Emergency Dentist — Jeffersonville, IN
Smile-Saving Care Right When You Need It
Dental emergencies can happen at any moment. Unfortunately, a hospital emergency room is not always equipped to provide urgent dental care for you or your loved ones. At Limestone Dentistry, Dr. Eric Thornton is able to expertly identify the source of the problem, administer prompt treatment, and relieve your discomfort. If you or a family member are experiencing a dental emergency, contact our dental office for smile-saving emergency dentistry in Jeffersonville, IN right when you need it.
Why Choose Limestone Dentistry for Emergency Dental Care?
- #1 We See Emergency Patients As Quickly As Possible
- #2 Gentle, Caring, & Expert Dentistry
- #3 Soothing Nitrous Oxide Sedation Dentistry Offered
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
Don’t wait until a dental emergency strikes to have a plan in place! Should you or a loved one need emergency dental care, do the following:
- Call us to schedule an emergency appointment: We’ll get you on the books as soon as possible. In fact, we’re often able to see emergency patients right away! Once you’re scheduled, one of our experienced team members will walk you through basic first-aid for your unique situation.
- See us for your emergency exam: When you arrive, Dr. Thornton will see you right away. We have advanced dental technology like intraoral scanners, digital X-rays, and a CT cone beam scanner, we’ll be able to determine the source and extent of your emergency.
- Review the findings and make a treatment plan: Thornton will then review the findings with you. Together you’ll create a custom treatment plan that will get your oral health back on track in a way that suits your preferences and budget.
- Get the care you need: Our gentle and experienced team will get to work right away to address whatever dental emergency you’re facing, whether that’s with a dental filling or crown, or something more extensive like a root canal treatment or extraction.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Because there are so many possibilities when it comes to dental emergencies, we can’t provide you with a cost estimate for your treatment without first going over your specific situation. Once we’ve determined the dental problem that needs to be addressed, we can review your treatment options as well as their pricing information. We’re happy to make your care more affordable by submitting pre-treatment estimates to your insurance provider.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
While not every dental emergency can be avoided, taking certain precautions can drastically reduce your risk. For example, maintaining a daily oral hygiene routine and visiting us twice a year for cleanings can go a long way toward preventing infections and cavities that could turn into painful situations. You should also be gentle with your teeth. Avoid using them as tools to chew ice or open packaging and wear a mouthguard if you play sports or grind your teeth during sleep.
Dental Emergency FAQs
How Do I Know If I Have a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, so you may find yourself wondering “is this worth calling my dentist about right now?” Regardless of the situation, if you are worried or concerned about your teeth, gums, or mouth, give us a call! One of our experienced team members will help you determine if you’re having a dental emergency and how quickly you need to be seen.
Do I Have to See a Dentist If My Chipped Tooth Doesn’t Hurt?
In short, yes! Minor chips in the enamel typically won’t hurt, but that doesn’t mean your smile isn’t in danger. Unlike your bones, enamel will not grow back or heal on its own. Instead, as you continue to eat and talk with your chipped tooth, the damage will gradually get worse and worse. Eventually, you’ll likely begin to experience sensitivity, pain, or signs of infection!
Is Emergency Dental Care Expensive?
The truth is that not getting the urgent dental treatment you need in a timely manner will always cost more than getting the care you need right away. Our teeth aren’t equipped to handle most injuries and infections on their own, which means postponing treatment will likely lead to a worse, more painful, and more expensive emergency. At Limestone Dentistry, we never want finances to stand between you and your oral health! That’s why we will only recommend the services that you need, work with you to create a custom treatment plan, and if you have insurance, check to see what your benefits will cover.
Can an ER or Urgent Care Center Help My Tooth?
Dental emergencies can be quite harrowing, so your first reaction may be to go to a medical center designed for emergencies. However, an urgent care or ER could end up costing you a lot of extra time and money! These places don’t typically have a dentist on staff, who is the only medical professional qualified to treat things such as broken, knocked-out, or infected teeth. Instead of spending hours in a busy waiting room only to be given a band-aid solution, give our office a call first. We’ll see you as quickly as possible so you can get back to enjoying a happy, healthy smile!
How Do I Relieve Tooth Pain?
If your tooth is hurting, you should call our office. Dental discomfort will rarely get better on its own and can be caused by anything from a minor chip to a serious infection. But what do you do to ease the pain while you wait for your appointment? Here are a few tips:
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers like Ibuprofen as directed
- Place an ice pack or cold washcloth on the area for 10-minute intervals
- Rinse carefully with salt water or mouthwash
- Keep your head elevated while trying to sleep or lay down
- Do not eat hot, spicy, hard, or chewy foods