Emergency Dentist — Spring, TX

What Factors Can Influence the Cost of Emergency Care?

It should come as no surprise that an emergency visit to the dentist’s office will most likely cost more than a traditional checkup or cleaning. However, there are several factors that must be considered in order to better understand how much you can expect to pay for emergency care. Some of these include:

• Location of dental office: Larger cities or places where the cost of living is high tend to be more expensive.
• Dental insurance: If you have dental insurance, you can expect the cost of your treatment to be significantly less, reducing your out of pocket expenses.
• Type of restorative treatment: Depending on the type of restorative care you need, the costs will vary, as will the level of coverage by your insurance carrier.

Financial Options Available

At Spring Dentist, we are proud to be an in-network provider for many PPO dental insurance plans, some of which include:

• Aetna
• Cigna
• Delta Dental

But if you are uninsured and need assistance paying for your treatment, we can help you apply for a custom payment plan through CareCredit. This is a third-party financier that offers flexible financing schedules with little-to-no-interest.

Importance of Scheduling a Consultation

Since no specific cost can be applied to emergency dentistry, it is important that when one occurs, you get in to see us as soon as possible. By scheduling a consultation or appointment, Dr. Kuykendall can examine your oral cavity and determine the severity of the problem. If you require only minor services and have dental insurance, it may be possible for you to be covered at 70-80%. However, if you need a major restorative service such as a root canal or tooth extraction, you may only have 50-70% of your procedure covered by insurance.

Again, it is important to consider all the factors when undergoing treatment for a dental emergency, but never let it keep you from receiving care. Our dental team is here to help and will go above and beyond to make sure you not only get the care you need but that you remain stress-free as we work to minimize your out of pocket costs.

The Damaging Effects of Food

Over time, your teeth will begin to wear down as a result of daily use (i.e. eating, chewing). However, in most cases, the food you eat will not cause you to chip or crack a tooth or lead to tooth decay. That is unless you overindulge in sugary foods or choose to eat something hard or crunchy. Too much sugar can cause tooth decay and cavities to develop, and hard, crunchy foods can cause you to accidentally damage a tooth and require restorative or cosmetic dentistry to fix it. If you want to avoid the need for a filling, dental crown, or veneers, limit the amount of sugar you consume and avoid foods that can cause you to lose parts, if not all, of your teeth.

The Grinding or Hard-Hitting Impact on Your Teeth

Teeth grinding is a common problem among children and adults. Causing excessive wear and tear on tooth enamel, bruxism can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) or even sleep apnea. To combat this issue, make sure you talk to Dr. Kuykendall about a custom mouthguard to wear at night. This will keep your teeth from coming into contact with each other as well as relax your jaw muscles.

If bruxism isn’t what is putting your teeth in danger but instead, sports, a customized sportsguard can offer a greater level of protection while out on the field. Should a hard-hitting tackle or spiked volleyball occur, these oral appliances can protect against soft tissue lacerations, knocked-out teeth, cracked or chipped teeth, and even lessen the impact of a concussion.

The Benefits of a Good Oral Hygiene Routine

Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash are all key aspects of a good oral hygiene routine. Throw in fluoride toothpaste and a tongue scraper, and you have all the components of a healthier smile. When teeth are plagued by decay, this can make them unstable and frail, opening them up to becoming easily damaged should an accident occur. Regular maintenance of your teeth and gums are a great way to combat dental emergencies. Not only are healthy teeth stronger and more durable, but they will last longer.

Do I need to go to the ER with a dental emergency?

It’s not always easy determining if your specific injury is worth a trip to the ER or the dentist, so to help you better decide, know that if any of the following is occurring, get to your local emergency room as soon as possible:

• Bleeding that does not stop
• A broken or fractured jawbone
• Swelling that does not go down

No matter where you end up going, make sure to always contact us and alert our team to your current situation. If the situation is serious enough, we will tell you to seek treatment at an ER.

Do you accept same-day appointments for dental emergencies?

Absolutely! We are pleased to offer our patients same-day availability with convenient dental office hours, including on Fridays. We know dental emergencies can happen at any time, so don’t be afraid to call us when this happens to you. Our team members will walk you through what you should do at home and determine if you should get in to see Dr. Kuykendall right away.

Does insurance cover dental emergency visits?

Most dental insurance companies understand that accidents happen and when they do, you need coverage. You’ll need to check with your insurer to determine how much they will cover for these types of emergencies as well as the level of coverage for possible restorative dental work. If you’ve chipped, cracked, or knocked out a tooth, it will be necessary to fix it before the problem worsens.

If you’re unsure what your policy states or would rather have a member of our team speak with the insurance company on your behalf, let us know and we’ll be happy to assist.