When selecting an emergency dentist there are several things to consider. It is important to select the right dentist in order to make the process of recovering from a dental accident or infection much easier.
Tips for choosing an emergency dentist
By the time a dental emergency happens, it can be too late to spend time looking for a dentist online or asking a friend for referrals. At this point, people need to address the emergency and avoid the situation getting to a worse stage. Many people wind up at an emergency room, which is not the best choice.
While the emergency room can treat other wounds and injuries, it does not have the tools, equipment or the staff ready to handle dental emergencies. With that in mind, we recommend choosing an emergency dentist before it is necessary. Here are some tips to make it easier to find one:
#1. Look in your city or general area
In a dental emergency, no one wants to drive an hour to find a dentist. It is important to visit an emergency dentist within 20 or 30 minutes from the places that a family visits most often. For example, a dentist can be within 20 minutes of the kids' school and even closer to the house. If a patient has to drive far in an emergency situation, it can only increase stress and anxiety levels, making this an important consideration.
#2. Find one who accepts your dental insurance plan
Ask a dentist if they accept the family dental insurance. If they do not, it is good to know this prior to visiting them in an emergency. The insurance provider can also give a list of dentists who accept the plan and are open to treating patients on an emergency basis.
#3. Inquire about their hours
Find out what hours an emergency dentist is open. If there is a concern that a dental emergency may happen on the evening or weekends due to an event like regularly scheduled baseball games, it is wise to find a dentist who is open during those times. Otherwise, finding a dentist who accepts patients on an emergency basis is likely to do the trick.
#4. Find out what services they provide
Ask a dentist what services they offer. Finding one who treats patients on an emergency basis and also handles dental restorations will make life far easier. For example, if a tooth becomes chipped, it will be necessary to visit an emergency dentist. If that same dentist practices cosmetic dentistry and can restore the tooth using multiple solutions, there will be no need to have the rest of the dental work completed somewhere else.
#5. Ask what ages they treat
Find out what ages a dentist treats before a dental emergency strikes. If they only treat adult patients, visiting the dentist when a five-year-old chips his or her tooth is going to be of no use. Make a point to inquire about the age ranges a dentist cares for so that when an emergency strikes, your family heads in the right direction.
Choose a dentist today
Prepare for a dental emergency by choosing an emergency dentist now and keeping their information within easy reach.
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NOTICE OF TEMPORARY CHANGE TO DENTAL CARE AVAILABILITY
Our top priority is the health and well-being of our patients, families, staff and community. In this unprecedented time, we are deeply committed to keeping everyone safe.
In light of the evolving pandemic and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to limit patient treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our office is heeding recommendations to limit dental treatment for emergencies only. We believe that this shift will allow us to more effectively evaluate this dynamic situation and assist in following the CDC's guidance on social separation. If you have an appointment scheduled with us in the next week or so, our office will be in touch to help reschedule your appointment.
There will be a dentist on call in the event of a dental emergency. Should you require urgent dental care, please call our office as you normally would as Dr. Guerrero is on call.
We did not make this decision lightly. A great deal of care, research and planning guided our decision. We will continue to evaluate the situation as it evolves and determine when it is appropriate for us to return to our normal business hours.
Again, please understand that we are making this decision with the health and well-being of our patients, our families, our team and our community in mind.
We wish all of you continued health and strength during this challenging time.