Emergency Dentist — St. Johns, FL
Dental Relief When It’s Needed Most
Breaking a tooth or suddenly experiencing oral pain that refuses to go away can be both stressful and frightening, which is why it’s important to have an experienced St. John’s emergency dentist like Dr. Cohen to turn to. He will make room in his schedule to see you as soon as possible, and he’ll always take as much time as necessary to make sure you are comfortable with your treatment options. Get in touch with us immediately for dental relief when it’s needed most.
Why Choose Julington Creek Family Dentistry for Emergency Dental Care?
- #1 Wide Variety of Treatments Performed In-House
- #2 Same-Day Appointments for Emergency Patients
- #3 A Dentist Who Always Prioritizes Your Comfort
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
It the midst of a dental emergency, it’s likely that you’ll feel somewhat overwhelmed and uncertain. Even so, we encourage you to stay calm. Acting quickly and correctly can make all the difference in a dental emergency, so follow these easy steps:
- Step 1: Call Us Right Away. As soon as you realize something is wrong with your teeth or gums, you should call our dental office. We do everything we can to schedule same-day appointments for our emergency patients.
- Step 2: Receive Personalized First-Aid Guidance. Over the phone, one of our experienced team members will walk you through some basic first aid tips for managing your situation until you can reach our office.
- Step 3: Get an Emergency Exam from Dr. Cohen. Cohen will see you right away when you arrive to learn more about your emergency and alleviate any pain you may be in.
- Step 4: Choose a Custom Treatment Plan. After reviewing the findings and fully explaining all your treatment options, Dr. Cohen will work with you to put together a custom treatment plan for getting your oral health back on track.
- Step 5: Get the Gentle, Professional Care You Need. We offer a wide range of treatments right here in-house, so whether you need a root canal, gum disease treatment, tooth replacement, or even oral surgery, we can get to work right away repairing your smile and protecting your teeth.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can have a variety of causes, but they all have at least one thing in common: they are only going to get worse if you ignore them. Even if you are unsure if your symptoms need urgent dental care, we encourage you to call as quickly as you can. Taking a “wait and see” approach could easily lead you to needing more extensive treatment later. At Julington Creek Family Dentistry, we treat all of the most common dental emergencies right here in-house, so you’ll always be able to turn to a team you already know and trust. Read on to learn more about how to manage some of the most common dental emergencies before your appointment and how we’re likely to treat them.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Before we move forward with treating the underlying cause of your dental emergency, we’ll take the time to answer a question that’s likely to be on your mind: how much will it cost? The final price won’t be the same for everyone since it depends heavily on the patient’s situation. The goal of treatment is to stop your pain and prevent further damage, so we’ll only make recommendations for services that you truly need to save your smile. We’ll only move forward once you understand the costs and your payment options.
No Two Emergencies Have the Same Price
Sometimes you might visit the emergency dentist and find that all you need to stop your toothache is a small filling. At other times, the toothache might be caused by an infection that needs to be removed by a root canal. And in the most severe cases, the tooth might have to be removed altogether and replaced. The treatment you get will vary depending on the problem and how severe it is, and naturally this affects the price. We therefore can only go over pricing information once we’ve finished examining your mouth. Don’t worry; you’ll have all the necessary cost-related information before we ask you to make a decision.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
You can typically count on your dental insurance to provide you with some coverage in the event of an emergency. Many plans help pay for at least one emergency exam per year, and the coverage for root canal therapy, dental crowns, and other treatments used to treat urgent dental issues usually falls in the 50% to 80% range. All dental insurance plans are unique, and there are yearly maximums and deductibles that can affect the amount the insurance provider is willing to pay. Consult with your insurance company to see what coverage is available for a specific treatment.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Even if you don’t have insurance, you always have the support of the Julington Creek Family Dentistry team. We can help you look into other options for making it easier to pay for dental care. For example, you can sign up for CareCredit financing so that the cost of your care is divided into several monthly payments that accommodate your personal budget. We can go into more detail about this financing option and walk you through the application process.
Save Money by Taking Care of Your Smile
Instead of waiting for dental emergencies to strike and paying for treatment afterwards, you can save money by preventing problems from occurring in the first place. Brushing your teeth and attending biannual checkups will lower your risk for tooth decay and issues, meaning you’re less likely to need more expensive treatments later. Another way to save money on emergency care is to call your emergency dentist in St. Johns as soon as you realize something is long. Waiting too long for treatment can make the problem more complex, and that makes the required care more expensive.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
There are numerous cases of dental emergencies every year. Although some of them aren’t preventable, like accidents and injuries, many of them can be avoided. Most patients needing urgent dental care are those experiencing decay that could have been stopped ahead of time. Whether it’s a simple toothache or a knocked-out tooth, there are several steps you can try that can significantly reduce your risks in your everyday life. Keep reading to learn five essential ways that can help you prevent dental emergencies in St. Johns!
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Certain dental issues like cracks, cavities, and infections can start small and develop into something worse if left unchecked. For this reason, it’s important that you schedule an appointment with our team every six months or sooner. We’ll monitor your oral health, detect any growing problems, and provide the necessary treatment before it becomes a bigger deal. We can also offer customized preventive care to ensure you understand how to keep dental emergencies at bay.
Keep Proper Oral Hygiene At Home
One of the best ways to protect your dental health is to maintain good dental hygiene daily. Without it, you can run the risk of allowing bacteria, plaque, and tartar to build up in your mouth. This can cause your enamel to weaken or your gums to become infected over time, which can become a dental emergency later on. To avoid these complications, make sure you brush for two minutes twice daily, floss at least once, and regularly rinse with mouthwash.
Maintain a Nutritious Diet
Most people know that sugary foods can be detrimental to your teeth due to causing cavities. You may also want to avoid overindulging in hard foods and acidic beverages, as these can gradually wear down your smile and make it more vulnerable to a dental emergency, like an abscess or cracked tooth. A few ways to prevent this is to stick to foods high in fiber, calcium, and vitamin C to naturally promote stronger and healthier pearly whites.
Wear a Mouthguard
Although your enamel is the most durable material in your body, it can still sustain damage if exposed to excessive or prolonged pressure. If you play contact sports where there’s a chance you can get hit in the face, then you might ask us about custom athletic mouthguards. Also, we may be able to help with personalized nightguards if you experience bruxism or grind your teeth while you sleep.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
You might be tempted to sometimes use your teeth as tools, whether to open a package or bottle quickly. Though this might make it convenient for you at the moment, doing so can easily become a dental emergency. Chipping or cracking your tooth like this can cost you more time and money than you’ll want to spend. Be sure not to use your teeth for anything other than eating food or smiling, and keep the proper tools handy so you can preserve a healthy smile.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Patients who experience a toothache or sudden dental trauma often don’t know where to turn. That is why our expert staff at Julington Creek Family Dentistry has collected some of the most common questions about dental emergencies in St. Johns and answered them below. We hope this information helps you understand more about your dental health, emergency dentistry, and when you should seek urgent dental care. If you have any further questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact our office!
Will My Toothache Go Away on its Own?
Unlike a headache or a stubbed toe, toothaches generally do not go away on their own. For this reason, it’s best to schedule a checkup with a dentist to get to the root of the problem. There are many potential causes for a toothache, so it’s important that you see a professional as soon as possible. Neglecting tooth pain and hoping it will suddenly disappear can lead to more serious dental trouble later down the line. Catching an underlying problem early on can likely save you from future discomfort and higher treatment costs. One important exception: some toothaches that involve pain around the tooth (not inside), such as gum irritation, can go away on their own. However, when in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact our office to schedule an appointment.
What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?
If you’re experiencing throbbing tooth pain, it’s likely a sign of an infection or inflammation within your tooth. The throbbing sensation may be linked to tooth decay. Cracks and cavities inside a tooth allow bacteria and air to reach the inner pulp. This can cause irritation and potentially lead to an infection of the pulp nerves, causing pain. In other cases, throbbing teeth could be due to chronic teeth grinding and clenching.
My Chipped Tooth Doesn’t Hurt. Do I Still Need to Visit?
You should always schedule an appointment with a dentist if you accidentally chip your tooth. Even if there is no pain, you won’t know for sure if the inner tooth is exposed until a dentist examines it. Moreover, a chipped tooth can break further without professional attention. So, while you probably don’t need to rush to our office, you should definitely call to set up an appointment immediately after your tooth is chipped. Dr. Cohen is an experienced emergency dentist in St. Johns and will determine the appropriate next steps after examining your tooth.
What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?
While you can’t always prevent a dental emergency, you can always be prepared for one. An emergency dentistry kit will allow you to act fast if you accidentally damage a tooth. You can keep this small kit in the car, at work, or even in your purse when you’re on the go. Here is a list of items you should pack in your emergency dentistry kit:
- Small storage container for teeth or restorations
- Sterile gloves
- Gauze pads and dressings
- Cotton balls
- Dental cement (or other temporary filling material)
- Denture adhesive
- Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen
- Topical anesthetic such as Orajel or a similar product
- Floss
- Ice pack
- Contact information for Julington Creek Family Dentistry