Emergency Dentist – Boise, ID
Quickly Accommodating Your Smile’s Urgent Needs
When faced with a dental emergency, it might seem like the whole world is coming to a screeching halt—but you don’t need to worry! Dr. Irons and her skilled team at Southwest Dental Arts are adept at handling a wide scope of emergency dentistry situations that threaten your smile’s well-being. Whether it’s a serious toothache, a displaced tooth, a soft tissue injury, or something else entirely, from the moment you enter our office, our Boise emergency dentist and team will quickly work to alleviate your pain and remedy whatever issue is ailing you.
Why Choose Southwest Dental Arts for Emergency Dentistry?
- In-House Root Canals & Tooth Extractions
- Same-Day Emergency Dental Care Available
- Nitrous Oxide Sedation Offered
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
When experiencing a dental emergency, the first thing you should do is contact our dental office immediately; we’ll be able to schedule you for an appointment and also offer you some at-home tips for managing your situation in the meantime. This usually includes things like cold compresses, salt water rinses, and measured use of over-the-counter pain relievers. Once you arrive at your appointment, our team will quickly examine your oral cavity and decide what the best course of action is for correcting your issue (this sometimes involves taking X-rays). We’ll then create a customized treatment plan designed to get your smile back on track and address any other requests you might have.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
No matter what type of dental emergency you’re dealing with, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact us! Waiting will only allow the problem to worsen, and if too much time passes, the issue might end up warranting serious and costly treatment. If you have any of the following symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek urgent care:
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
Since no two situations are exactly the same, the cost of emergency dentistry inevitably varies from patient to patient. Don’t worry, though – that doesn’t mean we’ll leave you in the dark about something as important as the price. Once we’ve alleviated your pain, pinpointed the root of the problem, and discussed your treatment plan, we can provide you with an estimated cost of care and review your payment options with you. If you want to learn more on the topic in the meantime, simply read on!
Why Every Dental Emergency is Different
Sometimes patients only require something like a small filling, while other times, a tooth extraction or root canal might be required. That’s why there isn’t a flat fee for emergency dentistry! Once we’ve finalized the details of your treatment plan, we can provide you with an estimate of the cost. Then, we can discuss the different financial solutions available and answer any questions you have. Basically, we’re here to make navigating the price as stress-free and headache-free as possible.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Oftentimes, yes. In fact, many dental insurance providers cover the cost of one emergency exam a year as well as up to 80% of the cost of essential restorative care. So, don’t hesitate to provide us with your membership information! Since we’re in-network with many popular PPO plans, we have the experience and knowledge needed to make understanding and utilizing your available benefits easy.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, that’s okay – that’s just one way to make the cost of emergency dentistry in Boise more affordable! Our patients can also:
- Join Our In-House Dental Savings Plan – This financial solution comes with several cost-saving perks, including a 20% discount on restorative treatments. Plus, there aren’t any deductibles, waiting periods, or exclusions!
- Sign Up for Flexible Financing – With trusted third-party financiers, like CareCredit, you can space out the cost of your care into smaller monthly chunks instead of paying for the whole thing in one lump sum.
How Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Even relatively minor dental injuries can be painful to experience and stressful to handle. Fortunately, you can reduce your risk of sustaining one by incorporating healthy habits into your routine, like brushing your teeth twice a day, exercising caution with crunchy foods, and wearing a mouthguard during sports. It’s also crucial that you come to our office every six months for a checkup (or sooner if you start to experience abnormal symptoms, like pain when biting down). That way, any oral health problems that do arise are detected and treated right away.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Even though it’s impossible to predict when dental emergencies will strike, there are still many things you can do to reduce your risk of oral injury or infection. Being proactive about protecting your oral health can make a massive impact, and, since dental emergencies have a knack for happening when it’s least convenient, reducing the likelihood of them occurring in the first place is your best bet, hands-down! Here’s some advice from our team on how to prevent dental emergencies in Boise.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
Your daily oral hygiene routine is your first line of defense against all sorts of oral infections. To keep tooth decay and gum disease at bay, be sure to stick to a regimen that includes brushing at least twice, flossing at least once, and rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash each day. This will eliminate most of the harmful plaque and bacteria from your mouth and prevent accumulations of food debris that can lead to infections and bad breath.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Visit Southwest Dental Arts in Boise every six months for routine exams and cleanings. These appointments allow Dr. Irons to monitor your oral health, address problems in their early stages, and advise you as to better ways to keep your teeth healthy. This can prevent minor oral infections from developing into serious problems like toothaches and abscesses.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
Harmful oral bacteria love the refined sugar found in sweets and soda pop because it is rich with simple chemical energy they can easily absorb, so overindulging can feed these nasty germs and make destructive infections more likely. It’s best to limit your intake of sugary foods and beverages while taking care to enjoy plenty of fibrous fruits and veggies, lean proteins, and white dairy products.
Wear a Mouthguard
If you play sports or enjoy riding a bike, be sure to wear an athletic mouthguard when doing so in case you fall or suffer a blow to the face. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, we’ll be happy to provide you with a customized nightguard designed to minimize the stress this puts on your smile.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Using your teeth to open packages or bottles is an excellent way to chip, crack, or otherwise break them, which can lead to further injuries, oral infections, agonizing toothaches, and permanent tooth loss. Thankfully, box cutters and bottle openers typically only cost a few dollars and can make opening packages incredibly easy, so make sure you use them instead of your pearly whites.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Will a toothache go away on its own?
You may no longer feel pain associated with your toothache, but this does not mean that the problem is solved. Instead, there is a greater chance that it has worsened. Tooth decay, gum disease, or infection will not get better on their own; they require dental intervention. If you no longer feel pain in a specific tooth, it may be that the nerve tissue has died. You can develop an abscess if you allow the problem to persist, which is why you should not neglect regular oral healthcare.
Should you put a knocked-out tooth in water?
No, a knocked-out tooth should never be put in water. This will damage the root cells that are necessary for it to remain alive. They can swell and burst, causing the tooth to no longer be viable. Instead of placing the tooth in water, make sure you put it in a container of milk or saliva. This ensures the cells survive, as your emergency dentist will want to try and reimplant the tooth if possible.
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
Nighttime tooth pain doesn’t have to keep you awake. There are things you can do to minimize the discomfort and get the essential rest that you need, such as:
- Elevating your head at night so that blood does not rush and collect in this area, as it will cause more intense pain to occur.
- Stay away from foods that place pressure on the pained tooth, such as hard, crunchy, or chewy ones.
- Before going to bed, take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
- If you notice swelling or want another way to soothe the pain, use a cold compress.
Can I fix dentures that are broken in half?
If your dentures break in half, the first step is to find someone who can help. As you search for an “emergency dentist near me,” you will discover that Dr. Irons and our team can address the problem with ease. You may be tempted to buy an OTC denture repair kit or use products around the home to try to put your teeth back together; however, this is strongly discouraged.
Trying to repair your dentures at home can lead to potential damage to your teeth, gums, and overall smile. Only a qualified dentist can evaluate the severity of the break and determine how your dentures should be fixed.
In certain situations, your dentures can be fully replaced, or you can discuss alternative tooth replacement options, like a dental bridge or dental implants. If the break is minor, you may only need bonding to repair the damaged piece and restore your smile.
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