In the midst of a dental emergency, it can be hard to think clearly and make
decisions to preserve your oral health and minimize your risk of sustaining
additional damage. As soon you find yourself in one of these sticky
situations, call us immediately so we can schedule
an appointment for as soon as possible and provide you with over-the-phone
first-aid guidance. We take same-day appointments and also offer sedation
dentistry, so once you reach our dental office, you can rest-assured that
you’ll be well-cared for with smile renewing emergency dentistry in our
Barnegat, NJ dental office.
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
When you or a loved one needs immediate and effective relief for dental pain
or injury, you can count on Nu Dental of Barnegat. As soon as you suspect a
dental emergency, we encourage you to give our office a call. From there,
here’s generally what you can expect to happen.
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We’ll Schedule You a Same-Day Appointment: We do
everything we can to see emergency patients the same day they call us.
Once we have you scheduled, we’ll also give you first-aid
instructions for handling your situation until you can reach our office.
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You’ll Get an Emergency Exam with one of our doctors: As soon as you reach us, one of our doctors will meet with you for an emergency
exam. He’ll focus on getting you out of pain right away and learning
more about the source and extent of your emergency.
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G Will Review His Findings with You & Make a Plan: Next, one of our doctors will go over their findings with you and fully explain all
your treatment options. Together, you’ll create a custom treatment
plan to get your oral health back on track.
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We’ll Get to Work to Repair Your Smile Right Away: Before you know it, we’ll get to work repairing your smile and
eliminating your pain. For patients who are anxious or in a lot of
discomfort, we offer sedation options to help you relax while we get you
the care you need.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
The first step you should take if you experience a dental emergency is to
call our dental office so we can schedule a same-day appointment for you. If
you’re in pain, experiencing out-of-the-ordinary symptoms, or
encounter dental trauma, these are all situations in which you should visit
an emergency dentist in Barnegat for care. Below, listed some of the most
common dental emergencies, how you should handle them at home, and how we
typically treat them.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
In order to determine the cost of emergency dentistry in Barnegat, we need
to first find out what treatment you require. To do this, we’ll
collect X-rays of your mouth and conduct a thorough examination of your
teeth and gums. Once we decide what the root of your discomfort is,
we’ll map out a treatment plan and walk you through it. If you have
any questions about dental insurance coverage or financing, we’ll be
happy to answer those for you as well before we begin any procedures.
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Every Emergency Is Different
In most cases, an emergency dental appointment is relatively low-priced.
Our team’s first priority will be getting you out of pain. Then,
we’ll closely examine your smile to determine which procedures
you’ll require to get your smile back on the right track.
Until we know the extent of the damage and the treatment required,
it’s basically impossible for us to give you a cost estimate.
Before we go through with any treatment, though, your emergency dentist
in Barnegat will explain their recommendations in addition to their
pricing information. That way, there will be no unpleasant surprises.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Dental insurance companies
understand that accidents happen, so they generally provide some degree
of coverage for emergency dentistry. For instance, many of them cover
one emergency exam per year. Certain treatments that are often
associated with dental emergencies, such as dental crowns and root canal
therapy, generally receive anywhere from 50% to 80% coverage, depending
on the specifics of your plan.
At NU Dental of Barnegat, we’re in-network with many of the
nation’s leading dental insurance providers. However, we’ll
also work with out-of-network plans to help you get the most out of your
benefits!
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
As an alternative to insurance, we have our own in-house dental membership plan. All three tiers simply require a flat yearly fee, which gives you
FREE preventive care as well as discounts on most of our other services.
Plus, there’s none of the red tape that comes with traditional
insurance.
We can also help you apply for a low- to no-interest loan through
CareCredit. This trusted financing company has helped millions of
Americans fit their dental and medical care into their budgets.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Although some dental emergencies arise suddenly and cannot be avoided,
most of them are due to unchecked infection or other damage that has
been steadily worsening for some time. Investing your time and money
into good at-home oral hygiene habits and routine dental checkups could
potentially save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year on
emergency dental care.
Another way to lower your emergency dental bills is to contact our
office as soon as you can after noticing that something is amiss. Oral
health problems tend to worsen as time passes. Not only can this make
your pain more intense, but you may end up requiring more invasive and
expensive treatment than you would have if you’d scheduled an
appointment with us right away.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Even though you can’t avoid sudden injuries, you can actually prevent most dental emergencies by taking the right precautions. That’s because many of them are the result of tooth decay, infections, or other oral health issues slowly worsening over time. Luckily, you can take a few easy steps to prevent dental emergencies in Barnegat and greatly reduce the risk of harm to your smile.
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Visit Our Dental Office Regularly
You might be tempted to not attend your six-month
dental checkups
if your teeth feel fine, but cavities and oral infections can develop for weeks or months before they cause any discomfort. By that point, they might require more invasive (and expensive) procedures than they would have if they’d been caught in their early stages. That’s where routine checkups and cleanings come in. One of our doctors can catch any potential emergencies early enough that he can stop them in their tracks. Our team can also thoroughly clean plaque and tartar deposits from your teeth that you may have missed when brushing and flossing at home.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
Of course, keeping your smile healthy between checkups also involves establishing a daily oral hygiene routine. By brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash every day, you can minimize the buildup of bacteria that could contribute to tooth decay, gum disease, and other painful dental conditions. Plus, using a toothpaste with fluoride can make your tooth enamel stronger against cavities and breakage.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Snacking on sugary sweets throughout the day is a recipe for disaster. The cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar particles in the foods and drinks you consume, so it’s best to not give them too much fuel. Instead, add plenty of mouth-healthy items to your diet, such as lean proteins, leafy greens, and fresh fruits.
Wear a Mouthguard
One common reason why patients have to visit an emergency dental office in Barnegat is a sports-related mouth injury. A sudden impact to the face could easily break or knock out a tooth, which is why protecting your smile is crucial. We can make you a custom mouthguard that comfortably shields your teeth during your games or practices.
You should also protect your teeth from nighttime teeth grinding. Over time, this condition (called bruxism) can wear down your tooth enamel, increasing your risk of decay, fracture, and painful sensitivity. We can also provide you with a personalized nightguard that you wear to bed, preventing your upper and lower teeth from damaging each other while you sleep.
Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools
Your teeth are not designed to do anything more strenuous than chew food. Although they’re durable, you should avoid using your teeth to open a container or bottle. It could all too easily chip or crack a tooth. Using your teeth may seem quicker and more convenient, but you may end up spending more time and money on urgent dental care. Instead, take a few moments to grab a bottle opener, box cutter, or whatever tool is actually designed to get the job done.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
Do I Need to Go to the Emergency Room?
When it comes to emergencies of the mouth, it’s usually better to call a dentist instead of an emergency room. Simply put, most hospital emergency rooms aren’t equipped or staffed to properly deal with dental infections or broken teeth. At most, they might give you an antibiotic or a pain reliever, but they won’t be able to solve the underlying problem. One of our doctors will be able to deal with such dental issues in a timely manner. However, if you have a broken jaw, notice bleeding that doesn’t stop, or have trouble breathing, you should go to the hospital first. Once your medical emergency has been taken care of, we’ll be here to help with your teeth and gums.
Is It Ok to Wait to Make an Appointment?
It can be hard to make room in your schedule for an unplanned dental visit, but you can’t put off an appointment for too long. Leaving a broken tooth alone for too long could lead to an infection that eventually causes irreversible damage. Not bringing a lost tooth to the dentist in less than an hour could cost you the chance to have it replanted. Toothaches that go untreated might eventually worsen to the point where root canal therapy is no longer a viable option. Time is of the essence, so it’s best to call our office immediately once you think you have a potential dental emergency on your hands.
Will My Problematic Tooth Need to Be Removed?
That certainly won’t be our first choice if we can help it. Every tooth plays an important role in maintaining a balanced, functional bite. Losing even one could increase your risk of multiple oral health problems, including additional tooth loss. You’d need to invest in a potentially costly dental prosthetic. Fortunately, a tooth extraction won’t be necessary if root canal therapy or a carefully chosen dental restoration can be used to reverse the damage that has already been done and prevent future issues.
Will My Insurance Cover Emergency Dental Treatment?
You can usually expect your insurance to pay for at least one emergency visit every year. Our team will work alongside your insurance carrier on your behalf to make sure your treatment is paid for in full while also helping you save as much money as possible on out-of-pocket costs. If you have trouble paying your remaining balance, we can discuss financing solutions that will let you break up the cost and pay it in a series of installments.
Will My Toothache Go Away On Its Own?
A toothache typically does not go away on its own. In some cases, the discomfort can be a result of something outside or around the affected tooth that may resolve on its own, like irritation in the surrounding gums. However, another cause can be an infection in the pulp. If left untreated, it can damage the inner nerves and eliminate your ability to register pain. While you won’t feel the toothache anymore, it doesn’t mean your condition has improved. To avoid any complications like this, you’ll want to visit your dentist so that they can assess your mouth and address the root of the problem.
What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?
If you’re experiencing throbbing tooth pain, it’s likely an indication of inflammation within the tooth or an infection. Having cracks or a cavity can allow air and harmful bacteria to access the sensitive inner layer (the pulp) of your pearly whites. Any pain will then be a result of irritation or a possible infection in the nerves. This can also happen if there are decayed particles. If there aren’t any damage, decay, or cavities, then a throbbing in your teeth may be caused by chronic teeth clenching and/or grinding (bruxism).
What Is Causing My Jaw Pain?
In many cases, jaw pain can be due to chronic teeth grinding and clenching, as this can put excessive pressure or stress on the jaw joints. This condition can also be a result of other problems, such as facial or jaw injuries that never healed efficiently or arthritis. If you have misalignment issues in your bite, it can develop TMJ disorder (TMD), which negatively affects the joints connecting the jaw to your skull. By visiting our team, our dentists can assess your situation and determine the source of your jaw discomfort before developing a custom treatment plan to relieve your condition in the long run.
Are Toothpicks Safe to Use?
While toothpicks are commonly used for getting stuck food out of your mouth, they usually aren’t very safe for your oral health. This is especially so with wooden toothpicks. Not only can they easily damage your gums and tooth enamel, but they can also splinter and break inside your mouth. This can lead to the opposite result you were expecting, as food, debris, and wooden particles can end up being pushed further in between your pearly whites, or even under your gum line. You’ll also be at risk of swallowing the toothpick, which can be dangerous. For this reason, you should only use a toothpick as a last resort.
