Emergency Dentist — Springfield, MO
Get Your Dental Emergency Treated Today!
When a dental emergency occurs, the very last thing you should do is put off treatment. After all, damaged teeth do not get better on their own, and neither do oral infections. At Galleria Dental of Springfield, our goal is to determine the exact cause of your dental issue, get you out of discomfort, and protect your natural teeth however possible. Dr. Eric Tolliver is an expert dentist performing everything from oral surgery to cosmetic dentistry. Don’t wait to give our dental office a call to get pain-relieving emergency dental care!
Why Choose Galleria Dental of Springfield for Emergency Dental Care?
- Relaxing Nitrous Oxide Sedation Available
- State-of-the-Art Oral Surgery Training
- We See Kids & Adults
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
- Give our dental office a call. The sooner you call, the better chance we have of providing you with the relief you deserve. Over the phone, we’ll share tips to help you manage your situation while you wait for your appointment.
- See Dr. Tolliver for an emergency exam. When you get to our dental office, Dr. Tolliver will perform an emergency oral exam and take X-rays if needed. He’ll identify the source of your problem and determine which treatment is needed to get your oral health back on track.
- Get the care you need. Our team will work quickly to create a custom treatment plan for prompt relief. Some common solutions for dental emergencies include dental fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, and extraction.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Whether your dental emergency is due to a bad toothache or a serious physical injury, the first thing you should do is get in touch with our dental office. Doing this allows us to help you manage your dental emergency more effectively and get you scheduled for an emergency dental appointment as soon as possible. With that said, there are certain steps you can take depending on the emergency you’re experiencing. Click on the icons below to learn more!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies come in many forms, which is precisely why it’s so important to get seen by our dental office if and when they occur. Failing to do so could mean the difference between losing your tooth and preventing future dental problems later. Determining the cost of emergency dentistry comes down to performing a detailed exam at our dental office. Here, we can confirm if treatment only requires something simple, like a filling, or more complex care, like root canal therapy. No matter which treatment is needed for your tooth, it’s always better to get the job done now rather than wait and let the issue get worse. Rest assured – we’ll work with you to create a manageable financing plan.
Every Dental Emergency Is Different
The specifics of dental emergencies can vary greatly from one patient to another. For that reason, it’s essentially impossible for us to give you a cost estimate unless you visit our dental office. On the bright side, an emergency dental exam is often relatively inexpensive – Dr. Tolliver will capture X-rays, examine your mouth, and go over his recommended treatment plan. Before we move forward, our team will make sure you fully understand what comes next for your smile, including pricing information.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Insurance providers understand that accidents happen, which is why most of them provide some level of coverage for emergency care. For example, many plans cover one emergency exam a year as needed. Also, services that are commonly performed to relieve hurting teeth, such as dental crowns or root canal therapy, are eligible for coverage at 50-80% in most cases.
If you’re not sure about some aspect of your dental insurance coverage, feel free to reach out to our team! We have years of experience maximizing patients’ benefits and would be happy to help you navigate the ins and outs of your plan.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
No dental insurance? No problem! At Galleria Dental, we’ve helped countless patients afford the care their smiles need through our partnership with CareCredit. If you qualify for one of their payment plans, you can split up your treatment costs into monthly chunks that are quite manageable. Plus, these plans usually have incredibly low – or even zero – interest rates!
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Sometimes, dental emergencies happen all of a sudden, like when you trip on the sidewalk and break a tooth on the concrete. Most of the time, though, emergencies actually occur because of untreated damage or infection. One easy way to minimize your risk (and overall dental care costs) is through regular checkups and cleanings. That way, Dr. Tolliver can catch these problems in their early stages and address them before they cause a painful emergency.
Another way to save money on dental care is to visit your dentist as soon as you can after becoming aware of an issue. Procrastinating on getting the treatment you need will likely make the problem worsen. Not only could this result in more pain, but you might end up requiring a more expensive procedure than you would have if you’d called us right away. In some cases, it could even cost you your tooth!
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Even though some dental emergencies are preventable by taking proper care of your smile, others are entirely unavoidable. For instance, an accidental injury can easily cost you a trip to your emergency dentist. Luckily, there are many steps you can take to reduce your chances of damaging your teeth and gums. To help you out, our team at Galleria Dental has compiled a list of ways you can keep your pearly whites safe from harm!
Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months
Can’t remember the last time you saw Dr. Tolliver for a routine checkup and cleaning? Give our dental office a call and schedule an appointment right away! Visiting our dental office every six months for preventive dental care is essential to keep your oral health in its absolute best condition. We’ll conduct an oral examination and professionally clean your teeth every time to ward off dental problems (i.e., cavities, decay, gum disease). By catching these problems early on, your chances of experiencing a dental emergency will be much lower.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene at Home
Aside from visiting our team every six months, you must follow a solid oral hygiene routine at home. Doing so will prevent harmful bacteria from accumulating in your mouth and accelerate enamel deterioration. Make sure you’re brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash every day. These simple practices can go a long way in reducing your risk of oral health issues, sparing you an emergency trip to Dr. Tolliver’s dental office.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
Believe it or not, your diet has a significant impact on oral health. The foods you eat can become nourishment for bacteria in your mouth, potentially contributing to problems like cavities, decay, and gum disease. Overconsumption of sugary, starchy, and acidic food can lead to an accumulation of harmful oral bacteria. For that reason, it’s best to cut out those items and make healthier dietary choices instead. By opting for more nutrient-rich foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy products, you can ensure your smile remains strong and healthy.
Wear a Mouthguard
If you regularly play sports or grind your teeth at night, ask our team at Galleria Dental about a custom-made oral device. An athletic mouthguard can shield your teeth and gums against any force or impact. Meanwhile, a nightguard can help you avoid accidentally damaging your enamel when your teeth are grinding against each other.
Use Tools, Not Teeth to Open Packaging
When you can’t open a bottle or package, you may be tempted to use your teeth as a last-ditch effort. However, doing so can easily result in a painful dental emergency. You may accidentally break, chip, or crack a tooth or restoration. Instead, leave your pearly whites alone and ask someone to lend you a helping hand or wait until you have the right tool.
Dental Emergency Frequently Asked Questions
Are you looking for an emergency dentist? If so, you can trust that your oral health will be in good hands with Dr. Eric Tolliver and the rest of our team at Galleria Dental of Springfield. We know you’re going to want immediate care when an emergency strikes, which is why we schedule appointments for emergency patients as soon as we possibly can. We also know that you might have a few questions about the specifics of handling dental emergencies. To help you out, we’ve compiled this list of frequently asked questions on the subject and answered them below.
Should I Go to the ER?
If you’re experiencing any of the following, get to the nearest emergency room instead of our dental office:
- Fractured or broken jaw
- Profuse bleeding from the mouth that doesn’t stop after applying pressure for 15-20 minutes
- Significant swelling around the mouth or neck that impairs breathing or swallowing
The above issues can be considered life-threatening and demand immediate medical attention. For all other dental emergencies, though, Dr. Tolliver is the person to see. This is because emergency room doctors are not qualified to perform specific dental procedures that target the root of your problem. Our team has years of experience and is able to treat the issue comfortably and quickly.
My Toothache Went Away on Its Own. Should I Still Keep My Appointment?
Yes, you absolutely should! While you might be relieved at first, your problems are far from over if your toothache was due to an infection. If this is the case, the infection may have “killed” the tooth, rendering its nerves incapable of relaying pain signals to the brain. Putting off treatment may then result in the infection spreading to your gums, adjacent teeth, or even other body parts. Even if your toothache subsides, you should still have your dentist examine your mouth to ensure everything is alright.
What If I Don’t Have Dental Insurance? Should I Still Get Help?
Definitely! We understand that having something bad happen to your smile can be terrifying, especially if you’re worried about how you’re going to pay for treatment. Fortunately, our team can help you apply for a low-to-no interest loan through CareCredit.
Remember that avoiding treatment for a dental emergency will usually cause your problem to worsen, requiring more expensive treatment later on. Save money in the long run by seeking help from our team right away.
What If I Have a Dental Emergency While I’m Out of Town?
Again, it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible rather than wait for your condition to get worse. Find a local dental professional who can get you out of pain and let you enjoy the rest of your trip. Then, give us a call. We can schedule a follow-up appointment with Dr. Tolliver for when you return home.
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