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Emergency Dentist

The Help You Need, Right When You Need It

Usually, our patients are able to schedule their appointments weeks ahead of time, but when it comes to problems like a knocked-out tooth or severe toothache, they can’t wait. That’s why Kitt Dental is happy to offer emergency dentistry. If you or a loved one ever need immediate dental care, just give us a call, and we’ll work to see you as quickly as possible. We’ll relieve your pain, fix your problem, and help you get back to your normal life before you know it with emergency dentistry in Flint, TX.

Why Choose Kitt Dental for Emergency Dental Care?

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Pained woman calling her Flint emergency dentist

Dental emergencies are typically sudden, alarming, and overwhelming. But don’t panic! Follow these four steps:

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Not all dental emergencies are as easy to identify as a knocked-out or broken tooth. Some develop gradually over time until they become a serious threat to your oral health. That’s why, if you’re ever unsure whether you need urgent dental care or not, we strongly encourage you to give us a call! Over the phone, we’ll be happy to help walk you through your symptoms to determine what you should do next. Below, you’ll find some of the most common dental emergencies and important information on how to handle them.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies 

Patient and dentist discussing the cost of dental emergencies in Flint

The potential cost of treating a dental emergency may cause some patients to avoid seeking out care, but this is always a bad idea. Delaying treatment will only allow the problem to become worse, meaning an even more extensive (and expensive) procedure will be needed to fix it. Basically, acting quickly is best for your mouth and your wallet. A dedicated exam and series of X-rays can help us determine the first step forward to repair your smile, and then our team will work with you to explore budget-friendly options like financing. We do accept multiple insurances and also offer our own in-house membership plan to make our emergency services as affordable as possible.

Every Dental Emergency is Different

Man completing dental exam from dentist for toothache in Flint

Without seeing you for an exam, we can’t know for sure which treatment is needed to address your dental emergency nor the cost associated with your care. While some dental emergencies can be relatively simple and quick to treat, others require more time and labor to perform. Simple treatments generally include dental filling or prescriptions taken over a specific period of time. In contrast, more substantial treatments like root canal therapy and custom-made crowns require multiple appointments and more attention to detail, resulting in higher costs. We’ll make sure to review all of your options with you directly so you can get an accurate estimate ahead of time.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Diagram depicting a dental insurance form

In most cases, dental insurance plans offer some level of coverage for dental emergencies, such as an annual emergency exam. When it comes to the treatments themselves, coverage varies. For example, root canal therapy, crowns, and extractions receive anywhere between 80% and 50% coverage from insurance plans. With that said, every plan is different, so you should always confirm your coverage with your insurance company directly. Our team is happy to help you undergo this process as well.

Keep in mind that when it comes to preventive services like checkups and cleanings, it’s normal for these services to be covered 100% or at the very least close to it. Staying on top of these appointments can dramatically reduce your risk of dental emergencies when combined with at-home oral hygiene and other day-to-day preventive measures.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Dentist explaining cost of emergency dentistry in Flint to patient

Even if you don’t have dental insurance at this time, there are other ways you can make care for your treatment more affordable. For example, our office offers an in-house dental membership that provides not only one emergency exam per year if needed, but discounts on all other treatments performed at our practice. Furthermore, third-party financing options like CareCredit allow you to make payments on dental treatments over several months with little to no interest attached!

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Dental employee explaining cost of treatment to patient

Some dental emergencies can be unavoidable, however, more often than not they occur as a result of infection or other damage that was left untreated. By investing in regular checkups and dental cleanings as well as remaining dedicated to brushing and flossing at home, you could potentially save hundreds and even thousands of dollars on emergency dental care over the years.

For starters, it’s always a good idea to take care of a damaged tooth or other dental problems right away when they appear, even if it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. Problems that feel small now will only get bigger the longer you wait to have them handled.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman preventing dental emergencies in Flint by visiting her dentist

Whether you’re protecting yourself or your youngest family members, it’s important to stay proactive to avoid dental emergencies. Not only is there far less discomfort to deal with, but it’s cheaper compared to treating a major dental issue after it appears. You can dramatically lower your chances of experiencing a dental emergency by keeping the following tips in mind.  If you have questions or need emergency dental care, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Visit Your Dentist on a Regular Basis

Man smiling in an emergency dental office in Flint

Most dental issues, including tooth decay and gum disease, develop with very few symptoms at all. Once they trigger dental pain or sensitivity, it’s too late to use preventive measures. Keeping up with your checkups and cleanings so we can find small issues before they turn into emergencies later is one of the best ways to stay proactive. Additionally, our office can perform detailed cleanings to break down plaque and tartar, the latter of which you cannot remove at home.

Maintain Consistent Brushing and Flossing At Home

Woman brushing her teeth at home

You won’t be visiting our office every day for a cleaning, which means you’ll need to stay on top of your at-home oral hygiene to ensure plaque buildup doesn’t get out of control. Brushing twice a day and flossing daily are considered the bare minimum, but using an oral rinse as well enables you to be even more thorough. Be sure you are brushing for at least two minutes at a time and never snapping the floss from between your teeth after removing it.

Stick to a Healthy and Balanced Diet

Older man eating a watermelon

The food you eat makes a larger impact on your oral health than you may realize. Not only should you avoid eating foods high in sugar and starch as much as possible, but you’ll need to make sure you are eating a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and dairy products. These foods are full of vitamins and minerals conducive to healthy teeth and gums. Additionally, decreasing the amount of sugars you consume will lower the rate of plaque production inside your mouth.

Wear a Mouthguard or Nightguard

Person holding a custom mouthguard

Wearing a mouthguard whenever you play sports, especially when the game carries a high risk for sudden impact, is quite important for preventing dental emergencies. In fact, the second most common cause of dental emergencies (behind tooth decay) is physical trauma during sporting activities. Additionally, if you wake up frequently with a sore jaw or tooth sensitivity, you may need a nightguard to prevent teeth from chipping or fracturing during sleep.

Use Tools, Not Teeth, to Open Packages

Woman using teeth to cut tape

Do not chew on hard items like ice, pens, pencils, fingernails, or other inanimate objects. These bad habits can easily cause a tooth to crack or chip, leaving you in pain and your tooth at risk for infection. Additionally, never use your teeth to open packages, bottles, or remove tags from clothing. Instead, reach for the right tool to get the job done. Keep it nearby so you won’t feel the need to use your teeth.

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