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.