Like most urgent situations, dental emergencies don’t always happen when it’s convenient. If you find yourself with an immediate need for dental care, locating a dentist who can help you ASAP can be very overwhelming, especially if you’re in pain. But don’t panic! Here are some tips to help you choose an emergency dentist so you can get on the road to recovery in the nick of time.
Cover the Basics
The first thing you need to do when searching for an emergency dentist is to make sure they satisfy a few basic requirements, such as:
- Is the office nearby?
- Do they have late or weekend hours?
- Do they offer same-day appointments?
- Do they accept your dental insurance?
Once you can answer yes to these questions, you can narrow down your search and begin contacting the qualifying practices to schedule an appointment. If you are calling during a dental emergency, your new dental team will provide you with further instructions on what to do to ease any pain and keep your mouth safe until you can be seen.
Non-Emergency Searching
If you are searching for a dentist with emergency services but are not currently experiencing an emergency, you can take your time and get to know the practice a little bit more before you make join. This can be done by scheduling a meet-and-greet consultation with the dentist and dental team to make sure you are comfortable with them. At this time, you can also ask them any questions you may have about how they handle urgent appointments, such as:
- Will my dentist explain how to avoid future problems and how to care for the current situation?
- How does the dental practice handle dental emergencies outside of business hours?
- When should you go to the emergency room versus make an urgent dental appointment?
- Will your medical and dental history be kept on file in the office?
- Does the dental team understand your dental insurance benefits, and can they file claims on your behalf?
Remember, dental emergencies can happen to anyone, at any time, but finding an emergency dentist can be stressful if you’re searching while you’re in pain. Locating a dentist in advance who offers urgent care can help alleviate stress and worries during a crisis, but if you find yourself searching while under duress, make sure your new practice has everything you need for a successful treatment.
About Dr. Salvaggio
Dr. Joseph Salvaggio understands that feeling comfortable with your dentist and dental team makes a big impact when it comes to caring for your oral health. That’s why he makes it his mission to get to know each patient as an individual. Dr. Salvaggio and the entire Salvaggio Dental team work hard to ensure that you’re comfortable, so when the unthinkable happens, you feel safe bringing yourself and your family to us for help.
To schedule an urgent appointment, please visit our website or call us today at 289-569-0721.