Emergency Dentistry – Spring Hill, TN
Fast, Compassionate Dentistry When You Need It Most
When choosing a dentist, you need one who is always there for you—even in times of an emergency. At Family Dental Associates of Spring Hill, we are always here to offer fast, compassionate dentistry when you need it most. When the unexpected happens, you need to call your emergency dentist in Spring Hill right away. If you delay care, irreversible damage can occur. You need to respond quickly to promote a successful outcome to the situation. If you are in pain or have any concerning dental symptoms, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us right away!
Why Choose Family Dental Associates of Spring Hill for Emergency Dentistry?
- Open Late for Evening Appointments
- Same-Day Treatment for Emergency Patients
- Flexible Financing Available Through CareCredit
I Need a Checkup & Cleaning I Need a Dentist for My Child I am Worried About Bleeding Gums I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I am Missing One or More Teeth I Want to Enhance My Smile I Want a Straighter Smile I am Scared of the Dentist I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed View Our Services
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
When it comes to treating dental emergencies, it’s essential that you act fast. Here’s what to do if you find yourself in need of emergency dental care:
- Call us for your same-day appointment: As soon as you can, give us a call so we can schedule your appointment. In most cases, we’re able to see emergency patients within the same day they call. We’re proud to have late hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays so you can get the care you need right away.
- Get an emergency evaluation: When you reach our office, our first priority will be to get you out of pain. One of our dentists will thoroughly examine your mouth and take any necessary X-rays to determine the source and extent of your emergency.
- Create a treatment plan: After your evaluation, we’ll review our findings with you and fully explain your treatment options. This will include the length and price of each treatment, as well as which ones we recommend for the most effective results.
- Get the emergency care you need: As soon as you have chosen a treatment, we’ll work quickly to preserve your smile and restore your oral health. If needed, we can schedule any follow-up appointments as well to ensure your oral health stays on track.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
There is often a lot of confusion about what constitutes a dental emergency. As a result, you may delay care, which could cause you to lose the tooth or suffer other extreme complications. You need to respond to each situation properly at home and call us right away for a same-day appointment. Here are some of the most common dental emergencies we treat here at Family Dental Associates of Spring Hill:
Toothaches
Chipped
Tooth
Cracked
Tooth
Sensitivity to
Hot & Cold
Knocked-Out
Tooth
Lost Filling
or Crown
Broken
Denture
Loose
Tooth
Gums, Lip or
Tongue Injury
Jaw Pain or
Clenching
Something Stuck
Between Teeth
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
If you have an oral health problem that just can’t wait, the last thing you should be worried about is how you're going to pay the bill. Many factors affect the cost of emergency dentistry in Spring Hill, but we have the solutions you need to keep treatment affordable. Your dentist at Family Dental Associates of Spring Hill will stop your pain using a personalized plan to save your smile that won't cost you an arm or a leg.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
There isn't a flat fee for emergency dentistry because every situation differs. Your emergency dentist in Spring Hill will examine your mouth to determine which procedures will meet your needs. While every case is unique, common procedures include:
- Tooth Extractions
- Root Canal Therapy
- Dental Crowns
- TMJ Therapy
Your dentist will explain what you can expect on the road ahead and answer any questions to calm your nerves.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Every plan is different, but most dental insurance can be used to lower the amount you’ll pay out-of-pocket. Your benefits may cover your consultation and any diagnostic imaging. After meeting your deductible, your insurance can pay up to 80% of the cost of common restorative procedures. We will help you maximize your coverage to keep your treatment affordable.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Besides using your dental insurance, our office offers many solutions to keep your treatment within your budget, including:
- Traditional Payments: We accept cash, checks, and credit cards.
- Specials: Our office offers regular promotions, like a free exam and full X-rays for all new patients.
- Monthly Payments: You can pay any remaining balance using a monthly payment plan through a third-party financing company, like CareCredit. You can pay for your treatment using monthly installments with little or no interest in financing based on your credit approval.
A member of our team will review your financial options during your consultation. They'll help you make the best choice for your smile and budget.
Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
You can't always stop accidents from happening, but there are several things you can do to lessen your risk of one. Many dental emergencies are caused by untreated issues, like tooth decay, gum disease, or a failing restoration. Committing to your oral hygiene will keep your teeth and gums healthy to prevent a dental emergency. Brush, floss, and visit your dentist twice a year for cleaning and checkup. Your dentist will check your mouth at each appointment to ensure there isn't anything concerning lingering in your mouth. They'll provide the quick care you need to prevent a minor concern from turning into a big problem.
Besides not delaying dental work, your dentist will also recommend breaking any bad habits that can increase your risk of a dental emergency, like using your teeth as tools or chewing on your fingernails. If you play sports, don't forget to wear an athletic mouthguard.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Unfortunately, dental injuries due to unforeseeable situations, like a car crash, cannot be prevented. With that said, you can prevent other dental emergencies, including a painful toothache due to a large cavity or crack. For that reason, our Spring Hill dental team has dedicated this next section to reviewing all the ways you can help protect your smile from serious harm.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
From painful cavities to significant cracks, many dental emergencies start as small problems that could have been dealt with easily if they had been found early enough. That’s one of the many reasons it’s so important that you come in for a checkup and cleaning every six months! These routine appointments ensure that dental damage is caught early on, well before it results in a stressful dental emergency and requires same-day treatment.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
Implementing a solid oral hygiene regimen will reduce your chances of tooth decay and infection significantly. More specifically, brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash each night will regularly remove accumulated bacteria before they have a chance to inflict real damage. So, if you haven’t been as consistent with your dental care routine recently, there’s no better time to start!
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
Eating a well-balanced diet isn’t just good for your overall health; it’s good for your oral health too! Sweet potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, plain yogurt, celery, and apples are a few foods that are loaded with vitamins, nutrients, and minerals that will help your body fight infections and keep your teeth strong. On the opposite side, there are some foods that you shouldn’t eat in excess, like candy. Since sugar consumption can increase your risk for tooth decay, it’s best to indulge on occasion instead of every day.
Wear a Mouthguard
Unfortunately, dental accidents can easily happen during any game that carries a risk of getting hit in the face or mouth. In fact, roughly five million teeth are knocked-out each year during sports-related accidents! To protect your smile from harm, it’s of the utmost importance that you invest in a custom mouthguard. Our Spring Hill dental team can have one made that fits comfortably and is the appropriate thickness for the activity you participate in (ex: boxing vs. surfing).
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Simply put, you should never use your teeth to open bottle caps, remove clothing tags, or hold your keys. In fact, even chewing your fingernails can wear them down and create small cracks and chips! That’s why we recommend avoiding using your teeth as tools altogether.
Dental Emergency FAQs
The team at Family Dental Associates of Spring Hill is ready to leap into action to assist with your emergency dentistry needs. Before you save our number in your phone, though, you may want to know more about urgent oral care and how you can manage various situations. To assist you, we have put together a list of answers to some frequently asked questions. If your specific questions are not included here, give us a call — we will be happy to speak with you.
Will My Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
Teeth cannot heal themselves, so your toothache is unlikely to go away on its own. However, there are a couple of exceptions:
- The pain was coming from near the tooth, not the tooth itself. Sometimes, a toothache can originate from the tissues surrounding a tooth. For example, swollen sinuses can place pressure on the upper teeth and cause discomfort. As the issue resolves, the toothache should go away.
- The tooth died. Sometimes, an infection can kill the nerve inside a tooth, rendering it incapable of sending pain signals to the brain. However, the infection that caused the problem could continue to attack nearby tissues. This situation requires urgent professional care.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
The personnel in most hospital emergency rooms have neither the equipment nor the training to address dental emergencies. They may be able to do little more than advise you to take pain medication and visit your dentist as soon as possible. Therefore, it is best to visit your dentist first.
However, there are a few situations in which you should head straight to the ER:
- A dental infection is causing a high fever, respiratory problems, or swallowing problems.
- You suspect your jaw is broken or dislocated.
- You have a cut or laceration that is bleeding uncontrollably.
After the hospital staff renders initial treatment, you can visit us for follow-up care.
My Chipped Tooth Doesn’t Hurt. Do I Still Need to Visit?
Even if a chipped tooth is not in pain, you should still schedule a visit in a timely manner. Without treatment, the damage to the tooth could easily worsen. You may also be vulnerable to infections. Plus, the tooth’s jagged edges might irritate the soft tissues in your mouth. Our team can assess the damage and protect your oral health from further harm.
Should Knocked-Out Teeth Be Placed in Water?
If one of your teeth gets knocked out, you should keep it moist to increase the chances that it can be replanted in your mouth. However, you should not place it in water. It could damage the root surface cells of the tooth. Instead, try to place it back in its socket. If that is not possible, store it in milk or use a tooth preservation kit from a local pharmacy.