Emergency Dentist – Sterling Heights, MI
Timely Care When You Need It Most
You will likely experience a dental emergency when it is most inconvenient. But when it happens, you want the assurance of knowing you have a dental team ready to assist in your time of need. At Forever Young Dentistry of Sterling Heights, we are here to provide same-day appointments should you suffer a dental injury. Call our dental office right away and let our trusted emergency dentist in Sterling Heights, MI work to eliminate your pain and improve your smile as soon as possible .
Why Choose Forever Young Dentistry of Sterling Heights for Emergency Dentistry?
- Digital X-Rays for Enhanced Imaging
- Same-Day Appointments Available
- Sedation Dentistry for Greater Patient Comfort
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Dr. Young understands the concern that comes with a dental injury, which is why he is equipped to treat many of the most common emergencies. Instead of rushing to the ER for help, here are a few ways you can handle your situation at home until we can see you.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Numerous patients require urgent dental care each year. Although some emergencies are unpredictable or unavoidable accidents, many of them can be prevented. According to the American Dental Association, most patients who seek urgent dental treatments struggle with tooth decay that could have been avoided with early prevention! Whether it’s for a minor toothache to a completely knocked-out tooth, you can take certain measures to significantly lower your risks daily. Keep reading to learn five essential ways to prevent dental emergencies in Sterling Heights.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
In many cases, a dental emergency can be developing in your smile and you may not even notice it. For instance, conditions like cracks, cavities, and infections can often grow and worsen without any visible signs. By the time they advance, you may already be experiencing an urgent situation. For this reason, you must schedule regular visits with our team for checkups and cleanings every six months. We can monitor your oral health and address any underlying issues we may detect in your smile. This way you can avoid more serious concerns from starting altogether.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
Other than visiting your dentist, practicing solid oral hygiene is one of the best ways to preserve a healthy smile. Without cleaning your pearly whites regularly, you can end up allowing bacteria, plaque, and tartar to accumulate on your teeth and gums. If left unchecked, these harmful particles can wear down your enamel, making your smile more susceptible to infection and future damage. To avoid this situation, be sure to brush twice a day for two minutes, floss after every meal, and rinse with mouthwash frequently.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
Everyone knows that overindulging in sugary foods can be detrimental to oral health. However, these aren’t the only kinds of treats that can harm your smile. Consuming hard snacks, sticky sweets, and acidic drinks too frequently can drastically increase your risk of dental emergencies, including cracked teeth and dental abscesses. A great way to prevent this is to choose safer and more nutrient-dense meals that are high in calcium, fiber, and vitamin C to keep your teeth strong and healthy.
Wear a Mouthguard
Although your tooth enamel is the hardest material in your body, it doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. Prolonged exposure to pressure or even sudden impact can cause damage to it. If you typically place contact sports where there’s a chance of taking a blow to the mouth, then you might think of investing in custom-made mouthguards to protect your smile. Likewise, you should consider nightguards for bruxism if you tend to grind your teeth while sleeping. Consult your dentist if you’re interested, and they’ll be happy to help recommend the best products for your specific dental needs.
Use Tools, Not Your Teeth, to Open Packages
Have you ever tried opening a box or bottle cap with your teeth because it was convenient? While this might not seem like a big deal, one wrong move or bite can land you a visit to your emergency dentist. This can end up costing you more time and money in the long run, especially if you require restorative treatment. To keep your pearly whites safe and pain-free, make sure not to use them for anything other than eating your meals. Keep the appropriate tools handy to avoid any dental risks.
Wisdom Tooth Extractions
If you’re experiencing pain toward the back of your mouth, it may be that your wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are attempting to push through. Because of the lack of space that most patients possess inside their mouths, these teeth often remain impacted and require removal. With wisdom tooth extractions, we can eliminate the pain, create more space, and put your smile on a healthier path.
Root Canals
When the pulp of your tooth becomes inflamed and infected, the only viable solution is to perform a root canal. Commonly caused by poor oral hygiene or facial trauma, the innermost layer of your tooth consists of various nerves and blood vessels that can often trigger pain when damaged. By removing the infected pulp, Dr. Young can eradicate your discomfort, place a customized dental crown, and save your tooth from extraction.
Learn More About Root Canal Treatment
Tooth Extractions
Most dentists want to help patients keep their natural teeth as long as possible. However, if Dr. Young cannot treat your decay or damage any other way, tooth extraction may be the only possible solution. Using local anesthesia and sedation dentistry, if necessary, we can easily remove the tooth safely while ensuring that you remain completely comfortable throughout the entire procedure. Afterward, we’ll discuss ways to replace your tooth and complete your smile.
Learn More About Tooth Removal
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
Many patients typically hesitate to visit their dentist due to the assumption that their treatments will be expensive. However, the last thing you want is to have an urgent situation that may require you to seek out emergency dental care. Our team understands the importance of being able to afford the necessary procedures to preserve your oral health. That’s why we’ll be more than happy to review your dental insurance policy, check alternative financing options, and provide tips on how maintaining your pearly whites can save you money in the long run. Read on to learn more about the cost of emergency dentistry in Sterling Heights.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
Since no two patients are the same, the only way to determine how much an emergency dental visit will cost is to undergo an examination with our team. This also means that you won’t expect a set price for treating dental emergencies, as every situation is different. For instance, treating a mildly damaged or compromised tooth with dental bonding will usually cost significantly less than providing root canal therapy and a dental crown to address a severe toothache. Once our team has been able to assess your emergency, we can determine the proper method to approach the issue as well as provide a more precise estimate of the overall cost of your treatment.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Although every dental insurance plan varies from person to person, most providers will offer coverage for some or even all of the cost of at least one emergency dental visit every year. The more common treatments used to address dental emergencies also generally receive a portion of coverage, typically around 50-80% based on the details of your policy. For this reason, you’ll want to speak with your insurance company to learn more about the specifics of your plan. You can also consult our front desk staff who will be more than happy to help you navigate your policy and make the most of your benefits.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Don’t currently have dental insurance? At Forever Young Dentistry of Sterling Heights, we don’t want you to worry about the overall cost of dental emergencies, especially during an urgent situation. For this reason, we are happy to offer multiple financing options, including an in-house membership plan that can provide discounts on various services, including emergency dentistry. We also work through CareCredit which can help break up the price of your dental treatments into more manageable monthly installments. On top of that, many of their plans also come with little to no interest! This means you’ll be able to address dental emergencies without having to worry about breaking the bank to restore your smile.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
One of the best ways to minimize the cost of emergency dentistry is to simply treat oral health issues as soon as possible. Instead of waiting to see if any dental concerns become bigger problems, you’ll want to take a proactive approach to preserve your pearly whites. The longer you wait to address an issue in your smile, the more extensive and costly the necessary procedure may be to fix it. You should also practice proper preventive measures to avoid needing emergency dental care, such as implementing good oral hygiene and visiting our team for routine checkups and cleanings. Not only will these methods maintain a strong and healthy smile, but they’ll also help you save money in the future!
Dental Emergency FAQs
Dental emergencies are stressful and can happen when you least expect them to. Fortunately, being well-informed and knowing how to properly navigate the situation will help you remain calm. At Forever Young Dentistry of Sterling Heights, we’ve decided to answer some frequently asked questions below to help you out. Should you not find the answers you’re looking for, feel free to contact our office for personal assistance.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
Believe it or not, most dental emergency rooms are unable to effectively treat dental emergencies. That’s mainly because they usually don’t have a licensed dental professional on staff. In virtually all circumstances, you should make an appointment with your emergency dentist in Sterling Heights. However, you’re better off heading straight to your nearest ER if you’re experiencing life-threatening injuries (i.e., jaw fracture, serious cuts or lacerations to the face or mouth, an abscess or infection that’s swollen to the point of affecting breathing or swallowing).
Do I Need to Visit for Minor Chips in Teeth?
Your teeth do not heal on their own when they become damaged. If your tooth is chipped, fractured, or broken, you’ll need to seek treatment right away to prevent your condition from worsening. Your dentist in Sterling Heights will recommend a treatment option depending on the severity of the break. A damaged tooth with a jagged or sharp edge can accidentally cut your soft oral tissues, which is why it’s best to make an emergency appointment as soon as you can.
Should Knocked-Out Teeth Be Placed in Water?
If you knocked out your tooth, do not store it in water! It can damage the root surface cells and lower the chances of it being able to be placed back into the socket. You can only use water to gently rinse a tooth. The best thing you can do in this situation is place the tooth back into your open socket or in milk for up to one hour to keep it moist.
What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?
It’s always a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected, which is why you should carry an emergency dentistry kit with you at all times that contains the following essentials:
- Small sealable container for teeth or restorations
- Sterile gloves, ideally nitrile
- Gauze pads and dressings
- Cotton balls
- Dental cement or another temporary filling material
- Denture adhesive
- Petroleum jelly
- Dental floss
- An ice pack
- Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen
- Your emergency dentist’s contact information