Emergency Dentist Albuquerque
We Provide Immediate Care When You Need It
While there may be different kinds of dental emergencies, they all usually have one symptom in common – pain. This factor alone is why we offer same-day emergency care as well as after-hours and weekend appointments. We never want our patients to remain in discomfort, so you can expect our Albuquerque emergency dentists to provide immediate care when you need it. Call our office to speak with a member of our team if you or a loved one is experiencing a dental emergency.
Why Choose Valer Dental & Braces for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day, After-Hours, & Weekend Dental Appointments
- Your Dental Insurance (+Medicaid/Medicare) is Welcome
- We Treat Patients of All Ages
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How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Call to schedule an appointment – You’ll want to start by first calling our office and letting us know the situation. While working to get you in for an appointment, we’ll also provide easy tips to manage any pain while at home.
- Receive a complete examination – Our team will help to get you out of pain quickly as well as take digital images and perform a visual examination.
- Compile findings – After all the necessary photos and notes are taken, we will create a treatment plan and go over it with you.
- Provide the care you need – We will begin to administer appropriate restorative treatment to address the injury and improve your oral health and smile.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
If you’re unsure whether the injury you’ve suffered constitutes a trip to the emergency dentist’s office, take a look at the common dental emergencies listed below. Even if you’re experiencing no pain but have chipped a tooth or lost a filling, don’t wait to call and schedule an appointment.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
For us, it’s important to pinpoint the root of the problem, assess the severity of the damage, and determine which restorative treatment is best. But don’t worry, as our team members will provide you with an estimate of the cost before providing the agreed upon care. We will also work with your insurance and go over other options to help you save on out-of-pocket expenses. If you want to learn more on the topic of price prior to your visit, then keep reading!
Why Every Dental Emergency is Different
In short, your dental emergency is unlikely to cost the same as another patient’s injury. For that reason, we will be unable to tell you how much treatment will cost until you come in for an appointment. Once you come to our office, one of our talented emergency dentists in Albuquerque will conduct a thorough examination of your mouth and share their recommendation on the best way to move forward. From there, we can share how much you can expect to pay, create your custom treatment plan, and get to work on restoring your healthy smile.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Sometimes, dental insurance companies do cover a portion of the cost! If you aren’t familiar with your benefits, then take a look at your plan to see if you have a complimentary emergency exam each year, if 50% or more of essential restorative care is covered, or if there are any other benefits that could help you save. If you need any help, you’re more than welcome to contact us too. Not only are we an in-network provider with most PPO dental insurance plans, but we also welcome Medicaid/Medicare.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, don’t worry – you can also save with the following financial solutions:
- Our Valer Value Plan – When you join, you get one emergency diagnostic visit as well as a significant discount on treatments completed at our office.
- Flexible Financing – With CareCredit, you can space out the cost of your emergency dental care into manageable monthly chunks (sometimes with no interest attached too!).
- Special Offers – Another way you can keep your out-of-pocket expenses to a minimum is by taking advantage of our periodic special offers!
Take Care of Your Smile, Save Money!
You know that preventive care can go a long way in preventing tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other common oral health problems, but that’s not all – it can also reduce your risk of sustaining a serious dental injury! That’s why our Albuquerque dental team emphasizes the importance of committing to a solid oral hygiene regimen, keeping added sugar to a minimum, and breaking bad habits, like smoking. It’s also of the utmost importance that you visit us twice a year for a dental checkup and teeth cleaning (or sooner if you start to experience abnormal symptoms, such as pain when biting down).
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Sadly, it’s impossible to prevent all dental emergencies. Before you let that discourage you, it’s important to note that there are a few things you can do to minimize your risk of experiencing a crack in your enamel, a painful toothache, or bleeding gums. With this in mind, keep reading to learn a few of our recommendations on how to protect your smile from harm!
Give Up Unhealthy Habits
Although they might not seem like a big deal, habits like biting your fingernails, eating ice, and using tobacco products can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. For the same reason, we don’t recommend using your teeth as tools – whether it’s to open a package or hold your keys when your hands are full. In short, giving up unhealthy habits can go a long way when it comes to preventing dental damage, so make it a priority!
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
In addition to wearing a mouthguard when playing contact sports, you should wear a mouthguard during solo activities, like riding your bike, lifting weights, and running. That way, your teeth are protected from the pressure of grinding/clenching as well as from impact if you accidentally fall. If you don’t have a mouthguard (or the one you have is a one-size-fits-all one from a sporting goods store), get in touch with us so we can have a custom one made for you.
Keep Added Sugar to a Minimum
Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay, which is why it’s important to keep foods and drinks with this sweetener to a minimum. Instead, focus on filling your diet with lean proteins, leafy greens, and fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help keep you satiated while also ensuring your body has the nutrients it needs to keep your gums healthy and your enamel strong.
Get a Dental Checkup and Cleaning Biannually
There’s a common misconception that you only need to visit your dentist when you’re in pain. In reality, you should get a dental checkup and teeth cleaning twice a year so any problems are detected (and treated) in the early stages, preventing persistent sensitivity and pain in the process. So, if you’re overdue for your six-month visit, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Albuquerque dental team today!
Practice Good Oral Hygiene at Home
Finally, make sure that you practice good oral hygiene at home, including brushing and flossing twice a day. That way, food particles, plaque, and other debris aren’t left alone to sit on your teeth and gums for hours on end, increasing your risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease in the process. If you need recommendations on which products to use or a refresher on proper technique, you can always reach out to us too!
Dental Emergency FAQs
Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?
Usually, no – an ER shouldn’t be your first choice for help with a dental emergency. It’s almost always best to see your dentist for a same-day visit instead.
You see, most emergency rooms can’t treat dental emergencies well. They don’t often have dentists on staff who can address severe oral issues. At best, an ER will only numb your pain and prescribe an antibiotic; it won’t treat the underlying source of your oral troubles.
Still, there are three exceptions where an ER visit can be a better option. You may need to visit an emergency room first if you have:
- Jaw fractures and dislocations
- Cuts or lacerations to the face or mouth
- A swollen abscess or infection that affects breathing or swallowing
My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?
Whether your chipped tooth hurts or not, you should still have your dentist check it. You won’t know if the injury site is exposed until you get an oral exam. So, you’d do well to book a dental appointment as soon as possible.
With that said, you have leeway with when to visit. You can afford to wait a day (or two) if your schedule is rather full. Just make sure to schedule the appointment and put it on your calendar. Unless it gets professional care, your chipped tooth could break even further.
What does throbbing tooth pain mean?
If you face a persistent and throbbing toothache, you likely have an infected tooth. That means you should see us for dental care at once.
A tooth infection can quickly cause aches when its bacteria reach the inner pulp. By that point, your tooth’s innards will be irritated and send throbbing pain signals to your brain. You’ll need to see your dentist for care to avoid further discomfort and oral issues (tooth loss, etc.).
Of course, not all throbbing tooth pain stems from infections. Your ache could also come from mild decay or chronic teeth grinding. However, a same-day trip to your dentist is still ideal; it’d rule out the more serious causes.
Can I fix dentures that are broken in half?
When dentures break in half, you can’t simply fix it yourself. Only a skilled prosthodontist has the training and experience to make the repairs.
For starters, most dentures that break in half must be replaced. They can’t be salvaged by trying to fit the broken pieces together. So, you’ll need a prosthodontist to approve the replacement and request a new denture from a dental lab.
Furthermore, DIY denture repair is risky to your oral health. It’s very unlikely to work and can lead to various mouth injuries. For your dentures to work again, a prosthodontist must make the relevant adjustments.