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Emergency Dentist — Lakewood, CO

I Have a Dental Emergency

Woman with a toothache in LakewoodAre you or a loved one experiencing quite a bit of dental pain? Has someone damaged a tooth in an accident or developed a severe toothache? To get the attention you need, just give Lakewood Complete Dentistry a call right away. We’re happy to accept emergency dental patients and do our best to provide same-day relief, so patients can get the urgent attention they need. Dental discomfort and pain is definitely not fun so we’ll make sure you’re able to get back to your normal life in no time!

Why Choose Lakewood Complete Dentistry for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
  • Open During Evening Hours
  • State-of-the-Art Technology for Quick Solutions

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Woman visiting dentist with a dental emergency in Lakewood

  • Artino is exactly the type of person you want to see in the middle of a dental emergency. From the moment you call, his team will work hard to get you seen the same day however possible. In the meantime, his office can provide first-aid tips over the phone.
  • When you do reach our office, a team member will check you in and get you to a dental operatory so our dentist can perform an emergency exam. His experience as a certified nurse on top of being a practicing dentist means he knows how to bring calm to even the most stressful situations.
  • Following the exam, which may include digital X-rays if necessary, he’ll break down his findings and recommend a treatment plan based on what will best help alleviate your discomfort and prevent the problem from getting worse (or coming back). This plan will also include estimated costs and length of treatment.
  • Whether you need to have a dental filling or crown placed, root canal therapy performed, teeth extracted, or something else, we’ll work as quickly as possible to resolve your dental emergency.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies of all different varieties can appear, which is why it’s always best to give our office a call even if you aren’t sure that what you’re experiencing is considered a dental emergency. In the meantime, you can find some helpful tips to manage your urgent issue before you arrive at our office.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Illustration to prevent dental emergencies in Lakewood

Although you can’t fully stop one from occurring, you can take several steps to prevent dental emergencies in Lakewood. Contrary to what you might believe, not all sudden oral health issues result from an accident or injury. In fact, many could be avoided. Here are the best ways to prevent dental emergencies.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Man at dentist for a cleaning and checkup

Many patients require urgent dental attention because of an untreated issue, like tooth decay. A minor cavity can quickly lead to a serious toothache if it isn’t treated promptly. You can ensure there aren’t any untreated oral health problems lingering in your mouth by visiting your dentist regularly. They’ll monitor your teeth and gums to address any concerns before they have a chance to turn into a big problem. The American Dental Association recommends a cleaning and checkup at least every 6 months.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home

Woman looking in mirror after brushing and flossing

A healthy smile begins at home. Your oral hygiene habits are your first line of defense against preventable issues, like tooth decay and gum disease. It’s best to brush your teeth at least twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Clean all surfaces of your teeth and tongue for at least 2 minutes each session. Don’t forget to clean between each tooth nightly with high-quality dental floss. An antimicrobial mouthwash can remove any bacteria or foods particles left behind by your toothbrush and floss to make sure your smile is extra clean.

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

Woman with healthy smile holding an apple

A healthy diet is important for more than just a trim waistline. Your teeth and gums also rely on nutritious foods, like protein, fruits, and whole grains. Limit your consumption of sugary foods and drinks to prevent cavity-causing bacteria from eroding your enamel. If you can’t ignore your sweet tooth, brush your teeth well. If you’re unable to get to your toothbrush, rinse your mouth with water or chew a piece of sugarless gum.

Wear a Mouthguard

Athletic mouthguard for playing sports

Many dental emergencies are sports-related. Although they are common, they could be avoided with an athletic mouthguard. The custom-made appliance provides a protective barrier for your teeth and gums to lessen the severity of an injury if there’s impact to the mouth. Research shows a mouthguard can even prevent concussions and jaw injuries. You wouldn’t play football without a helmet, so don’t play contact sports without an athletic mouthguard to avoid an unplanned trip to an emergency dental office in Lakewood.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Woman with healthy smile

We’re all guilty of using our teeth to tear open chip bags or loosen the lid on a water bottle. Although our teeth can be handy, you shouldn’t use them as tools. Opening packages and using your teeth for more than biting or chewing food can lead to broken or fractured teeth. It’s best to take a minute to find the right tool for the job to preserve your smile. You’ll also want to keep any inedible objects out of your mouth, like your fingernails, pencils, or pens. If you have a habit of chewing, reach for a piece of sugarless gum.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Tooth next to calculator; figuring out cost of emergency dentist in Lakewood, CO

Once we’ve determined the best treatments for stopping your pain and repairing the damage to your teeth and gums, we can give you an idea of how much the treatment will cost. We will only recommend the services that we deem necessary, and we will take every possible step to ensure that your treatment is as affordable as possible. Below are some factors that can determine the cost of emergency dental care as well as strategies for making sure that it doesn’t break your budget.

Every Dental Emergency is Different

Woman with toothache about to visit emergency dentist in Lakewood, CO

Since the term “dental emergency” covers a lot of ground, the price for care isn’t set in stone. An emergency appointment is relatively inexpensive by itself; this visit simply involves examining your mouth to determine how severe the damage is so that we can put together a treatment plan. Possible treatments for dental emergencies include fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, tooth extractions, and more. We will provide pricing information when we make our recommendation, and we’ll make sure that you’re aware of all of your options before you continue with the process.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Looking up dental benefits on the computer

Odds are that your dental plan has some level of coverage for emergency care. In most cases, it will pay for at least one emergency exam per year, and 50% to 80% coverage is typically offered for the restorative treatments that are commonly used to treat and repair damaged teeth. You can’t take this for granted, however, as each plan is different, and there are yearly maximums and deductibles that affect how much your insurance company can pay for a given procedure. Before you agree to your dentist’s recommendations, you should consult with your insurance company immediately so that you know what is and isn’t covered.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Male dental patient visiting emergency dentist in Lakewood, CO

Lakewood Complete Dentistry accepts Delta Dental, Guardian, MetLife, Humana, and various other plans. Not every patient has insurance, though, which is why we also allow for financing through CareCredit. You don’t have to stress about paying for your care all at once because CareCredit will let you pay in installments over a period of months without any surprise charges or prepayment penalties. We can discuss your financial options in more detail once we have an idea of what your emergency treatment will look like.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Close-up of woman brushing her teeth

While dental emergencies related to injuries and accidents cannot be predicted, most of the time they’re caused by decay, infection, and other consequences of poor oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth, flossing on a regular basis, and investing in routine dental checkups can help you avoid dental emergencies – which, obviously, will save you a lot of money that you might have had to spend on urgent dental care otherwise.

Another tip for saving money on dental care is to call your emergency dentist in Lakewood once you’ve noticed that there’s something wrong with your smile. Dental infections and other emergencies don’t get better as time passes, so it’s important to have them treated before they become more difficult (and expensive) to treat.

Dental Emergency FAQ’s 

Patient shaking hands with an emergency dentist in Lakewood

Even after reading all the information above about dental emergencies, you might still have some questions. That’s perfectly understandable. After all, in an emergency situation, you want to be as prepared as possible. That’s why your dentist in Lakewood has assembled some of the emergency questions he gets asked the most often, and answered them down below for your convenience. If you have a question that you don’t see answered here, be sure to contact us for more information.

How Long Should I Wait to Receive Emergency Care?

Ideally, you should contact us right away if you have some kind of dental problem, even if you’re not sure whether or not it’s an emergency. In these situations, it’s much better to be safe than sorry. This is because unlike a lot of general medical issues, which often get better over time, dental problems typically worsen the longer you ignore them. To top it off, most dental emergencies have some degree of pain involved, so you’re going to want to see your emergency dentist in Lakewood as soon as possible to relieve your discomfort.

When Should I Go to the E.R. vs the Dentist?

If your dental emergency is also life-threatening, such as swelling that affects your ability to breathe, then you should absolutely visit the emergency room of your local hospital. Jaw dislocations or fractures and serious oral infections also warrant a visit to the emergency room instead of your dentist. However, for any other kind of dental emergency that is not life-threatening, visit your dentist in Lakewood instead.

What If I Have Something Stuck in My Teeth?

First, rinse your mouth out with warm water to try and dislodge the object. If that doesn’t work, then gently use dental floss. NEVER use a sharp object such as a toothpick to remove something caught between your teeth, as it can damage your tooth or the soft tissue in your mouth. If you can’t remove the object by yourself, then you should absolutely call us and schedule an emergency appointment.