Emergency Dentist — Fort Smith, AR

No Two Dental Emergencies Are the Same

Believe it or not, a visit to your emergency dentist is actually relatively inexpensive. During your appointment, Dr. Lopez will conduct an oral examination to assess your condition and determine which treatments are needed to get your smile back on the right track. Since the procedures you need will depend on the type of emergency you’re experiencing, it’s impossible to predict the overall cost until you come in for an exam. But don’t worry – our team will thoroughly explain all the pricing information beforehand so you know exactly what to expect!

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Thousands

 Did you know that most dental emergencies are the result of untreated infection and damage? By following a solid at-home oral hygiene routine and investing in regular dental checkups, you can keep your smile in tip-top shape and save thousands of dollars over the years. Another way to save money is by taking care of a problem right away. It’s incredibly important to get issues checked out as soon as you notice them to keep the costs from growing larger. By doing so, you can easily avoid needing more complex and expensive procedures down the line.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Yes! Most dental insurance plans do offer some form of coverage for dental emergencies. Typically, at least one yearly emergency exam is fully covered under certain plans. Several treatments associated with hurting teeth (i.e., root canal therapy, extractions, dental crowns) also receive partial coverage, ranging from 50-80% in most cases. Of course, every policy is unique, and you must consider yearly maximums and deductibles. Make sure you confirm the details of your coverage with your insurance provider or our dental team before moving forward with your treatment plan.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

At New Smile Dental: Gilberto Lopez, DDS, we understand that not everyone has dental insurance. That’s why we offer CareCredit financing to help make your procedures as affordable as possible. With this option, you can split up the total cost of your treatment into smaller, budget-friendly monthly installments. We also offer a 10% discount to patients without insurance who pay for their dental work in cash and a 15% discount to military personnel who show their military ID.

Are you or someone you know facing a dental emergency? Don’t hesitate to contact the team at New Smile Dental: Gilberto Lopez, DDS for assistance. We’ll get you the prompt relief you deserve while keeping your total expenses as low as possible!

Schedule a Dental Visit Twice a Year

Your biannual visits to our office are crucial for several reasons, starting with the fact that they ensure we can catch and treat common oral health problems in the early stages, including tooth decay and gum disease. So, it’s important that you make each one a priority! You should also schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Fort Smith if you start to notice any abnormal symptoms, including pain when biting down.

Brush and Floss Consistently

Of course, you also need to take care of your smile on a daily basis. That starts with brushing for two full minutes each morning and evening and extends to flossing at least once a day. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you also need to clean your tongue, replace your toothbrush (or toothbrush head) every quarter, and rinse with mouthwash for a full 30-60 seconds.

Tip: If you’re unsure which toothbrush you should use, you need a refresher on how to floss properly, or you have any questions pertaining to your oral hygiene regimen, don’t hesitate to give us a call or ask Dr. López during your next checkup.

Avoid Cavity-Causing Foods

Remember, your diet affects your oral health. For that reason, we recommend limiting your intake of cavity-causing foods, including potato chips, hard pretzels, and gummy candies. Instead, do your best to fill your plate with nutrient-dense foods that benefit your smile, including cooked carrots, plain yogurt, oatmeal, and cottage cheese.

Wear a Mouthguard To Protect Your Teeth

Whether you play a contact sport or you prefer to stay active by riding your bike, lifting weights, or playing tennis, you need to wear a mouthguard. If you don’t have one already, don’t purchase a one-size-fits-all one online. Instead, come to our office so we can have a custom one made from impressions of your teeth.

Important reminder: You should also wear a nightguard if you clench or grind your teeth while sleeping.

Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Protecting your smile is also about what you DON’T do. In addition to not using tobacco products, it’s important that you don’t bite your nails, chew on ice cubes, or use your teeth as tools to open things. Although habits like these may seem harmless, they can cause the enamel to wear down, resulting in a painful dental injury.

How can I prepare for a dental emergency?

Studies show that 1 in 6 Americans face a dental emergency annually. So you aren’t caught off guard, you can have a readiness kit in place. Here is what it should include:

• Our phone number saved in your cellphone or posted in your home
• Saline solution (in case of a dislodged tooth)
• Handkerchief to immobilize a broken jaw
• Small container with a lid to temporarily house a dislodged tooth or broken pieces
• Ibuprofen for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties

Do I need a root canal?

The usual reason for a root canal is to stop tooth decay that has advanced to the pulp area where the canals, nerves and blood vessels are housed. At this point, you’ll likely feel some intense pain, letting you know that a simple filling won’t suffice to restore your oral health. If we determine that you need a root canal, then your emergency dentist in Fort Smith will thoroughly clean the area, fill the vacated space and seal the pulp chamber to put an end to your suffering.

If my toothache goes away, do I still need to visit for treatment?

It would really be nice if you could just wish a dental problem away, or it would just mysteriously disappear on its own. Unfortunately, that’s not how things work. Over time, neglected dental health issues only get worse. So even if it seems that a toothache has subsided, it’s of the utmost importance that you still seek treatment. Otherwise, the symptoms can be worse when they reappear.

How much does emergency dental care cost?

It’s impossible to place a set price on emergency dental care because the treatment protocols can vary so. The best way to get an accurate idea of what the cost will be is to allow us to assess the situation. From there, we can determine what you’ll need to fully recover, and provide you with a competitive and fair cost estimate.

Will my dental insurance cover treatment?

One of the primary reasons for maintaining dental insurance is to have the peace-of-mind of knowing that if a dental emergency strikes, you have some means to get the expert help you need. The amount of coverage available can vacillate from 50-70% of the cost of your care, after your deductible is met. When you visit our office, one of our front desk team members will gladly file the claim for you and work with you directly step-by-step to ensure you’re able to maximize your coverage and have one less detail to worry about.

At New Smile Dental: Gilberto Lopez, DDS, we want to see you once again leading a normal life. So if you’re faced with a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to contact our office.