is considered a dental infection and thus is a dental emergency.
By popping the abscess yourself, you will expose your mouth to more bacteria and make the area more irritated in the process.