3 Tips for Handling Dental Emergencies Without Dental Insurance

If you don't have dental insurance, what would you do if you found yourself with a broken, painful, or knocked-out tooth? Thankfully, just because you don't have dental benefits doesn't mean you can't get the urgent care you need right away. Knowing what your options are ahead of time can help lower your costs and reduce stress if an emergency strikes. Here are three tips for handling dental emergencies if you don't have dental insurance.

Tip #1: Know What Counts As An Emergency

While any dental emergency needs to be addressed by a dentist right away, some situations are more urgent than others. For example, you should seek immediate attention from your dentist if you have a:

• Loose or knocked-out tooth
• Severely damaged tooth
• Intense toothache that's lasted more than a day
• Painful swelling in the mouth

Dental emergencies that are considered less urgent include:

• Lost fillings, crowns, or bridges
• Slightly cracked or chipped teeth
• Dull toothaches or tooth sensitivity
• Damaged retainers or dentures

However, you should go directly to your local emergency room if you experience:

• Dislocated or broken jaw
• Incessant bleeding that hasn't stopped in 10 minutes
• Swelling in the mouth that's making it difficult to swallow or breathe

Understanding just how serious your issue is can help you make the right choice for both your wallet and your health. If you're not sure how urgent your situation is, don't hesitate to contact your dentist for first-aid advice.

Tip #2: Familiarize Yourself with Your Dentist's Payment Options

Gathering as much information ahead of time as possible can take a significant amount of stress and chaos out of handling a dental emergency. First, you need to know where to go. If you don't see a dentist regularly, make sure you know which dental office you would go to for emergency care and what their services and emergency appointments are like. Have their address and phone number somewhere easy to access so you can contact them right away.

Then, whether you've chosen a familiar dentist or one you haven't visited before, take the time to learn more about their payment options. In most cases, dentists use CareCredit to help make treatments more affordable for their patients. This third party offers financing plans that can break down the cost of your emergency care into smaller payments that fit into your monthly budget. CareCredit is an excellent way to pay for dental services when you don't have dental insurance.

Tip #3: Don't Put Off the Care You Need

If you don't have dental insurance, you may be tempted to handle your dental emergency on your own. However, this can easily cost you far more in the long run! Since teeth can't heal themselves like the rest of the body, leaving serious oral health issues untreated will allow them to progress into far more serious, painful, damaging, and expensive problems. Generally, the sooner an issue is treated, the less expensive it will be. Remember, call your dentist right away if you have a dental emergency for recommendations on how to best handle your unique situation.

Of course, the best way to save money on dental emergencies is to prevent them from happening in the first place! Make sure you're practicing great oral hygiene habits, eating a nutritious diet, and not using your teeth to open packages or bottles.

Patients from Burbank, Pasadena, and Los Feliz rely on Dr. Ivan Chan at Glendale Dental Wellness for emergency dental care, flexible payment options, and same-day appointments when urgent treatment is needed.