Emergency Dentist — Gainesville, GA
Get Treatment the Same Day As Your Emergency!
At Lifetime Dental, we take dental emergencies very seriously. One of the most significant parts of our dental office is same-day services for emergency dentistry in Gainesville, GA. In the event that you need to have a toothache alleviated or you’ve sustained an injury to your tooth, our dental office will do everything possible to get you seen the same day. The last thing you should do is put off your treatment, so give our dental office a call if you’re experiencing a dental emergency!
Why Choose Lifetime Dental for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Emergency Care a Priority
- CEREC Technology for Same-Day Crowns & Other Restorations
- Advanced Dental Technology for Fast, Precise Diagnostics
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Step 1: Call Us As Soon As You Can. When a dental emergency occurs, you should make a call to our dental office or have a friend or family member call so you can set up an emergency appointment. The sooner you call, the more likely we can get you seen on the same day.
- Step 2: Get Personalized First-Aid Guidance. One of our team members will guide you through the next best steps to take depending on your condition.
- Step 3: See Dr. Shue Her for an Emergency Exam. When you arrive, Dr. Her will see you right away. She’ll relieve any immediate pain you may be experiencing and examine your mouth to learn more about your situation.
- Step 4: Review Your Treatment Options & Make a Plan. Once Dr. Her has evaluated you, she’ll fully explain your options and help you create a custom treatment plan.
- Step 5: Get the Fast, Professional Care You Need. We’ll get to work right away protecting your teeth and repairing your smile. With our advanced technology, array of services, and CEREC same-day dental restorations, we’ll get your oral health back on track before you know it.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
At Lifetime Dental, we are able to handle all manner of dental emergencies. However, we know that it’s not always easy to tell if your situation warrants a call to your Gainesville emergency dentist. A good rule of thumb to go by is that if you’re experiencing dental pain, trauma, damage, or concerning symptoms, you should call us immediately. Even if you aren’t sure if your symptoms need urgent treatment, we encourage you to give us a call anyways. Over the phone, we’ll help assess your situation and see if you can wait a few days to be treated or if you need to come in right away. Below, we’ve gathered some important information about how to handle some of the most common dental emergencies at home and how we’re likely to treat them when you see us for your appointment.
Understanding the Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
It can be difficult to know how much treatment will cost until you’ve had a thorough examination. For example, if your emergency only requires minor treatment, like removing decay and placing a filling, it won’t cost as much as having a dental crown placed or root canal therapy. Some of our most productive days include dental emergencies, so we’re used to helping patients figure out the best way to finance their treatment. If you’re like many people, you might be hesitant to call your dentist because you’re worried about an outrageous bill. Well, you have nothing to fear when choosing Dr. Her! Our office will help you find the solutions you need to stop your pain and save your smile without breaking the bank.
No Two Dental Emergencies Are the Same
There isn’t a set fee for emergency dentistry in Gainesville because every situation is unique. The required treatment is probably the single most influential component of your bill. If you need a complex procedure to save your tooth, like a root canal, you will pay more than a person who only needs a simple fix, like dental bonding. And believe it or not, the location of a dental practice can also influence the amount you will pay for dental services. Cities and largely populated areas often charge more, while offices located in rural areas are less expensive. Rest assured – we’ll provide you with an accurate estimate during your initial consultation and explain the fees associated with your personalized treatment plan so there are no surprises down the line.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Every policy differs; however, most dental insurance policies offer coverage for emergency appointments, as well as common restorative procedures that are needed. Your benefits can be used to help offset the amount you will pay out-of-pocket. Of course, it’s a good idea to confirm the details of your policy with your insurance provider before committing to any specific treatment. If needed, our team is more than happy to help you out with this step!
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
At Lifetime Dental of Gainesville, we strive to keep our services affordable for everyone, which is why we work with many leading dental insurances. Our office is in-network with several companies, including:
- Cigna
- Careington
- Guardian
- MetLife
- United Concordia
We also work with out-of-network patients to reduce the amount you need to pay. A member of our team will work on your behalf with your insurance company to file the necessary claim forms, so you have one less thing to worry about during a stressful situation. We’ll explain how your coverage is being used to lower the cost of your treatment.
If there’s any remaining balance, our office also accepts a variety of payment options. Besides traditional methods, we also work with third-party financing, like CareCredit. Based on your credit approval, you’re given the funds you need, which you’ll repay using a payment plan that accommodates your budget.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
While some dental emergencies are unavoidable, most of them occur because of unchecked decay, infection, or other damage. By practicing good oral hygiene and investing in routine dental checkups, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on urgent care every year.
Another way to save money is by contacting your emergency dentist in Gainesville as soon as you notice something is wrong with your mouth. As with any emergency, time is of the utmost importance. It’s essential you visit Dr. Her right away, so you don’t want to waste a moment worrying about the cost of the appointment. We will get you into the office quickly and help you find the solutions you need to restore your smile without draining your wallet.
If you have a dental emergency or are unsure if you need immediate care, don’t hesitate to contact our office . A member of our team is only a phone call away to help you.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Even if it seems like dental emergencies crop up out of nowhere, most of them can actually be avoided as long as you take the right precautions. Don’t worry – these are things you should already be doing to keep your teeth and gums healthy. When you meet with Dr. Her, he can give you more specific advice on how to prevent dental emergencies in Gainesville, but for now, here are five basic tips to keep in mind.
Keep Up with Your Regular Dental Visits
Just two dental checkups a year can go a long way toward minimizing your risk of painful dental problems. At these visits, Dr. Her can determine whether you have any early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or other potential emergencies. He can then devise a plan to treat these issues long before they would have caused you discomfort. As an added bonus, our hygiene team can thoroughly clean plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums, removing a common source of oral infections.
Stick to a Solid At-Home Oral Hygiene Routine
When you don’t brush and floss every day, bacteria-filled plaque has an easier time accumulating in your mouth. These bacteria produce acids that irritate the gums and erode tooth enamel, contributing to gum disease and cavities, respectively. One easy way to prevent these problems from causing a dental emergency is to brush your teeth twice a day (ideally, using fluoridated toothpaste). You should also floss every night before bed.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Harmful bacteria in the mouth love to feed on sugars and starches, so by eating a diet filled with such items, your risk of tooth decay, infections, and other dental emergencies increases significantly. Try to cut down on complex carbohydrates and substitute them with mouth-healthy foods and beverages. For example, fibrous fruits like apples and pears naturally clean your teeth as you chew them. Milk and other dairy products are also beneficial, as they contain calcium that fortifies your teeth.
Wear a Mouthguard
Do you play sports? Do you tend to clench and grind your teeth while you sleep? In either case, you’ll want to protect your pearly whites with a custom-fit mouthguard from our dental office. These trays create a layer of cushioning over your teeth, shielding them from severe impact of sports injuries as well as chronic wear from teeth grinding.
Never Use Your Teeth as Tools
If you’re having trouble opening a bottle, package, or container, you might be tempted to use your teeth. Although this seems like a convenient solution, it can actually cost you more time (and money). Your teeth weren’t meant to withstand pressure beyond what is required to bite and chew food. So, using your teeth as tools can all too easily chip, crack, or fracture them. Instead of risking the chance of needing to repair your tooth at an emergency dental office in Gainesville, simply take a moment to grab the right tool for the job at hand, such as a bottle opener or box cutter.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
Do you have questions or concerns about dealing with a dental emergency? If you’re in need of urgent oral care, be sure to contact our experienced emergency dentist in Gainesville, Dr. Her, as soon as possible. For your convenience, we’ve answered some common questions that we receive from our patients below.
Should I Go to the ER for My Dental Emergency?
Some patients’ first reaction during a dental emergency may be to visit their local emergency room. The primary issue with this is that they will only stabilize you and ease your pain, not provide you with a long-term solution to the underlying issue. When you visit your emergency dentist instead, we’ll take images of your mouth and diagnose the problem that caused your pain. Afterward, we’ll craft a customized treatment to make sure that the issue doesn’t cause additional damage to your mouth down the road.
In some cases that could be life-threatening, such as a broken or fractured jawbone, deep facial laceration, or if you’re having difficulty breathing or swallowing , you’ll need to receive urgent medical attention at the ER before scheduling an appointment with us. Once you get the care you need, be sure to contact our office so we can schedule a visit to address your dental concerns.
How Long Can I Wait to Visit the Emergency Dentist?
Many patients are tempted to put off visiting their dentist in Gainesville for urgent treatment because they want to see if their problem will go away on its own. Unfortunately, this often results in the situation only getting worse and increasing the chances of permanently damaging your mouth. Although it may seem like a cost-effective solution to wait to visit our office, this will most likely end up costing you more.
If you experience any dental pain, discomfort, or out-of-the-ordinary symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Lifetime Dental as soon as possible. We’ll get you in for an appointment that same day and make sure that you receive the urgent care you need.
How Can I Prepare for a Dental Emergency?
The best way to prepare in case you experience a dental emergency is to make a kit to keep at home. One in six Americans face urgent oral situations every year, which is why it’s a good idea to have a plan, just in case. Here are a few necessities to include in your dental emergency kit:
- A dental tool kit that you can find at your local pharmacy
- Individually wrapped gauze strips
- Ibuprofen
- Latex-free gloves
- A small, sealable container
- Saline solution
- Dental floss
- Our phone number
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