
Extreme oral pain, cracked enamel, knocked-out teeth – all of these are examples of dental problems that need immediate attention. Our specialists at Healthy Smiles Dental Care of Lansing are experienced in dealing with many different types of emergencies, and they will go out of their way to see you as soon as possible should a dental emergency strike. As soon as you have reason to think there’s something wrong with your teeth or gums, call our dental office immediately for emergency dentistry in Lansing, MI.
There are several categories that dental emergencies can fall under, although most are either caused by poor dental hygiene or a sudden accident. When you speak to our team over the phone, please tell us what happened as well as what symptoms you’re experiencing in as much detail as possible; the more we know, the better advice we can give you for dealing with the issue. Some general tips for dealing with emergencies are listed below.
Because of the pain and sense of urgency that usually accompanies a dental emergency, you might not start thinking about the cost until after you’ve already arrived at our dental office. Our primary concern will always be to find the quickest and most effective way to stop your discomfort and treat the underlying problem. We’ll make sure that you understand the cost of the necessary treatment and will help you file insurance claims or explore other methods of financing your care.
You can’t completely eliminate the possibility of a dental emergency, but you can significantly improve your odds by:
You may not realize that your constant jaw pain counts as a dental emergency. The fact is that oftentimes a problem with the teeth can lead to issues with the joints that attach your lower jaw to the rest of your skull. If you’re suffering from a TMJ disorder, our specialists can use their expertise to diagnose the problem and get to the root of your pain. Once you know for sure that there is a problem with your TMJ, you can start looking for treatment.
Infections are often accompanied by consistent, throbbing pain. That said, we recommend scheduling an emergency exam with us if you’re experiencing any abnormal dental symptoms – from chronic bad breath to persistent tooth sensitivity. That way, we can take the necessary X-rays, conduct a visual exam, and determine what the root of the problem is. If it is an infection, then we will review your treatment options, create your custom treatment plan, and get to work on restoring your healthy, pain-free smile.
Initially, this might seem like good news. In reality, it’s quite the opposite. After all, cavities don’t go away on their own. If your once-painful toothache has gone radio silent, then there’s a good chance that the nerve of your tooth has died. The best thing to do if you find yourself in this situation is to give us a call so we can learn more about your symptoms (or lack thereof) and schedule an emergency appointment.
Patients are often tempted to pop a dental abscess on their own. However, doing so can make the situation even worse. When you come to our office, we will numb the area thoroughly before opening and draining the abscess. Sometimes, further care is needed – whether it’s taking antibiotics or getting a root canal. Rest assured, we will review the entire treatment process with you upfront and answer any questions you have so you have complete confidence moving forward.
We do recommend scheduling an appointment with us – even if the chip is minor or you aren’t in pain. This ensures that we can restore the missing structure before an infection develops or the tooth breaks further. That said, a same-day appointment may not be necessary. If that’s the case for you, then we will provide you with some helpful instructions on what to do in the meantime, like covering the sharp edge of your tooth with some sugar-free gum to prevent a soft tissue injury.
Although superglue is a powerful adhesive, it contains toxins that are not safe to ingest. So, we don’t recommend using it to try and repair your dentures. Instead, give us a call, let us know what happened, and schedule an appointment within the next day or two.
If you’re concerned about the cost, don’t put off scheduling an appointment with us. Remember, our Lansing dental team is here to help with every step of the treatment process, including navigating the financial side. We’re proud to work with many of the nation’s leading dental insurance providers, including Delta Dental, Blue Cross BlueShield, and Guardian. Plus, if you are uninsured, you can take advantage of our in-house savings plan or break up the cost of your care into smaller, more manageable chunks with flexible financing.
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