Emergency Dentist — Burien, WA
Fast Pain Relief for Hurting Smiles
Dental emergencies always happen at the most unexpected and stressful moments. You can trust that our team at Seahurst Park Dentistry of Burien will be there for you to treat an urgent issue and help you feel more comfortable. As soon as you find yourself dealing with a dental emergency, contact us immediately for emergency dentistry in Burien, WA. We’ll book an appointment for you as soon as possible and provide you with over-the-phone first-aid guidance to make sure that your smile doesn’t sustain any additional damage. Don’t hesitate to give us a call right away to get the emergency dental care you need!
Why Choose Seahurst Park Dentistry of Burien for Emergency Dental Care?
- Experienced Dentist Focused on Your Health & Wellbeing
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Dental Sedation Available for Maximum Comfort
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
It’s easy to get overwhelmed in a dental emergency, but do your best to stay calm! Should you damage a tooth or experience severe tooth pain, here’s what you should do:
- Step 1: Call us as soon as you can. Your first step should be to give our office a call right away. We’ll help you evaluate your situation and schedule a same-day emergency appointment as needed. We’ll also give you first-aid instructions for managing your situation until you reach our office.
- Step 2: Get an emergency exam from Dr. David Thomas. As soon as you arrive, your Burien emergency dentist Dr. Thomas will see you for a quick but thorough evaluation. He’ll examine the extent and source of your emergency while relieving any serious pain you may be in.
- Step 3: Review your treatment options and make a plan. After your emergency exam, Dr. Thomas will review his findings with you and fully explain all the treatment options he recommends. Together, you’ll make a treatment plan for getting your oral health back on track in a way that works best for you.
- Step 4: Get the fast, professional dental care you need. Our experienced team offers a wide range of emergency dental services right here in-house, so we’ll get to work repairing your smile and protecting your teeth right away. If you’re feeling very anxious or are in a lot of pain, we offer sedation dentistry to help make treatment as comfortable and relaxing as possible.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Whether you chipped a tooth, have a severe toothache, or knocked out one of your permanent teeth, the first step you should always take is call our dental office so we can fit you into our schedule. In many emergency cases, acting fast is crucial, which is why we'll do everything we can to make sure that we see you the same day. We’ll give you information on how to handle your specific situation over the phone, but we’ve also compiled some helpful information on handing the most common dental emergencies below as well.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Unfortunately, cost concerns are a major reason why some people don’t get help and treat a dental emergency right away. However, waiting to address the problem can only make the situation worse, meaning that you could end up paying more than you otherwise would have if you’d come in earlier. The sooner we are able to treat you, the lower your cost is likely to be. We’ll do everything we can to use the most conservative, and affordable, treatment possible so that you don’t pay any more than necessary.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
Not every emergency can be addressed using the same treatment. For instance, while one toothache may be mild enough to be fixed with a simple filling, another more severe case may require a dental crown. Each case is unique, which means we won’t know the cost of your treatment until we see you in person. After we’ve had a chance to examine your mouth and diagnose the underlying problem, we’ll discuss your treatment options with you as well as the cost associated with each option.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
In some cases, yes! Coverage depends on what your policy includes, but most dental insurance cover, in part, the cost of certain treatments like root canal therapy and treatments like dental crowns. We are happy to file insurance claims on our patients’ behalf and will gladly answer any questions that you may have before we begin your emergency treatment. If you have more specific questions about your plan, it’s best to directly contact your insurance provider for more details.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Dentistry doesn’t have to be an expensive, stressful ordeal. If the idea of paying for dental treatment upfront feels overwhelming, you don’t have to worry! We always try to accommodate our patients and help them feel comfortable, which is why we’re also happy to discuss payment plans with you for emergency treatment. In fact, you may qualify for financing at 0 percent interest, allowing you to make smaller monthly payments that more easily fit your budget and ease your stress.
Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
What’s the most cost-efficient way to deal with a dental emergency? Prevent it from happening in the first place through the proper care and maintenance. While some situations are unavoidable, many can be avoided, saving you the trouble, pain, and expense of emergency treatment. Simple, daily oral hygiene goes a long way to keep plaque building up and causing cavities, and wearing a mouthguard while you play sports can protect your teeth from impacts to the face. Also, coming to our Burien office for checkups and cleanings is essential for catching problems while they are small and less expensive to resolve. These little steps don’t take much effort, but they could help your smile stay healthy and beautiful without putting a strain on your wallet.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Although it’s impossible to completely prevent all dental emergencies, there are some precautionary steps you can take to minimize your risk of experiencing one. Most of these steps are simple, such as drinking more water, while others may require more effort, such as breaking bad habits like smoking and nail-biting. However, you’ll find that the little work you put in to avoid dental emergencies is well worth it in the long run!
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
There’s a reason why the American Dental Association and our team at Seahurst Park Dentistry strongly recommend coming to our office at least every six months for checkups and cleanings. These regular appointments give us the chance to catch little issues like tooth decay or minor damage long before they progress into big problems and before they cause you pain. Plus, by removing hardened plaque, we can stop future trouble from starting in the first place.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
If you want to avoid oral pain, a good place to start is with your at-home hygiene routine. You need to brush twice and floss at least once every day to clear out damaging plaque from your teeth. These habits may seem small, but they go a long way to prevent toothaches from decay, which is one of the most common dental emergencies. We would be happy to teach you proper technique so that your brushing and flossing can be more efficient and effective.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
As you bite and chew your food, the bacteria in your mouth also partake. Sugary, starchy, processed foods encourage growth in harmful bacteria that produce damaging acids. On the other hand, eating more nutrient-rich foods, like apples, celery, leafy greens, yogurt, and more, reinforces your body’s defenses against infection and creates a more hospitable environment for your smile. Drinking more water throughout the day, instead of sports drinks, juice, or soda, also helps neutralize these acids and wash away plaque.
Wear a Mouthguard
Some activities and sports involve more risk than others, especially contact sports like football and hockey. However, even non-contact sports like basketball or soccer could involve a hit to the face. As a result, you should wear a mouthguard, which absorbs the blow and protects your teeth from unnecessary damage. While you could use store-bought mouthguards, getting a custom mouthguard guarantees that it fits properly and stays in place.
Use Tools, Not Your Teeth
Some packaging or bottles can be tricky to open, and in the moment, it may seem like a good idea to use your teeth to bite down. But you must resist this urge! Instead, take the time to find the appropriate tool like scissors or a bottle opener to get the job done correctly. That way, you don’t put your teeth at risk of chipping or cracking.
Dental Emergency FAQ’s
Dr. Thomas and our team are ready to leap into action to serve you! But before you save our number in your phone as your go-to emergency dentist in Burien, it is understandable if you would like to know more about different dental problems and how you should approach them. That is why we have put together the following list of frequently asked questions, along with their answers. If you don’t see the information you were hoping for, contact us directly. We love answering our patients’ questions!
Will My Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
A toothache might go away on its own, but that doesn’t mean the problem is resolved. Remember that teeth are incapable of healing themselves. Therefore, if a toothache suddenly vanishes, it might indicate that the nerve inside the tooth has died. Later, after the infection or damage spreads, you may experience even more severe symptoms. It is always the wise course of action to seek treatment for a toothache, even if the pain has disappeared.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
In most cases, no. The staff in hospital emergency rooms generally do not have the training or equipment to effectively address dental emergencies. They may decline to treat you or simply give you some pain medication. Care from a dentist is necessary to get your oral health back on track. However, you should visit an emergency room first if you are facing a serious or life-threatening situation, such as significant facial lacerations or a broken jaw. If you have a fever along with a toothache, that also warrants a visit to the ER.
What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?
Having an emergency dentistry kit on-hand can help you to deal well with unexpected oral health problems. Your kit should include:
- A small container with a lid
- Sterile gloves
- Gauze pads and cotton balls
- Dental cement
- Denture adhesive
- Petroleum jelly
- Pain medication
- A topical anesthetic
- Floss
- An ice pack
- Your dentist’s phone number
My Chipped Tooth Doesn’t Hurt. Do I Still Need to Visit?
If it is only your tooth enamel that chipped, your oral health may not be in any immediate danger. However, it is still wise to visit a dentist. They will check to see whether the damage is superficial, or if you might need a root canal. They might also offer a service like dental bonding or a veneer to restore the tooth’s appearance, prevent further breakage, and protect the soft tissues in your mouth from its jagged edges.
Can I Fix Dentures that Are Broken in Half?
DIY denture repairs are never recommended. Attempting to fix your denture on your own could worsen the damage, and using items like superglue could harm your oral tissues. You should visit a trained dental professional, who will assess the damage and let you know if it is possible to repair your prosthetic or if you need a new one.
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