It’s almost impossible to predict a dental emergency, but when it does
happen, you want to be able to visit a dentist who has your needs in mind.
Whether you’re experiencing a bad toothache caused by untreated tooth
decay or you’ve sustained a broken tooth after playing a contact sport
without the right protective gear,
Dr. Cobb
wants you to know that she has a plan to get you out of discomfort fast.
Call our dental office
for emergency dentistry in Big Pine Key, FL today!
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
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When a dental emergency strikes, one of the first things you should do is
call our dental office so that we can schedule you for an appointment as
soon as possible. The sooner you get to our dental office, the more
effectively we can address your issue and get you out of discomfort. Our
team members are experts in providing emergency care tips, regardless of
the type of emergency you’re experiencing.
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After you arrive, Dr. Cobb will perform a detailed oral exam to confirm
what type of emergency you’re dealing with and how to get you out of
discomfort. X-rays may be captured as well to pinpoint the exact location
of the problem.
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Cobb will then go over her findings with you and devise a treatment plan
personalized to your needs. She’ll also break down the costs and
estimated length of treatment so you can make an informed decision on your
care before committing to it.
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Our team will work quickly to begin your treatment soon after, whether
that’s through dental fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, tooth
extractions, or another service if necessary.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
The sooner you get to our dental office, the more effectively we can address
your issue and get you out of discomfort. With that said, there are ways to
manage your emergency ahead of your appointment. Prior to your visit,
here’s what you can do to improve your situation.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
The only way to know for sure how much your emergency dental treatment will cost is to speak with your emergency dentist in Big Pine Key directly and have
them examine your specific condition. Treatments can vary in cost depending on how extensive your care needs to be.
For example, if your toothache is caused by simple decay, we’ll remove the infection and restore your tooth
with a filling or crown. However, decay that reaches into the root may require more extensive care and therefore
higher costs. Either way, the cost of treating your issue only goes up the longer you wait to address the problem,
and Dr. Cobb and her team are prepared to help you work out a treatment plan that you can afford!
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Every Dental Emergency Is Different
You might be relieved to hear that emergency dentistry in Big Pine Key might not be as expensive as you think. During
your appointment, we’ll conduct an examination to determine which treatment is best for your needs. That means
that until we see you, we won’t be able to give you an exact cost of treatment until the problem is
identified. For instance, a slightly damaged tooth will usually be cheaper to address than something like root canal
therapy. However, our team will be sure to walk you through every step of your treatment plan and give you every
price detail you need once we’ve determined what needs to be done.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Since dental insurance plans vary from patient to patient, it’s always wise to check the specifics of your
coverage. That said, most providers will cover some or all of the cost of at least one emergency dental visit every
year. The more common treatments used to address dental emergencies also generally receive a portion of coverage,
typically around 50-80% depending on your plan. Our team is also happy to sit down with you and ensure that
you’re taking full advantage of your plan when it comes to covering the cost of emergency dentistry.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Even though dental insurance usually helps to make emergency dentistry more affordable, you aren’t entirely out
of luck if you aren’t covered! We’re pleased to offer CareCredit financing to help you break the cost of
your treatment into affordable installments that won’t break the bank.
Save Money by Taking Care of Your Smile
Of course, you can also save money by maintaining a healthy and clean set of pearly whites! One of the best ways to
minimize the cost of emergency dentistry is to simply treat oral health issues as soon as possible. Instead of
waiting to see if any dental concerns become bigger problems, consider taking a proactive approach by brushing
daily, flossing regularly, and seeking preventive dental care. The longer you wait to address an issue in your
smile, the more extensive and costly the necessary procedure may be to fix it!
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Most dental emergencies can be prevented when you take the time to practice a few key preventive tips. To start,
you should always brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste, floss daily, and visit Dr. Cobb for routine
checkups and cleanings. These habits help you catch dental problems before they turn into dental emergencies as
well as keep plaque and tartar production at bay. Additionally, you should always avoid chewing on ice or
inedible objects which can easily cause a tooth to crack or chip. Read on as we cover in detail the five best
ways to prevent dental emergencies in Big Pine Key.
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Visit Your Dentist Regularly
The American Dental Association recommends getting a dental checkup and cleaning every six months, and we
heartily agree! These quick and simple routine visits give us a chance to monitor your oral health and
spot the earliest warning signs of potential problems. This way, we can treat them long before they
become a dental emergency! Better yet, with regular dental checkups, we aim to keep problems like these
from developing in the first place.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home
Between your biannual dental checkups, your first line of defense against dental emergencies is your
at-home oral hygiene routine. Studies show that an overwhelming majority of toothaches that cause
patients to seek emergency care from a dentist or ER are caused by easily preventable decay. Make sure
you’re brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing every day, and routinely
rinsing with mouthwash.
Be Careful With Your Diet
You already know that eating too many sugary snacks can lead to cavities. But did you know that too many
cavities can lead to dental infections and dental emergencies? Soda, energy drinks, and other highly
acidic beverages are notorious for weakening teeth and hard foods like popcorn kernels and nuts can
easily crack your teeth. Make sure to limit these dangerous foods and eat plenty of items with calcium
and vitamin C to keep your teeth and gums strong.
Wear a Mouthguard
An athletic mouthguard is an essential piece of safety equipment for anyone who enjoys being active. Not
only do they dramatically lower your risk of chipped, broken, and knocked-out teeth, but they may be
able to lower your risk of a concussion as well. Similarly, grinding your teeth every night will weaken
them and can cause them to crack. Thankfully, to combat both of these forces, we offer custom-made
athletic mouthguards and nightguards for bruxism to keep your smile safe while you play and sleep.
Use Tools, Not Teeth to Open Packaging
Your teeth are very strong, but they’re not indestructible. You shouldn’t use them for
anything besides eating your food. Using your teeth as tools to open bottles, hold bags, rip packaging,
or cut your fingernails may seem convenient in the moment, but can leave you with a chipped or broken
tooth in the blink of an eye! Always keep the right tools somewhere they can be easily accessed so
you’re not tempted to put your smile in danger.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
At Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of the Keys, your emergency dentist
in Big Pine Key believes in clear, transparent dental care. When a dental
crisis occurs and you need help, knowing what to do and how to handle the
situation until you are able to make it to our office is important. This is
why Dr. Cobb has answered some of the most common dental emergency
questions. Not only are these designed to give you additional insight into
how best to handle a dental accident, but they are meant to provide clarity
so that you can make the right choice as it pertains to your oral health. If
you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our
office.
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Why is the Dentist’s Office Better Than the Emergency Room?
There are a few key reasons why seeing your local dentist is far better
than waiting in an emergency room lobby. These include:
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Your dentist knows you, so you won’t have to go over any
previous or past medical/health history.
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Your dentist will treat more than just your symptoms. They’ll
look for the root cause and provide full start-to-finish treatment.
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You won’t have to wait for hours and hours in a lobby filled
with sick people. Instead, you’ll have a designated appointment
time for which you can see Dr. Cobb.
If you are experiencing continuous bleeding from the mouth, increased
swelling that refuses to go down or is impacting your airway, or you
have severe facial trauma (i.e. broken/fractured jaw), you will need to
seek immediate medical attention at your local emergency room.
Otherwise, plan on driving to your local dentist’s office for
assistance.
Do You Offer Sedation Dentistry to Ensure I Don’t Feel Any
Additional Pain?
Yes, we offer multiple forms of sedation dentistry to ensure you are
completely comfortable and at ease during your visit. Experiencing
dental trauma is bad enough. You’re already in pain due to the
accident, which is why we will go above and beyond to ensure the
treatment process removes any pain and discomfort. Depending on your
individual needs and the severity of the problem, Dr. Cobb will
determine the appropriate method of sedation before moving forward with
treatment.
Will Dental Insurance Cover My Treatment?
Depending on the type of restorative care you need, your dental
insurance company should be willing to cover all or some of the cost.
Most policies will cover between 50-80% of major or minor procedures.
Something like a dental crown or filling might require you to pay 20-30%
out of pocket while a root canal might have you paying 30-50% of the
overall cost.
If you’re unsure how to find out how much your treatment will
cost, allow a member of our administrative team to contact your
insurance company on your behalf. Not only will they help you get the
answers you need, but they will also work with you to identify
additional ways you can pay should you still need financial assistance.
Something Stuck Between the Teeth
If a piece of food or debris is stuck between your teeth, you can attempt to gently
dislodge it using a piece of floss or a water flosser. Take care to be gentle and
do not use a sharp object to try to remove the food or debris. If you aren’t able
to do it yourself at home, please visit us!
