Emergency Dentist — Baltimore, MD

Every Dental Emergency is Different

There’s no flat fee for emergency dentistry because every mouth and situation is unique. Your emergency dentist in Baltimore will examine your mouth and may review diagnostic imaging to determine which treatment will best meet your needs. Although every case differs, common emergency treatments include:

• Dental Crowns
• Restoration Replacement
• Denture Repair
• Tooth Extractions
• TMJ Therapy

Your dentist will explain all your options to help you make an educated decision for your smile. You’ll know exactly what to expect on the road ahead.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Most dental insurance covers an emergency consultation and diagnostic services. You can use your coverage to offset the amount you’ll pay out-of-pocket for common restorative procedures. After meeting your annual deductible, your benefits can pay 50% to 80% of the cost of medically necessary treatments, like an extraction or dental crown. Your payment will be due at the time of service but, our team will submit the claim to your insurance company.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

We offer many solutions to keep emergency dentistry affordable, which include:

• Traditional Payments: Our office accepts all traditional payment methods, including cash, credit cards, and personal checks.
• Monthly Payments: As a benefit to our patients, Baltimore Dental Arts can occasionally offer short-term, interest-free payment plans. This option is reserved for patients who have treatment with multiple appointments extending over a short period of time and must be secured by a credit card on file, which will be billed monthly. If you would like to discuss this option further, please reach out to our team prior to your appointment.

Rest assured, you’ll know exactly how much you’ll have to pay before committing to anything.

Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Accidents can happen with no warning, like falling off a bike or slipping on a wet floor. However, many dental emergencies result from issues that could have been prevented, like untreated decay. Brushing and flossing aren’t enough to protect your smile from cavities and gum disease. The American Dental Association recommends seeing a dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup. Regular dental care allows your dentist to monitor your oral health to detect anything concerning while it’s still small. Research has found every $1 spent on prevention can save up to $50 on restorative services. Don’t delay any dental work to prevent a minor issue from turning into a big problem. You can also lessen your risk of dental emergencies by wearing an athletic mouthguard if you play sports. Don’t chew on inedible objects or use your teeth in place of scissors and other tools.

Visit Your Dentist Biannually

There’s a common misconception that you only need to visit the dentist once your teeth start hurting. In reality, you should visit us every six months so we can catch oral health issues before they cause you any pain! We dedicate a portion of each of these appointments to screening for warning signs of cavities, gum disease, and the like for that very reason. Plus, we can remove built-up plaque during the other half of your visit, helping keep your teeth and gums happy and healthy for years to come.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Of course, implementing a solid oral hygiene routine at home is important too. Let’s start with all of the tools you’ll need, like a soft-bristled toothbrush, toothpaste with fluoride, floss, and an antimicrobial mouthwash. Frequency is also important. To keep your smile decay and infection-free, you need to brush twice a day (for two full minutes each time) as well as floss and rinse with mouthwash daily. If you need a refresher on proper technique, don’t hesitate to ask our Baltimore dental team – we can help!

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

In short, what you eat impacts your oral health. That’s why it’s important to keep your consumption of sugary foods and beverages to a minimum; sugar is one of the leading culprits of tooth decay! Additionally, you should focus on adding smile-friendly foods to your plate whenever you can. A few examples include apples, celery, and carrots. Not only are these loaded with essential vitamins, but their crunchy consistency can also help remove plaque from your teeth!

Wear a Mouthguard

All it takes is one bad fall for your teeth to get injured. For that reason, patients who participate in sports are expected to wear a mouthguard. We also recommend having a custom mouthguard made if you have Bruxism, which is when you chronically grind or clench your teeth. That way, we can help protect the look, health, and function of your smile throughout the years.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Simply put, you should never use your teeth to remove clothing tags, trim your nails, hold your keys, or open a tube of mascara. That’s because your teeth aren’t designed to withstand that kind of pressure, and you could introduce a number of bacteria to your mouth in the process. So, don’t use your teeth as tools, even if it seems convenient in the moment.

What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?

If you’re experiencing tooth pain that is throbbing or persists longer than a day, then this may be an indication of inflammation within the tooth or an infection. This is especially possible if there are cracks or cavities present, which can allow for air and harmful bacteria to enter the sensitive inner layer. If left unchecked, it can result in irritation and infection of the nerves within. Having a throbbing toothache can also be a sign of tooth decay or due to chronic teeth clenching and grinding. The best way to determine the root cause of your discomfort is to visit our team so that we can examine your mouth and provide the necessary treatment to fix the issue.

Will My Toothache Go Away On Its Own?

While it may be tempting to take a wait-and-see approach for your toothache, we highly suggest that you don’t hold off on getting treatment. Any discomfort in your teeth will not go away or heal by itself. The only way to eliminate any throbbing pain in your smile is to seek dental care as soon as possible. Since there can be several different reasons for a toothache, our team will need to assess your situation directly to find the exact cause of your discomfort. This can also help you avoid more serious underlying health issues from becoming worse.

Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?

You should only consider visiting your local emergency room first if you’re experiencing a life-threatening condition. These may include a broken or dislocated jaw, a serious laceration to the mouth or face, or an abscess/infection that’s causing difficulty in swallowing or breathing. The ER will typically be able to alleviate discomfort and provide you with antibiotics to address the more general issues. Other than these situations, it’s best to seek care from your emergency dentist instead so that they can preserve your smile.

How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?

It can be difficult to go to sleep at night when dealing with a stubborn toothache. If you aren’t able to see your dentist right away, then you’ll need to find ways to alleviate the uncomfortable sensations until your visit. Try keeping your head elevated while you rest, as this will help prevent blood from rushing to your head and causing throbbing pain in your teeth. You may also consider taking over-the-counter pain medications as directed and applying a cold compress to numb the area. Be sure to avoid hard, cold, or acidic meals before bedtime as these can potentially add to the intensity of the toothache.