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Why Choose Chitra P. Naik, DMD for Emergency Dental Care?

  • We Care About Keeping Our Patients Safe
  • High-Quality, Personalized Dentistry
  • Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available During Office Hours

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Young woman in need of emergency dentistry holding jaw

  • Call our office. The sooner you contact our team, the more quickly you can get out of pain. As soon as you call us, we’ll get you scheduled in right away, likely on the same day as your injury. We’ll share first-aid instructions to help you manage your situation in the meantime.
  • Have an emergency exam with Dr. Naik. Once you get to our office, Dr. Naik will perform a thorough examination to identify the cause. She’ll determine which treatments are necessary to get your oral health back on the right track.
  • Get the care you need. We’ll work quickly to address the underlying issue and get you prompt relief. Some common solutions for dental emergencies include fillings, dental crowns, root canal therapy, and extraction. For more advanced treatments, specialty referrals are given as needed.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Handling a dental emergency starts by calling our dental office so you can schedule an appointment. Only a dentist can effectively treat a dental emergency, which is just another reason why it’s so important not to put off your treatment. Until you do see Dr. Naik, improve your situation by taking the best next steps below.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies 

Woman with toothache wondering about cost of dental emergencies in Flint

Determining the price of your dental emergency treatment can be difficult without first performing a detailed exam of the issue. For example, decayed teeth that are salvageable may only require removing that decay and filling it with a dental filling. However, more severe damage may require root canal therapy or a full-blown extraction, which carry different costs. No matter how complex your issue is, we’ll do everything possible to get you out of discomfort. Make sure to take advantage of our $49 limited emergency exam as well!

What Factors Can Influence the Cost of Emergency Care?

Patient and dental team member discussing cost of emergency care

In the vast majority of cases, an emergency dental visit costs more than a typical cleaning and checkup. However, there is really no way to predict the price of your treatment before you visit us for a consultation. There are numerous factors that will influence how much you must pay to get your oral health back on track. Such factors include:

  • A dental office’s location. Naik always strives to set reasonable prices for her services. However, if you are out of town and need emergency care, you can expect the cost of your treatment to correlate with the cost of living in the local area.
  • Dental insurance. Some dental insurance plans cover one emergency exam each year at 100% (just the exam, not emergency treatment). They typically cover emergency restorative services at 50% - 80%.
  • Type of restorative treatment. Complex and extensive treatments tend to come with a higher price tag. Our team will help you compare all of your treatment options. We will make sure you are well-informed about both their cost and their potential pros and cons.

Your Financial Options

Dental insurance claim form on clipboard, next to glasses

As an insurance-friendly practice, we will be happy to help you maximize your benefits. We are even in-network with several major insurance plans, including those from Cigna, Delta Dental, Blue Cross PPO, and others. We are also happy to accept out of network PPO plans.

If you do not have insurance, ask us how you can apply for CareCredit. CareCredit is a third-party creditor that offers low-interest and no-interest financing for medical and dental procedures.

The Importance of Seeking Treatment

Female dental patient smiling after receiving affordable treatment

Do not let concerns about the cost of emergency dentistry hold you back from seeking necessary care. The longer you delay your dental visit, the worse your oral health problem may become. The worse it becomes, the more expensive it will be to treat. When you visit us, our team will work quickly to relieve your pain, restore your oral health, and help you afford the treatment that your smile needs in order to thrive.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

A young woman wearing a hat and holding her face in her hands and smiling after avoiding a dental emergency in Flint

Preventing a dental emergency truly starts with at-home oral care, professional treatments, and using the right gear if you have an active lifestyle. Brushing, flossing, and routine cleanings help you remove decay-causing bacteria, which are the main cause of toothaches. Alternatively, wearing an athletic mouthguard and never using your teeth as a tool is a great way to avoid accidentally chipping your teeth or allowing them to be knocked out.

Mind the Food You Eat

A woman holding a large ice cube and preparing to bite down on the corner of it

Peanut brittle, potato chips, crunchy apples, and even ice may sound like great snacking options but apart from the fact that some of them have lots of sugar and starch that can lead to tooth decay and cavities, they can also easily damage your teeth (i.e., cracks, chips). Hard, crunchy foods can be your fast pass to the dentist’s office if you’re not careful. While they might taste delicious, it’s better if you opt for softer foods or those that can be cut into smaller pieces. This will ensure your teeth remain damage-free so that you can spend more time with the ones you love and not in the dentist’s chair.

Customize Your Mouth Protection

A little boy wearing a yellow shirt and holding a blue mouthguard to protect his teeth

Both sports and bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching) are known for creating various problems that ultimately result in a dental emergency. Whether it is chipped or cracked teeth, a broken or fractured jaw, excessive wear and tear on teeth, or a soft tissue laceration, without the right protection, you could easily find yourself in need of immediate care.

By talking to Dr. Naik about receiving a custom-made mouthguard, you can better protect your smile in its entirety. Enjoy football or other indoor/outdoor sports? This small oral device can lessen the impact if you take a hit to the mouth.

Grind your teeth at night while you sleep? A customized mouthguard can reduce wear and tear by serving as a protective barrier as well as reduce strain and tension on your jaw muscles.

Brush and Floss Regularly

A woman using an electric toothbrush to thoroughly clean her teeth in the morning

By maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, you are setting your smile up for success. Apart from brushing away bacteria and food particles, the fluoride toothpaste you use can help to strengthen tooth enamel and protect against tooth decay. Not to mention that when you floss, you get into the crevices of your smile that can often harbor bad bacteria that lead to cavities. But don’t forget to rinse! Mouthwash helps to flush out anything left behind from flossing and brushing. Ultimately, practicing good oral hygiene every morning and night before you go to bed is the key to keeping your smile looking and feeling its best.

Dental Emergency FAQs

Two kids holding skateboards laughing

Are you still worried about what you would do if you had a dental emergency on your hands? Dr. Naik offers same-day urgent treatment, including days when our dental office is closed, so you don’t have to wait and wonder whether your oral health is in grave danger. For your convenience, we’ve also answered some common questions we receive from patients below.

What should I do if I notice my face swelling?

Swelling around your mouth and chin can be a common sign of a tooth infection. If you’re experiencing swelling along with difficulty breathing and swallowing, contact your local emergency room right away to receive urgent medical treatment.

If the swelling is caused by trauma or another problem, be sure to contact our dental office right away. You can place a cold compress on the area for 10 minutes on/10 minutes off to bring down any puffiness and ease some of your pain if you’re experiencing any.

What should I include in a dental emergency kit to keep in my home?

Dental emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why it’s a good idea to be prepared just in case. You can keep an emergency kit in places where you frequently spend your time, like your home, in your car, or at work. That way, whether you’re en route to your emergency dentist or experienced a minor oral injury, you’ll have the means to address the situation so it doesn’t get worse. Here are some items you’ll want to include in your kit:

  • Latex-free examination gloves
  • Dental wax
  • Orajel
  • Sterile gauze pads
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Saline solution
  • Dental floss
  • Ibuprofen
  • Small container that can hold a tooth