Emergency Dentist – Parker, CO

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies 

Because the scope of dental damage can vary widely, the only way we can provide an accurate estimate for the cost of emergency dentistry in Parker is to examine your mouth and the extent of the trauma you’ve sustained. Then, Dr. Allen can develop a plan for renewing your oral health, and we can walk you through your financial options. Keep in mind that the sooner you schedule an appointment once you notice a dental health issue, the less likely your issue is to worsen and require even more expensive treatments.

Every Dental Emergency is Different

Your initial emergency exam with Dr. Allen should be relatively inexpensive. This appointment will consist of our team looking over your smile, evaluating the damage, and creating a treatment plan to get your oral health back on track.

The exact procedures you’ll require will depend on the specific type of emergency you’re experiencing, so it’s essentially impossible for us to have an idea of your treatment costs without you coming in for an exam. Before we move forward with any treatments, we’ll be sure to explain what you can expect, as well as pricing information and payment options.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

If you have dental insurance, you’ll be happy to know that your plan most likely provides some level of coverage for emergency care. It’s common for insurance to cover one necessary emergency exam per year. Also, procedures that are frequently used to relieve tooth pain (root canals, crowns, fillings, etc.) qualify for 50% to 80% coverage in many cases.

Of course, the specifics of your plan may vary. Deductibles, waiting periods, and annual maximums also come into play. Our team can help you navigate the details of your policy. We’re also in-network with several of the nation's leading dental insurance providers, including BlueCross BlueShield, Delta Dental Premier, and Cigna.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

We believe that visiting an emergency dentist in Parker shouldn’t break the bank, which is why we offer CareCredit financing for patients who don’t have insurance or whose plans don’t provide enough coverage. CareCredit offers multiple flexible payment plans to choose from. If you qualify for one of them, you can pay for the care your smile needs in monthly installments, often with extremely low or no interest rates!

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Ultimately, if you want to reduce your emergency dental care costs, you’ll want to do your utmost to prevent dental emergencies in the first place. While sudden accidents often cannot be avoided, you can prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health concerns that steadily build up over time. By investing in regular dental checkups to diagnose these issues and treat them early on, you could potentially save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in emergency dental care in the long run.

Another way to minimize your dental bills is to contact us as soon as you suspect something is wrong. It can be tempting to avoid scheduling a visit due to worries about cost, but doing so could make your problem become worse to the point where you require pricier (and more invasive) procedures down the road.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Dental injuries can take a toll on the appearance of your smile, the function of your bite, and the health of your wallet. So, it’s only natural that you want to prevent them at all costs! The good news is that there are several easy habits you can implement that will go a long way in protecting your smile. Interested in learning what they are? Then keep reading!

Get a Checkup and Cleaning Biannually

Your biannual checkups and cleanings are about so much more than preventing cavities. These visits also detect cracks, infections, and other serious issues in the early stages! That way, the damage doesn’t progress under the surface for months or years before turning into a sudden, serious dental emergency, like a loose tooth. Simply put, your routine visits to our office play a crucial role in protecting your smile from harm, so don’t skip them!

Take Care of Your Teeth At Home

Between your dental visits, you need to be diligent about caring for your teeth. To start, brushing twice a day can help remove food particles and plaque that could’ve otherwise resulted in significant decay. For the same reason, you need to floss and rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash daily. It’s also crucial that we mention how important it is to use the right tools, like a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you don’t, then you can end up eroding your enamel or irritating your gums in the process.

Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

Since sugar is one of the leading causes of cavities, you shouldn’t consume it in excess. Crunchy foods, like raw nuts and peanut brittle can damage your teeth as well, which is why you should exercise caution when eating them or avoid them entirely. The best thing to do is focus on adding as many smile-friendly, vitamin-rich foods to your diet as you can, including fresh fruits, cooked vegetables, and lean protein. That way, your teeth remain healthy, your jawbone remains strong, and your body has the nutrients it needs to fight off infections.

Wear a Mouthguard

If you participate in a contact sport, you should have a mouthguard. Even if you are a runner, surfer, or skateboarder, you should talk to us about having one made. After all, you want to protect your smile from an accidental fall! The good news is that we can make one that’s comfortable and the appropriate thickness for your activity. That way, you are more likely to wear it and you have the protection you need when you do.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Your teeth may be sharp, but they aren’t tools. So, don’t use them to cut into packages, take off bottle caps, or anything similar. If you do, then your teeth will eventually give instead of the item, resulting in a serious dental injury.

Dental Emergency FAQ’s 

We understand that you’ve likely never experienced a dental emergency before, and that’s okay. Whether you don’t know how to remove dental pain or you’re unsure if you should visit our office for a dental issue, we’re here to help. We’ve included a series of the most common questions our office receives regarding dental emergencies below, so feel free to read through them if you need guidance. Don’t hesitate to call our office directly if your question isn’t listed!

How Can I Stop Tooth Pain?

When tooth pain appears, make sure you call our office so you can get scheduled for a visit. Until then, we recommend taking over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. These will work to reduce inflammation in your tooth causing the discomfort. Alternatively, you can create a saltwater mixture containing one teaspoon of salt and 8 ounces of plain water. Rinse this in your mouth vigorously for about 30 seconds. If you’d prefer a more natural approach for alleviating pain, apply clove oil directly to your tooth and the gum tissue around it. This numbs the area slightly, helping you deal with the discomfort more easily.

Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth Still Considered a Dental Emergency?

Baby teeth should only come out if they are already loose and were going to fall out soon in the first place. If you notice a large amount of blood or your child is in a lot of pain, it’s likely that the tooth came out too early. This should be treated like a dental emergency, so do your best to follow the steps previously mentioned above. Get to our office within the hour so you can improve the chances of reimplantation.

What Should I Have in My Dental Emergency Kit?

There are many useful tools that can make handling dental emergencies before you get to our office easier. For example, we recommend having:

• Dental wax
• Dental cement
• Cotton balls
• Painkillers
• A dental mirror
• Floss
• A small container
• Salt
• Nitrile gloves (to avoid latex allergies)
• Gauze pads
• Oral swabs
• Hydrogen peroxide

Keep in mind that managing a dental emergency at home should not replace a visit to our office. We’ll make sure to confirm the cause of your emergency and put you on a treatment plan.

Should I Visit for Every Emergency Related to My Mouth?

Not necessarily. There are some instances where it’s actually better to visit an emergency room first, rather than our office. For example, if you happen to break your jaw, an emergency room will be better suited for making sure that you’re stable before coming to the practice. The same applies to severe oral bleeding, which requires medical attention more in that scenario.