Emergency Dentist — Phoenix, AZ

Relieving Pain & Restoring Smiles

In the worst instances, dental emergencies can turn fun days into traumatic events. Thankfully, though, taking the proper next steps will save your smile! That’s where our office comes in – Bell Road Dental Care of Phoenix can relieve your pain as quickly as possible. With our dentists’ expertise and advanced technologies, we’ll get your smile back on track at once. This option also saves you the time, money, and hassle of an ER visit. Therefore, go ahead and contact us for help with emergency dentistry in Phoenix.

Patient in pain before emergency dentistry

Why Choose Us for Emergency Dental Care?

  • State-of-the-Art Dental Technology
  • Same-Day Emergency Appointments
  • Comprehensive Care for the Whole Family

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Dental patient in need of emergency dentistry holding cheek in pain

If you’ve never gotten urgent oral care before, don’t worry; we’ll give you a quick rundown. To that end, here are things you should expect from your emergency dental visit:

  • A Same-Day Appointment – Once you’ve contacted us, we’ll book your visit for the earliest time available. You may even see us the same day you call! While you wait, our staff can also provide first-aid tips over the phone.
  • An Emergency Exam – When you first arrive for the visit, our team will do a quick emergency exam. Doing so lets us trace the source and extent of your problem. It also confirms how best to relieve your pain.
  • Review of Findings – Our dentists will show you their preliminary findings after the oral exam. In fact, they’ll even suggest potential procedures. From there, our office will draft a custom treatment plan just for you. (Said plan will explain the estimated treatment price and timeline before working in earnest.)
  • Top-Quality Dental Care – With the treatment plan drafted, our team will quickly address your oral issue. You can count on us to fix your smile quickly and effectively! Whether the solution is a filling, crown, root canal therapy, or something else, your results will be excellent.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

When an emergency occurs, it typically falls into these two categories: infection or abscess from poor oral hygiene or sudden dental injury. Our friendly and experienced team is ready to relieve your pain and keep you comfortable in both situations. Until you’re able to come into our dental office, use these tips on handling some of the most common dental emergencies.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Dentist and patient discussing the cost of treating dental emergencies

Although our team at Bell Road Dental Care of Phoenix will go above and beyond to make understanding the cost of your care easy at your appointment, it’s nearly impossible to do so without one. After all, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all price when it comes to treating decayed, cracked, and otherwise damaged teeth! In short, if you want to get a cost estimate, schedule an appointment with us. If you want to learn more about what impacts the price, then read on.

Why Every Dental Emergency is Different

Dentist reviewing patient's X-ray

The price of your dental emergency can vary because of the different types of treatments that you may need. That’s why it’s hard to estimate the cost of your treatment: because different emergencies require different dental services! For example, some toothaches can be remedied by simply taking antibiotics, whereas a cracked or damaged tooth may require more extensive dental restoration. At Bell Road Dental Care of Phoenix, our friendly team will provide you with a detailed estimate, answer any questions you have, and make sure that you can receive quality treatment that is also affordable.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Dental insurance papers on clipboard on desk

Sometimes, yes! What impacts your coverage is your specific dental plan, which is why we always recommend reviewing the fine print beforehand. Of course, between the seemingly endless pages of paperwork and the unfamiliar jargon, that’s sometimes easier said than done. If you need any help, you can always ask us! We offer in-network savings and welcome out-of-network providers, and we have years of experience helping our patients utilize their coverage to the fullest.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Dental assistant smiling while handing patient form

If you don’t currently have dental insurance, don’t worry – that’s not the only way to make the cost of emergency dentistry more affordable. For example, if you join our in-house savings plan, you get access to immediate benefits, like 20% off all dental work. Furthermore, we welcome flexible financing and offer periodic specials that help make the cost of even the most extensive treatment plans more affordable. For more details, get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team.

How Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Woman smiling during checkup with dentist

Many patients don’t think about the cost of their dental care until they are already sitting in the treatment chair. However, you can actually help reduce your chances of experiencing a dental emergency (and, in turn, reduce your chances of having a large bill to pay) by taking good care of your smile. That includes brushing and flossing daily and extends to visiting us every six months for a checkup and avoiding unhealthy dental habits, like smoking. Lastly, make sure that you visit us the moment any abnormal symptoms arise so we can intervene before costly care is needed.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman looking at smile after visiting dentist to prevent dental emergencies

It’s important to know that most dental emergencies come about because of unchecked infection or damage. This means that by taking the proper precautions, you can significantly reduce the chances of an urgent situation happening. Fortunately, this can be as simple as cleaning your teeth every day and making some mild changes to your daily habits. Read on to learn more about how to prevent dental emergencies.  

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

a patient visiting the dentist to prevent dental emergencies

Has it been longer than six months since your last dental visit? Most dentists recommend scheduling an appointment at least twice a year to ensure that your pearly whites and gums are safe from decay and infection. Not only will our team thoroughly clean and polish your teeth to get rid of plaque, but we’ll also check for any underlying oral health issues that we can address early on. This can help you avoid the need to treat painful complications with costly treatment in the future.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

a woman happily brushing her teeth

Aside from visiting your dentist every six months, you’ll need to make sure your smile stays clean with at-home oral hygiene. This should include brushing twice a day, flossing before bedtime (or after eating your meals), and rinsing with ADA-approved mouthwash frequently. Forgetting to do this daily routine can allow bacteria to settle around your mouth, increasing the risk of enamel erosion, decay, and infection. By cleaning your teeth every day, you can lower the chance of a dental emergency.

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

a woman enjoying healthy fruits

Your diet can have a significant impact on your oral health. Overindulging in sugary, starchy, and acidic foods can end up raising your chance of developing issues like decay, cavities, and periodontal disease. To avoid these problems, try sticking with a nutrient-dense diet consisting of fruits, veggies, dairy products, whole grains, and lean meats to help promote healthier teeth and gums!

Wear a Mouthguard

a man wearing a mouthguard to protect teeth

Do you tend to grind or clench your teeth at night? If yes, you’ll want to consult your dentist about nightguards for bruxism. This oral appliance can help minimize damage or wear and tear on your teeth, reducing the risk of an emergency later. The same goes for if you participate in physical sports; you’ll want to invest in custom mouthguards to protect your pearly whites in the long run.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

a man using a bottle opener on a bottle

Do you often use your teeth to rip open bags or packages? While this might seem harmless, one wrong move can easily chip or break a tooth. That’s why you always want to have tools handy to get the job done. The only thing your teeth should be used for is to enjoy your meals. The last thing you want is to need a visit to your emergency dentist for something that could have been avoided altogether.

Emergency Dentistry FAQs

Dental patients asking dentist frequently asked emergency dentistry questions

Got a question for your emergency dentist in Phoenix? It’s important to be educated and prepared well in advance before you actually need to respond to a dental emergency. Here are just a few questions that patients often ask. If you have additional concerns, feel free to ask during your next appointment at Bell Road Dental Care of Phoenix; we’re here to give you the tools you need to protect your smile as well as your overall health!

What Exactly is a Dental Emergency?

Typically, dental emergencies involve pain, swelling and discomfort. While symptoms can sometimes be controlled with home treatments such as pain medicine and ice packs, you can’t get rid of the problem by yourself.

Remember: dental emergencies don’t go away by themselves, so never make the mistake of ignoring an emergency or a suspected emergency.

Will I Need to Go to the Emergency Room?

You’ll need immediate medical attention for severe, life-threatening issues. If your emergency involves a jaw fracture, jaw dislocation, severe cuts on the mouth or face, or difficulty breathing and swallowing, you need to call a hospital emergency room right away.

Most emergency rooms and hospitals won’t be able to provide comprehensive dental care. For example, if you’re suffering from a toothache, they may give you antibiotics. This can reduce the swelling, but it’s not a permanent solution; you’ll need a dentist’s help to remove to source of an infection.

What if My Tooth is Broken but Doesn’t Hurt?

Broken or chipped teeth don’t always cause pain or discomfort, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be addressed. If the inner parts of the tooth are exposed, they’re at an increased risk of a bacterial infection; consequently, if the tooth isn’t repaired, it might suffer from decay.

During our examination, we’ll determine the extent of the damage and suggest an appropriate treatment. Oftentimes, fillings or a crown will be enough to repair the structure and prevent further cracks.

Are Sensitive Teeth an Emergency?

If you notice that your teeth have become sensitive to hot or cold foods, it could mean that your gums are receding. This might be a symptom of advanced periodontal disease, which can eventually lead to tooth loss and contribute to other health problems. Another possibility is that there’s a nerve issue that could lead to a dental abscess, which is an infected pocket of pus.

There are other reasons why your teeth might have increased sensitivity, such as worn-down enamel. You should make an appointment as soon as possible to determine the cause.

Should I Do Something About Knocked-Out Baby Teeth?

A knocked-out baby tooth doesn’t need to be replanted, but losing it too early might lead to complications with your child’s dental development. Call us as soon as possible so that we can help you determine what needs to be done.