Emergency Dentist — Green Hills, TN
Responsive and Effective Care for Dental Trauma
Unfortunately, dental emergencies don’t wait to happen until we’re prepared for them. Therefore, it’s important to have a plan of action for how to effectively respond if one happens. One of the key elements to have in place is an established relationship with Dr. Kirby and the highly-trained staff at Green Hills Dental Center. Thus, if any form of dental trauma strikes, you’ll already have affiliation with a dental professional who offers same-day and after-hours emergency care in a relaxed and state-of-the-art facility. If you find yourself in the midst of a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
Why Choose Green Hills Dental Center for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Calming Sedation Dentistry In-House
- Accepts Many Financing Options
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Same-day appointment: The first step you should take is to contact our office right away to let us know what has happened, even if it occurs after regular business hours. We can then set an appointment for you to be seen and give you first-aid tips to manage your emergency over the phone until you’re able to see Dr. Kirby. We’ll do our best to get you seen the same day that you call.
- Emergency exam: After you arrive at our office, you’ll be brought to one of our operatories so Dr. Kirby can begin an emergency exam. During this process, he’ll locate the source of your emergency and determine if digital X-rays are needed to confirm the cause and location. He’ll also do his best to provide you pain relief if any discomfort is present.
- Review findings: Once the exam is complete, Dr. Kirby will be able to recommend a specific treatment plan that addresses your emergency symptoms and prevents your condition from worsening. Your customized plan will include estimated costs and a projected timeline, assuming that treatment cannot be completed the same day you visit.
- Get the care you need: Whether you need dental fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, or another service to address your urgent dental symptoms, our team will work quickly to ensure you are provided the care you need.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
There are usually two basic categories of dental trauma: those caused by unaddressed bacteria growth and sudden facial injury. No matter what type of dental emergency you have on your hands, though, our office should be able to handle it quickly and effectively. If you notice any of the following symptoms, give Dr. Kirby a call and take note of our tips to manage your emergency until you arrive.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
When you initially sustain a dental injury, nothing is more important than getting the fast, effective relief you need. Typically, it isn’t until your pain-free smile is restored that you begin thinking about the cost associated with it. While there is no all-encompassing answer on what you can expect to pay, there are a few factors to consider to help you better understand the cost of dental emergencies in Nashville. Keep reading to learn what they are!
Every Dental Emergency is Different
Based on the examples provided above, it’s evident that the scope of dental emergencies is vast. That’s why scheduling an appointment with our emergency dentist in Nashville, Dr. Kirby, is crucial. This initial visit is relatively inexpensive since it’s dedicated solely to conducting a comprehensive oral exam and determining what further treatment is needed. A few common solutions include:
- Root canal therapy
- Extractions
- Dental crowns
- TMJ treatment
- And more!
Regardless, our team will go above and beyond to ensure you understand the benefits of the treatment as well as the cost of care. That way, you can focus on healing without the worry of any surprises.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Although dental plans vary, they do typically provide some form of coverage for dental emergencies across the board. For some patients, a yearly emergency exam is allocated in their benefits. For others, restorative services associated with an urgent visit, like root canal therapy, are covered between 50% and 80%. The best way to find out for certain is to double-check with your provider. If you aren’t able to because you’re handling a dental emergency, our team will handle the paperwork, maximize your benefits, and explain the cost to make the process as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Luckily, not having dental insurance doesn’t mean you can’t get the emergency care you need at an affordable rate. To start, we have a membership plan that extends many of the same benefits as traditional dental insurance, like free preventive care, plus 20% off all treatments. If you need extensive restorative or cosmetic care, then low-to-no interest financing is also an option. This ensures the cost is broken up into manageable monthly payments, so your treatment can easily fit into your budget.
Whether you’ve been struggling with oral pain for months or just recently started feeling the warning signs of a toothache, don’t wait another day to get the quality dental care you deserve. When you visit our office, we will help you navigate the cost every step of the way so the process is as seamless as possible. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions – we are just one phone call away!
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Unfortunately, dental emergencies aren’t entirely avoidable. With that being said, you can significantly reduce your risk of experiencing one by prioritizing your oral hygiene routine. In fact, the Journal of Dental Medicine reported that every dollar invested in preventive care can save you between $8 and $50 in restorative and cosmetic services in the long run! Therefore, make sure to brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and invest in routine dental appointments. Neglecting to do so can result in everything from extensive periodontal therapy to the need for an extraction and tooth replacement.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Dr. Kirby and his team are well-equipped to quickly and efficiently handle any dental emergency you may encounter. However, it’s always better to avoid a dental emergency than treat one! Thankfully, a few simple habits and precautions can dramatically lower your risk of painful, broken teeth. Read on as we go over the top five ways to prevent dental emergencies.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Even if your teeth feel and look fine to you, you should still visit us every six months for a regular checkup and cleaning. Most serious oral health problems like periodontal disease and dental infections start out as small issues that are easy to overlook. You may not even realize there’s a problem developing before it begins to cause you pain! During your routine checkups, we can catch the earliest warning signs of these issues and put a stop to them before they turn into emergencies.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home
Studies show that an overwhelming number of toothaches that are treated in emergency rooms are caused by decay that could have easily been prevented. That’s why it’s essential to practice excellent oral hygiene every day! Brushing for two minutes twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing with mouthwash regularly will go a tremendously long way in keeping your teeth strong and sparkling in your day-to-day life.
Be Careful With Your Diet
Unfortunately, there are plenty of foods and drinks out there that can increase your risk of a dental emergency. From highly acidic sports and energy drinks to hard popcorn kernels, the wrong foods can take a heavy toll on the protective shell of enamel around your teeth. Make sure to eat a healthy diet full of foods with vitamin C and calcium to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
Wear a Mouthguard for Sports or Bedtime
If you could potentially take a blow to the face while playing your favorite sport, you should wear a mouthguard. These simple little appliances will protect your teeth from being cracked or knocked-out, and could even potentially lower your risk of a concussion.
If you don’t play sports, you may still need a mouthguard when you go to sleep. Bruxism is a condition in which you grind your teeth in your sleep, which wears down and damages the enamel. To protect your smile from the nightly excess pressure and lower your risk of developing other problems associated with bruxism, we can provide you with a custom nightguard for bruxism.
Use Tools, Not Teeth to Open Packaging
Your teeth are incredibly strong, but they’re not designed to interact with anything that isn’t food. You should never use your teeth to open packages, hold your keys, rip price tags off, trim your nails, or as any other household tool. Not only do these actions weaken your enamel, but in the blink of an eye, they could send you on your way to see us for a chipped or cracked tooth! Keep the right tools somewhere easy to get to so you’re not tempted to put your pearly whites at risk.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
When it comes to treating dental emergencies, Dr. Kirby, your trusted emergency dentist in Green Hills, is more than qualified to treat virtually any problem that may arise. We offer same-day and even after-hours appointments to help you alleviate your symptoms as soon as possible. However, sometimes you might still find yourself panicking, simply because you don’t know what’s going on. That’s why we’ve taken the time to answer some of our most frequently asked questions about emergency dentistry.
How can I manage my pain?
Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, so you may need a little help relieving your discomfort until you can come see us. In that case, there are a few options that can help, such as:
- Over-the-counter pain medication (like ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
- Topical pain reliever (like Orajel)
- Cold compress to reduce both pain and swelling
However, just because you are able to temporarily manage your pain doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see your emergency dentist in Nashville. You should still make sure to call and schedule an appointment with us as soon as you can.
Why is it important that I get my dental emergency treated right away?
While every dental emergency is different, many of them can result in long-term oral health problems if not treated right away. To prevent this from occurring, it’s best to see us as soon as humanly possible, just to be on the safe side.
By leaving a dental emergency untreated, it could very well lead to an infection that necessitates root canal therapy to save your tooth from having to be extracted. The infection could also wreak havoc if it reaches your bloodstream and spreads to other parts of your body. If your tooth is knocked out, waiting too long to replace it can cause your remaining teeth to shift into the gap, causing bite problems and bone loss in the area.
What if I have a dental emergency while traveling?
If you experience a dental emergency while out of town, before you begin to panic, call a local dentist who will treat the immediate problem. Doing so will at least allow you to get out of pain so you can enjoy the rest of your vacation. Go ahead and call Dr. Kirby and schedule an appointment with us when you return. He can then examine the area and determine whether further treatment is needed.
When should I go to the ER vs. the dentist?
If your dental emergency also threatens your life, like extreme swelling that impacts your ability to breathe, you should definitely visit your local emergency room instead of our practice. Jaw fractures and dislocations should also be addressed at the hospital, as they can quickly spiral into serious situations. For any other dental emergency that is not life-threatening, call and schedule an appointment with us right away.
Do I need to visit for minor chips to teeth?
Even if the chip is minor and you aren’t in any pain, you should schedule an appointment with our Green Hills dental team before the end of the week. Mainly, we need to make sure that your tooth isn’t at risk of developing an infection or splitting further. However, we will examine the surrounding teeth to ensure no additional damage was sustained as well.
Can I fix dentures that are broken in half?
Although there are denture repair kits, the only way to have a broken one properly repaired is by visiting the dental professional who made it. In the meantime, don’t wear your damaged restoration. Instead, use your backup pair and stick to soft, nutrient-dense foods in the meantime, like vegetable soup, oatmeal, and plain yogurt.
Should knocked-out teeth be placed in water?
One of your primary focuses should be preserving the root of your tooth. That’s why we don’t recommend placing a knocked-out tooth in water. Simply put, while there are many benefits of this beverage, it can damage the root surface cells. So, use a clean, small container filled with milk instead.
Is my tooth pain from an infection?
It’s possible! The only way to truly know what the source of your tooth pain is, however, is by taking X-rays and conducting a thorough oral exam. This will ensure that we have a thorough understanding of the root of the problem and how severe it is before providing a detailed diagnosis.
Will my toothache go away on its own?
Sadly, your teeth cannot heal on their own. If they’ve decayed, cracked, or chipped, then you need to call your dental team ASAP to restore your pain-free smile.
Note: Even if your toothache seems minor, it warrants scheduling an appointment with our Green Hills emergency dentist. The sooner you call, the sooner we can intervene with the necessary treatment, potentially saving you from extensive and costly care.
What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?
First aid kits often have gauze pads, cotton balls, and other items that can be helpful when handling a dental emergency. However, they are often missing dental cement, Orajel (and other topical anesthetics), floss, and other tools needed to handle tooth-related injuries. Fortunately, you can find all of these items at your local store or online. In fact, there are even pre-made emergency dentistry kits available, making it even easier. Just remember to add our contact information – this will be helpful when you need to call our team or find our office.
What is causing my jaw pain?
Oftentimes, jaw pain is due to chronic teeth grinding, impacted wisdom teeth, or TMJ dysfunction. However, it could be stemming from an injury that never healed properly as well. If you’re struggling with constant discomfort, then don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our team so we can learn more about your symptoms, take X-rays, and pinpoint the best treatment.
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