Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can happen at any time and often take people completely by surprise. One minute you are eating from a bag of popcorn in a movie theater and the next you bite down on an un-popped kernel and suddenly feel a sharp pain shoot through your jaw.
Although dramatic events, like the loss of a tooth or teeth due to blunt physical trauma are easy to identify as a dental emergency, there are other times when it can be difficult to determine whether a situation is truly an emergency or simply an issue that requires care when possible. One of the most common issues that may or may not constitute emergency care is an intermittent toothache that develops for no identifiable reason. While this may not be a situation that requires immediate emergency care, it is important to address this issue as soon as possible. If you are experiencing a toothache or any other oral health issue, contact our office and describe your symptoms to our knowledgeable staff, who can help determine whether emergency care is needed. If the situation does require immediate care, we will have you seen as soon as possible, no matter what time of day it is.
As a native of Greenville and fourth generation dentist, Dr. Preston Hamrick is proud to serve his community by developing personal relationships with all his patients and working hard to understand their needs and goals. Read on to learn more about emergency dental care, or if you require emergency care, contact us immediately at 864.292.5125. We also encourage you to save our number in your phone under “Emergency Dentist.” While we hope you never have to utilize our emergency services, it is better to be prepared just in case!
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Common Dental Emergency Issues
Even patients who take excellent care of their teeth can still develop serious cavities or have a break or deep crack develop in their teeth. When this happens, the body will typically alert you that something is wrong in the form of pain or extreme sensitivity. Many times, this pain can be managed using home remedies, such as over-the-counter NSAID painkillers, such as Tylenol or Advil or ice therapy on the area of discomfort. Eugenol is also a popular source of toothache relief, which can be found in most drug stores. If you are able to manage your discomfort until you can be seen by Dr. Hamrick during normal business, this will ensure that you do not have to pay added costs of emergency services and do not have to interrupt your daily routine. However, if the pain in your tooth continues to worsen and/or becomes unbearable, so much so that you are not able to sleep or maintain your normal daily routines, contact our office, whatever the time of day, and we will provide you with care as soon as possible to treat your tooth.
How to Handle Blunt Trauma
If you are in a serious accident or experience severe blunt trauma that has resulted in a bleeding wound at the mouth or face, it is important to seek medical attention immediately from your nearest urgent care facility or emergency room. Once your immediate health care issues have been stabilized by a doctor, we are happy to help address any of your dental needs that have developed as a result of this incidence.
Knocked-Out Tooth or Damaged Dental Work
One of the most common types of dental emergencies people encounter is a tooth that has become knocked out. If this happens to you, contact our office as soon as possible. If the incidence happens after our normal business hours, leave a message with our service and we will be alerted that you will be arriving.
It is important that you bring your tooth with you to our office (if possible). It is very important that you are careful in how you handle the tooth and that you do not try to clean it. If possible, place the tooth in a small container of saliva or milk and place a wet cloth in the socket to gently bite down on. If you receive care quickly enough and do not damage the integrity of the tooth, it may be possible to replace the knocked-out tooth in the socket, provided you do not detach any of the connective tissues. If your tooth is not able to be re-attached, a follow up appointment will be scheduled to discuss other tooth replacement options.
Though less painful and jarring as the loss of a tooth, having a filling, bridge or crown become dislodged can be cause of concern. Although it is important to have these issues addressed as soon as possible, in general these instances do not necessitate emergency care, provided you are not experiencing severe pain in addition to their becoming dislodged. All the same, it is important to schedule an appointment as soon as possible so we can replace or repair your dental work.
Cost of Emergency Care
The cost of emergency care will depend on the type of procedure that is performed. For patients with dental insurance, the total out of pocket costs will depend on whether the procedure is covered under your plan, and if so, how much is covered. Our staff are happy to review your coverage and ensure you maximize your benefits and have minimal out of pocket expenses.
If you are a patient at our practice and do not have dental insurance, consider joining our membership club. Because we value your loyalty, we have launched this club to help save you money on treatment and simplify payments for preventative care. We offer three levels of membership: child, adult, and perio membership. Professional dental cleanings, doctor exams, necessary X-rays, and a 5% discount on all other treatment (some exclusions apply) are included in all membership packages.
You can sign up today and start saving money on treatment online or call us at (864) 292-5125.
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For your convenience, we accept all forms of credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
Fall in Love with Your Smile Again
At Heritage Dentistry in Greenville, South Carolina, we are committed to providing 5-star customer service that is relationship based, along with a comprehensive range of treatment options that will ensure your sustained oral health and make you fall in love with your smile again. If you require emergency care, contact our Greenville dental team today at (684) 292-5125.