Emergency Dentist Bethlehem
Immediate Dental Care Is Here When You Need It
Waiting to see an emergency dentist in Bethlehem while experiencing immense pain should not be a concern. That’s why we offer same-day emergency dental appointments at Penn Dental Arts - you can call our office and schedule a time to get in right away. On top of getting you out of pain, we’ll deliver the safe and effective treatment your smile needs to make a full recovery.
Why Choose Penn Dental Arts for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
- Dental Sedation for Nervous/Anxious Patients
- Dentists See Patients of All Ages
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
Several steps are involved when dealing with a dental emergency:
- 1 - Call to Schedule an Appointment: Once an incident occurs, call our dental office as soon as possible so that a member of our staff can make an appointment for you to come in. We’ll make note of the problem and provide first-aid tips to manage the situation at home so that you experience less pain and avoid further damage.
- 2 - Receive an Examination: You’ll be escorted to a treatment room and have digital images taken of your mouth. One of our dentists will closely examine the scans before conducting a visual evaluation of your injured tooth or teeth.
- 3 - Review Findings: After determining the underlying problem and helping you out of immediate pain, we will begin to develop a treatment plan that targets the injured area.
- 4 - Deliver Treatment: Once you agree to the proposed plan, we will begin to address the situation using one or more restorative solutions. If the injury is minor, we may be able to treat it on the same day. However, if the damage is more severe, you may be required to return to our office for more extensive treatment another day.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
While you may not think your soft tissue injury, lost filling, or chipped tooth is a serious concern, our team at Penn Dental Arts believes it’s always best to see a trusted dentist as opposed to avoiding treatment.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
For many patients, the stress of handling a dental emergency is twofold: the pain stemming from the injury and the anxiety that comes from receiving an unexpected bill. Rest assured, we’re here to help with both! In fact, we’ve dedicated this next section to covering information on the latter, including whether dental insurance providers typically cover a portion of the price.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
The reason we can’t provide you with an estimate of the cost online is that no two situations are exactly the same. We can, however, give you a number after learning the type of dental injury you’ve sustained, the severity of the damage, and the best restorative treatment. We’ll also dedicate time to reviewing the financial solutions available, including dental insurance.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Many dental insurance providers do cover a portion of the cost, like the emergency exam. That said, there are sometimes rules and restrictions that affect coverage, including waiting periods and annual maximums, which is why it’s so important to read through the fine print on your plan. If you aren’t familiar with your benefits, don’t worry – we can review the details with you at your visit, answer any questions you have, and help you maximize your coverage to the fullest.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Many patients who are uninsured postpone getting the dental care they need because they are worried about the cost. We never want that to be the case for our patients, which is why we offer two additional financial solutions:
- CareCredit Flexible Financing: If you’d prefer not to pay for the entire cost of your emergency treatment in one lump sum, we have good news: you don’t have to! CareCredit offers payment plans so you can break up the price into smaller, more manageable chunks that work with your budget.
- Special Offers: We’re proud to offer our patients periodic specials, like a $149 emergency visit, so they can get the top-tier dentistry they deserve at a more affordable price. If you are interested in learning about the specials we’re currently offering, ask a friendly member of our team when you call to schedule your visit!
How Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Although the “wait and see” approach may seem like a good way to save money, cavities, gum disease, and other serious oral health problems only get worse if neglected. In other words, scheduling an appointment with our emergency dentist in Bethlehem will benefit your smile and your wallet. So, get in touch with us when you first realize that something is wrong, even if it’s a small toothache.
Important reminder: Many common dental problems are largely preventable if you take good care of your smile. So, do your best to be consistent with your dental care regimen, starting with brushing your teeth for a full two minutes each morning and evening.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Whether you’ve chipped a tooth, one of your dental crowns is loose, or you’re struggling with a serious toothache, you don’t have to worry – our emergency dentist in Bethlehem is just a phone call away. That said, as your dental team, we also hope you never experience a painful dental injury. For this reason, we’ve covered some keys to preventing common dental emergencies in this next section.
Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months
Patients often assume dental checkups and cleanings are optional, especially if they aren’t experiencing any soreness, discomfort, or sensitivity. The truth is that tooth decay, gum disease, and other serious oral health problems can progress quickly under the radar. So, if it has been longer than six months since your last visit with our dentist in Bethlehem, don’t wait – call us ASAP to get your next appointment on the calendar.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently will help keep your breath fresh while also reducing your risk of cavities and other forms of dental damage. What many patients don’t realize, however, is that the amount of time you dedicate to each step matters. In other words, it’s important that you brush for two full minutes each morning and night and that you rinse with mouthwash for the full 30-60 seconds.
Be Mindful of What You Eat
Although there is room for just about every type of food in a well-balanced diet, there are some that increase your risk of dental damage. With this in mind, do your best not to overindulge on added sugar, and exercise caution with hard pretzels, raw almonds, and other extremely crunchy foods. It’s a good idea to drink lots of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and prevent dry mouth as well.
Wear a Mouthguard to Protect Your Smile
Wearing a mouthguard while playing sports is important, even if you participate in a non-contact one, like skateboarding. Although many patients are tempted to buy one online or at a sporting goods store, it’s better to have a custom one made so it’s the appropriate thickness and fits comfortably. The good news is that we can handle that at our Bethlehem office!
Break Bad Habits
Last, but certainly not least, you should avoid doing anything that could damage your teeth. A few examples include smoking, chewing on ice, and biting your nails. If your attempts to break bad habits like these have been unsuccessful, don’t hesitate to let us know! We’d be happy to share what has worked for our patients in the past.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Will my toothache resolve itself?
It’s natural to wonder if your toothache will eventually fade if given enough time and patience, but unfortunately, that’s not usually the case. Oral issues tend to worsen over time and don’t often resolve on their own. If you’re unsure whether your situation warrants an emergency visit, you are welcome to contact our Bethlehem office to discuss your concerns.
Our team is happy to schedule a same-day appointment if needed, and depending on your circumstances, we might also provide additional self-care instructions over the phone for you to follow until you arrive.
How can I sleep better with tooth pain?
Our office offers same-day visits for dental emergencies so you don’t usually have to wait long for relief from a toothache. However, if you developed a severe or sudden discomfort in the evening or over the weekend outside of normal business hours, it might be a day or two before you can contact us.
If the throbbing is keeping you awake at night, you might try propping your head up on several pillows or dozing off in a recliner. This prevents blood from pooling behind your tooth, thereby reducing pressure on the tender nerves inside. You might also apply an ice pack to the sore side of your face for 15 minutes for a temporary numbing sensation. It’s also often safe to take the recommended dosage of over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Do I need an emergency appointment for chipped teeth?
Enamel is the hardest substance made by the human body, but it’s not invincible. You might think seemingly minor chips don’t require professional attention, but unfortunately, the damage to your tooth can extend deeper than you can see on your own at home. You might be okay to wait for a day or two, but the longer it remains untreated, the more likely you are to develop additional injuries, disease, or decay.
Contact our team to schedule an appointment, and we’ll examine your teeth and gums and take X-rays or other images to determine the extent of the damage. Then, we can provide an appropriate treatment plan based on our findings.
Can I superglue my dentures?
Dentures are made from materials designed to withstand the forces of daily biting, chewing, and speaking, but they can be chipped, cracked, or broken if dropped or if you eat hard or crunchy foods.
You might not consider your damaged restoration to be an emergency, but wearing it in its current condition could hurt your smile. For instance, the injured materials might have sharp edges that can cut the tender tissues inside your mouth. You might also develop a bite misalignment by wearing ill-fitted or broken dentures. Some patients have tried to fix their prosthetics with superglue or other household supplies, but this isn’t recommended because they are not intended for oral use and can be toxic if ingested.
Call our office in Bethlehem instead, and we’d be happy to set up a time to help repair or replace your dentures.