Dental emergencies always seem to happen at the worst possible moment. When you find yourself in this stressful situation experiencing significant discomfort, it can be difficult to figure out what next steps to take. The best thing to do if you have a severe toothache, broken tooth, or another urgent dental issue is to contact an emergency dentist. Here are some of the things you should look out for when choosing one.
Location of Their Office
The closer the emergency dentist is to your home, the better. If you have an emergency, like a knocked-out tooth, you have a limited amount of time to save your tooth, so a shorter journey is ideal. Check the location of the dentist that you are considering to see if it’s a convenient place to get to in the case of an emergency.
Financial Options
Getting emergency dental care shouldn’t mean stressing over finances. If you have dental insurance, choose a dentist who accepts your plan. If they are in-network – even better! If you don’t currently have dental insurance, it can be beneficial to choose a dentist who offers other financial options to make the payment process go more smoothly. For instance, some dentists offer an in-house membership plan to help patients save on treatment completed at the practice. Another option is to choose a dentist who accepts payments through third-party financing companies, like CareCredit.
Hours Open
Having a dentist who is only open a few days a week won’t do you much good if you are dealing with an emergency. Dental emergencies also aren’t limited to typical business hours. Try to choose a dentist with evening and weekend hours. This way, you can get the care you need, when you need it!
Follow-Ups
After undergoing dental treatment, you will be sent home to recover. It’s beneficial to know how their follow-ups work. You want to know who you should call if there are any issues or you have questions. Be sure that your emergency dentist has a number you can call for advice, even if you aren’t able to get to the office right away.
By picking out an emergency dentist ahead of time, you can avoid a lot of stress and hassle later on. Consider the tips listed above so you will always be prepared in the case of an emergency!
About the Practice
At Valer Dental, we have a team of three skilled dentists serving patients in Albuquerque. With their combined expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need, including emergency services, at one of our two convenient locations. In addition to offering evening hours, we are open every Saturday. To learn more about emergency dentistry or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (505) 658-0922.