Emergency Dentist Morgan Hill
We’re Here to Help Your Hurting Smile
Nobody ever wants to suffer a dental emergency – but these situations occur indiscriminately and can affect anyone, and they also have a knack for unfolding at inconvenient times! However, when your smile is in trouble, it can also cause you to feel a great deal of stress and uncertainty about addressing the matter. At Morgan Hill Dental Care, we’re committed to caring for all kinds of urgent dental situations, and you can rest assured that we’ll mend your smile and put your mind at ease about your dental health moving forward. If you or someone close to you has suffered a dental emergency, don’t delay – give our Morgan Hill emergency dentists a call today for assistance!
Why Choose Morgan Hill Dental Care for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day and Saturday Appointments Available
- Large, Comfortable Office with Patient-Friendly Amenities
- Comprehensive, Personalized Care Under One Roof
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies don’t magically resolve on their own – they require expert treatment from our team! Here are three simple steps you can follow if you’re dealing with a dental emergency in Morgan Hill:
- Call Our Office – As soon as you realize you’ve hurt your smile, give our office a call and describe your symptoms. We’ll let you know if you need to come in that day for treatment, and we’ll also provide first-aid tips over the phone.
- Attend Your Appointment – Once you’re here, we can perform an emergency exam to see the extent of the damage. This might also include taking X-rays. Once we know what we’re dealing with, we can begin reviewing possible treatment options.
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Repair Your Smile – Our top priority is relieving any pain you’re feeling, so once we’ve decided on a course of action, we’ll quickly get your smile back to looking and feeling its best. This might involve one of many different services, but no matter what your problem is, we’ll have an answer for it!
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
It’s possible to suffer a dental emergency but also not experience any painful symptoms – but this doesn’t mean you’re in the clear! It’s also possible that your lack of pain is a sign of something more serious. You should call our Morgan Hill dental office and let us know what happened; we’ll explain your next steps and let you know when to come see us, even if it’s that same day. In the meantime, here’s a brief list of some of the most common dental emergencies that we often treat:
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
If you’re worried about the cost of emergency dentistry in Morgan Hill, you’ll be happy to hear that we can provide you with an estimate of the cost at your appointment. Not only that, but we can review the different financial solutions available to help the price fit into your budget, including our in-house savings plan. If you are interested in learning more on the topic, you can also read on!
Why Every Dental Emergency is Different
Since no two dental emergencies are exactly the same, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. Since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment, there isn’t a flat fee. Once you arrive at our office, we will learn more about your situation, including what brought you in, and complete a comprehensive oral exam. Then, we can review your treatment options, create your custom treatment plan, and provide you with an estimate of the cost.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
If you have dental insurance, then you’ll be happy to hear that your provider may cover a portion of the price, including the cost of the emergency exam. Our team is proud to be in-network with Delta Dental PPO, and we’ll do our part to make understanding and utilizing your benefits easy. We can even file the claims on your behalf so you don’t have to worry about the paperwork!
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
What if you don’t have dental insurance? If that’s the case, then ask us about:
- Our In-House Savings Plan – When you join, you get immediate access to benefits and discounts on a wide variety of services completed at our office.
- Flexible Financing – With trusted third-party financiers like CareCredit, you can space out your payments into smaller, monthly chunks.
How Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
While accidents can happen from time to time, many common dental injuries are largely preventable. That’s why we’re always encouraging our patients to incorporate healthy habits into their routine, including brushing twice a day and coming to our office twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. Of course, protecting your smile also extends to other best practices, like wearing a mouthguard during sports and exercising caution with crunchy foods.
Important reminder: If you start to experience abnormal symptoms, like pain when biting down, don’t wait until your next exam – call us right away! The sooner you do, the sooner we can schedule an appointment and determine if an untreated oral health issue is the culprit.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Since accidents can happen unexpectedly, dental injuries aren’t completely avoidable. That said, there are several steps you can take to dramatically reduce your chances of sustaining one. With this in mind, keep reading to learn a few habits our dental team near Morgan Hill recommends adopting (as well as some that you should avoid).
Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year
One of the best ways to prevent dental emergencies in Morgan Hill is by visiting our team every six months for a checkup and cleaning! These routine visits allow us to periodically examine your teeth and gums, catching tooth decay, gum disease, and other common oral health problems in the process. Plus, the cleaning portion of these appointments ensures that plaque and tartar are removed before they build up on your teeth and along your gumline.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
Of course, you need to take good care of your smile at home, too! In addition to brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently, we recommend replacing your toothbrush (or toothbrush head) every quarter. It’s also important that you brush your teeth for two full minutes each time and that you rinse with mouthwash for the full 30-60 seconds.
Important reminder: If you’re unsure which toothpaste you should use or you need a refresher on how to floss properly, don’t hesitate to give our dental team a call!
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
Remember, your diet impacts your oral health. So, do your best to limit your intake of added sugar and exercise caution with crunchy snacks, like hard pretzels and raw almonds. Simultaneously, increase your intake of seasonal fruits, fresh vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods.
Tip: Drink plenty of water throughout the day! Not only will this keep you hydrated, but it will also reduce your risk of dry mouth.
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
There’s a common misconception that you only need to wear a mouthguard if you participate in a contact sport, like football. However, even if you jog, ride your bike, or lift weights, it’s possible for you to sustain a serious dental injury from a bad fall or chronic teeth grinding. So, if you don’t have a mouthguard already, schedule an appointment with us! That way, we can have a custom one made for you.
Break Bad Habits
Usually, patients hear “bad habits” and think of “smoking.” While that’s certainly one that can wreak havoc on your smile, it isn’t the only one. Biting your nails, chewing on ice cubes, and using your teeth as tools to open things can also lead to a painful dental injury. That’s why it’s so important to quit!
Dental Emergency FAQs
What if My Toothache Suddenly Disappears?
If the dull, persistent discomfort or sharp, stabbing pain you’ve been experiencing goes away, you might assume that the root of the problem has gone away, too. Usually, the opposite is true: it has progressed to the point that the nerve of your tooth has died. Since the surrounding teeth and gums are at risk, it’s crucial that you schedule an emergency appointment with our team at Morgan Hill Dental Care right away.
Can I Pop a Dental Abscess on My Own?
Although attempting to pop a dental abscess on your own may seem harmless, doing so can lead to several issues, including the infection spreading throughout your mouth and body. The best thing to do if you notice a pimple-like bump on your gums is to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced emergency dentists in Morgan Hill. That way, they can carefully open and drain the abscess as well as provide any additional restorative care that’s needed, like a root canal.
Should You Put a Knocked-Out Tooth in Water?
Although water can be used to remove food particles, plaque, and other debris from your teeth, it cannot preserve the root surface cells. That’s why we recommend placing a knocked-out tooth back in its socket. If it doesn’t slide back into place easily or attempting to do so scares you, that’s okay – you can place it in a clean container filled with milk instead.
How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?
If your appointment with us is a day or two away, then it’s helpful to know the steps you can take to get a good night’s sleep in the meantime. We recommend sticking to soft, bland foods at dinner, using a cold compress, and taking OTC pain medication as directed. You should also keep your head elevated while you sleep (this will help prevent blood from rushing to your head and exacerbating your symptoms).
What If I Can’t Afford Emergency Dentistry?
Since dental emergencies can happen at a moment’s notice, patients sometimes feel a bit more concerned about the price. If that’s the case for you, you can have peace of mind knowing that there are several financial solutions available, including dental insurance. Our In-House Savings Plan and CareCredit flexible financing are also great options for patients who want to save money but are currently uninsured.
Important reminder: Many common dental problems, including cavities and gingivitis, only get worse if left untreated. So, the best thing for your smile and your wallet is to schedule an appointment with us when you first suspect that something is wrong.
Is It Safe to Use A Toothpick?
Using a toothpick is not recommended. After all, the sharp edge can irritate your gums, the wooden pieces can splinter off in your mouth, and accidentally swallowing one can be fatal. So, if you get a piece of food stuck between your teeth, it’s best to use a clean strand of floss instead.
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