Emergency Dentist – Lorain, OH
Get the Care You Need Quickly
Some toothaches rise to the level of a dental emergency, and in many cases, root canal therapy is your best option for treatment. Dr. Vaziri and Dr. James will make every effort to see you as quickly as possible if you’re suffering from severe tooth pain. If you believe that you might benefit from emergency treatment from an endodontist, please call our Middleburg Heights dental office or Lorain dental office to check our availability and find out what next steps you can take.
Why Choose Parkway Endodontics of Lorain for Emergency Dentistry?
- Focus on Easing Patient Anxiety
- Trusted by Middleburg Heights Since 2004
- Oral Sedation for More Relaxing Care
What Types of Dental Emergencies Can an Endodontist Treat?
You may need to see an endodontist for any emergency that requires root canal therapy. Possible signs that a root canal is needed include:
- Significant pain or swelling in a specific tooth.
- Dental sensitivity to heat or cold that lingers for a long time.
- Pain to chewing and biting
- A tooth that has been cracked or broken.
- A draining bubble by the gums around the tooth.
When you call our dental office, we’ll ask you to describe all of the symptoms you’re experiencing. Based on what you tell us, we’ll decide whether an endodontic solution might be called for.
How We Care for Dental Emergencies
Upon receiving your initial call, we’ll provide first-aid advice and set up an appointment. At our office, your tooth will be evaluated with the latest technology so that we can narrow down the underlying cause of your pain and gauge the extent of the damage. Then, we’ll let you know if there are any endodontic solutions available. Treatment will only move forward once you understand what it entails, including the cost and the length of the procedure.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
The type of tooth affected, how many teeth are affected, and the severity of the emergency are just a few of the relevant factors that contribute to the cost of emergency endodontic care. But no matter what the nature of your emergency is, know that our team here at Parkway Endodontics will do everything we can to help and ensure that you aren’t just receiving the care you need, but also at a price that makes sense and is affordable. Keep reading to learn a little more about the cost of treating endodontic emergencies or contact us today if you’re dealing with urgent dental pain!
Every Dental Emergency Is Different
Just like how every person’s smile is unique, every dental emergency is inherently a little different. That’s why calling us and coming in promptly is so important; if we can’t look firsthand and see what’s happened, we won’t be able to administer the correct type of treatment. Keep in mind that since every emergency is different, the cost of treatment is going to vary from patient to patient. For example, pain and swelling in a tooth could be due to a variety of causes, but if the pulp is infected and you’re experiencing chronic pain, a root canal will likely need to be performed. Our team will thoroughly discuss your treatment options and their costs with you after we’ve had the chance to inspect your smile during your emergency appointment.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
You’ll be happy to hear that most dental insurance plans offer some level of coverage for emergency dental and endodontic care; accidents happen, and that’s what insurance coverage is there for! Typically, at least one necessary emergency exam per year is included with most plans, and it’s common for 50% to 80% of the cost of procedures related to dental emergencies to be covered. Of course, since every insurance policy is different, you’ll want to verify the details of your coverage with your provider before paying for any services. Our team is always happy to help with this part of the process; we’re proudly in-network with many of the nation’s leading providers, and we want you to make the most of your benefits.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, you aren’t entirely out of luck when it comes to making emergency endodontic care more affordable. At Parkway Endodontics, we work closely with CareCredit, a trusted third-party financer known for offering plans that prevent patients from having to pay for their entire cost of treatment upfront. Once you’ve signed up and been approved, you’ll have the option to break up the cost of your endodontic care into zero or low-interest monthly payments. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office if you have questions about how to make your treatment more affordable.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
It’s true that not every emergency is preventable; life is unpredictable, and you never know when you might be thrown a curveball that involves your smile. That said, it’s best to take a proactive approach and do what you can to take great care of your teeth. Good oral hygiene and routine preventive care can mitigate several types of dental issues that have the potential to become endodontic emergencies. Brush and floss your teeth every day, visit your provider every six months, and keep tabs on your smile’s health; by catching early issues before they worsen, you’ll easily avoid extensive and costly treatments down the road!
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Obviously, it’s better to stop a dental emergency from happening in the first place than it is to try and deal with one after the damage to your smile has already been done. By taking proper care of your teeth and maintaining the right oral health habits, you can greatly lower your chances of needing a root canal treatment. Below are some simple steps you can follow to make dental emergencies less likely to occur.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Even if your mouth feels fine, it’s worth making room in your schedule to see the dentist every six months. A trained dental expert can often identify potential oral health issues while they’re still developing, allowing you to have them treated long before they can turn into emergencies. In other words, seeing the dentist now for small dental problems can help you avoid more severe complications later.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
If plaque is allowed to accumulate on your teeth, it could contribute to tooth decay that may ultimately require root canal treatment if it’s not addressed in time. As such, it’s important to keep your smile clean by brushing at least two times a day for two minutes each. Remember to hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle so that you can clean below your gumline. Don’t forget to floss in order to get rid of plaque and food particles that have built up in the spaces between the teeth.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
Sugary and starchy foods can easily increase your risk for tooth decay. Meanwhile, soda and other acidic drinks can significantly weaken the enamel layer protecting your teeth. You don’t have to give up these types of foods and beverages altogether, but you should make a point of only consuming them in moderation. Try adjusting your diet so that it includes more foods that improve oral health, such as crunchy fruits and vegetables that help clean teeth.
Wear a Mouthguard
Far too many sports carry a risk of getting hit in the mouth, which can easily result in a tooth becoming cracked (and therefore susceptible to infection). As such, you should always wear a mouthguard when you participate in any sort of sport or athletic activity. It’s highly recommended that you do so even if you aren’t told that it’s required.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Far too many people use their teeth to tear open stubborn packages. This may seem like a time-saver on the surface, but it can ultimately result in cracked or broken enamel due to the unnecessary pressure that it puts on the teeth. Instead of putting your smile at risk, take the extra time to look for some scissors or another appropriate tool.
Dental Emergency FAQs
What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?
If your tooth feels sore and you’re experiencing throbbing pain, it is likely because of an infection. Cavities inside a tooth allow air and bacteria to reach the sensitive inner chamber, where the pulp lies – as well as the nerve and blood vessels. This results in a great deal of irritation and inflammation. Tooth decay can also cause throbbing tooth pain. In these instances, root canal treatment is usually the go-to solution. In other cases, throbbing tooth pain might be related to bruxism, which is a condition that causes patients to grind their teeth or clench their jaws.
What If My Toothache Suddenly Disappears?
Your first inclination might be to throw your hands up in the air and celebrate if your toothache suddenly disappears, but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods yet. In fact, the situation might be even worse than you realize. Tooth pain isn’t pleasant, but it serves a purpose – it lets you know that there’s something amiss with your smile. If the pain disappears, it could mean that the nerve inside the tooth has died due to an infection. If said infection isn’t treated, it might even spread to the rest of your mouth. If you’ve been dealing with tooth pain and it suddenly vanishes with no obvious explanation, give us a call so we can determine what’s going on and come up with a treatment plan!
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
Unfortunately, most emergency rooms are not equipped to handle dental or endodontic emergencies; they simply lack the necessary instruments and personnel to assist with these sorts of issues. At the very least, they might be able to help with pain relief, but you shouldn’t count on them being able to restore your smile – and you should visit us here at Parkway Endodontics instead. There are three main exceptions to this, though: your jaw is fractured, your mouth is bleeding excessively, or your issue is so serious that you’re unable to breathe or swallow properly; these situations always warrant a trip to the ER.
Does Emergency Dentistry Cost More?
Generally speaking, emergency examinations are not particularly expensive; however, if the services required to treat and manage a certain problem are more restorative than preventive in nature, you can expect to pay a higher cost. That said, keep in mind that not seeking treatment for your issue will result in a much higher cost down the road – dental emergencies only worsen with time, becoming more complex and costly to resolve. If you don’t have dental insurance, your dental fees may also be higher depending on the type of service needed – but on the other hand, if you do have coverage, and/or access to financing options, you can expect lower costs. Our practice is pleased to accept insurance and offer CareCredit financing, and we’re more than happy to review your plan with you to ensure you’re able to afford the emergency care your smile needs.
