Emergency Dentist – Ocala, FL
When the Unexpected Happens, We’re Here for You!
Toothaches and dental injuries are not going to wait until it’s convenient for you. They’ll strike unannounced, often putting you through pain or causing physical issues that are too severe to ignore. Instead of calling the emergency room and waiting hours for treatment, call Dr. Weldon right away. As an emergency dentist in Ocala, he can see you on the same day as needed so that you can get the care you need without the wait.
Why Choose Weldon Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry of Ocala for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Appointments Available
- Dental Insurance-Friendly and Flexible Financing Options
- Highly Experienced Dentist and Team
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- We always encourage patients to call our office directly even if they aren’t sure they are having a dental emergency. As soon as you do, we’ll make sure to get you scheduled for a visit as soon as possible, ideally the same day. We’re ready to provide first-aid tips over the phone as well to help manage your issue.
- The moment you arrive at our office, we’ll ask you to check in at the front desk. Soon after, we’ll bring you to one of our operatories so Dr. Weldon can begin a dental exam. This process may involve the capture of digital X-rays, especially if the issue is not easily visible.
- Once we have a better understanding of your condition as well as the source of your discomfort, we’ll then recommend a treatment plan as well as go over the individual treatments we believe will get you out of pain and address your emergency directly. This could include dental fillings, root canal therapy, tooth extractions, or a different service if needed.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Once you get in touch with your emergency dental office in Ocala and set up an appointment, you can focus on giving yourself first aid and finding temporary relief. A dental emergency might refer to anything from a tooth infection to physical trauma, so it is important to know how to deal with different situations and treat yourself accordingly.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
The final cost of your emergency dentistry in Ocala will depend not just on what the issue is but also how severe it is. No matter what, we’ll focus on stopping your pain first, then work on reversing the damage. Once an estimate has been made, we can discuss how insurance and financing can help with the out-of-pocket costs.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
An emergency dental exam is relatively inexpensive, but the cost of treating various ailments can vary greatly. After our team examines your mouth, we will provide you with a customized estimate for your recommended services and help you understand your payment options. Some treatments that we often use as an emergency dentist in Ocala include:
- Root canal therapy to treat damaged and infected teeth
- Fillings to address mild to moderate tooth decay
- Extractions to remove teeth that cannot be preserved with restorative services
- Dental crowns to protect weakened or damaged teeth
- Dental bonding to repair chips and cracks
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Some dental emergencies are unavoidable, but most can be prevented by taking a few simple measures. For example, attending routine dental appointments twice a year gives us the opportunity to catch issues before they become severe and lead to the need for urgent treatment. Regular checkups are quite affordable, especially if you have insurance.
It is also important that you monitor your oral health and seek help at the first sign of a problem. For example, a little twinge in your tooth might indicate a cavity, which may be treatable with a small filling. A filling is relatively inexpensive. However, if you delay treatment and the cavity worsens, you may end up needing root canal therapy and a crown, which cost significantly more.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Many dental plans cover at least one emergency exam each year, and most policies provide 50 – 80% coverage of restorative services, up to the amount of the policy’s annual maximum. However, it’s important to remember that every plan is different. Our team will help you file all the necessary paperwork to make sure you can maximize your insurance benefits. You’ll pay for your treatment upfront, but your insurance may reimburse you later.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
In addition to helping you navigate the ins and outs of insurance, we are also pleased to accept payment from CareCredit. CareCredit is a third-party lender that offers low-interest and no-interest payment plans for dental services. Most patients qualify for this type of financing, and you may be able to choose from a variety of different plans, according to your monthly budget and personal preferences.
We want to help you end your pain and get your oral health back on track! Please don’t let financial concerns hold you back from seeking the treatment your smile needs. Our team is here to help you figure out a way to afford the high-quality care that we provide.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
If you want to prevent dental emergencies in Ocala, you’ll need to make sure you’re taking the appropriate steps to keep your teeth, gums, and facial structure in great condition. At Weldon Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry of Ocala, we want to help you avoid as many as possible because we understand how much panic these situations can cause. But by being proactive and taking the time to watch what you eat, maintain good oral health, safeguard your pearly whites, and break bad habits, you’ll enjoy a happier, healthier smile for the rest of your life.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Seeing your dentist every six months is one of the best ways to stay on top of any problems that may be trying to arise. Catching them early on is ideal because you’re less likely to need more extensive and complex dental treatment later down the road. Also, by choosing to see your dentist twice a year, you are making sure no abnormalities develop that could be closely associated with oral cancer. It’s important to remember that your dentist is your ally in the fight against tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. Not to mention, they work to keep both your oral and overall health in optimal condition.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
One of the best ways to avoid an emergency dental office in Ocala is to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes using fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once before bedtime, and rinse regularly to flush out any remaining debris. Good oral habits should always start as early as possible, but you must practice them regularly to ensure that your mouth stays healthy and free of any cavities or infections that could hinder your future smile.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
The foods you eat can dictate what happens inside your mouth. Too many sugars and starches can cause cavities and gum disease. However, swapping those out for fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, dairy, and lean proteins will help to strengthen tooth enamel and ensure better gum health over time. A healthy diet not only benefits your waistline, but it will prevent decay and potential infections that could ultimately result in a root canal or tooth extraction.
Wear a Mouthguard
If you enjoy playing sports, you’ll want to invest in a customized mouthguard. If you are stressed and discover your teeth appear worn down, you’re likely grinding or clenching your teeth at night. No matter if it’s stress or sports, a custom-made mouthguard can be a beneficial investment. Not only is it capable of preventing chipped, broken, or knocked-out teeth during a game, but it’s also helpful should your teeth grind against each other while you’re sleeping.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
It’s far too easy and convenient to just open a bag with your teeth instead of going on the hunt for scissors. Unfortunately, the easy way out in this scenario can have bad consequences for your smile. Your tooth enamel is hard, but it’s not impenetrable. By using your teeth as tools, you run the risk of breaking a tooth, cutting your gums, or causing serious harm to your oral and facial structure. Instead of relying on your limited tooth enamel to do the job, take the time to find the right tool.
Dental Emergency FAQs
What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?
Throbbing tooth pain is likely a sign of a tooth infection or inflammation within your tooth. Cavities or cracks inside the tooth can allow air and bacteria to reach the sensitive, inner area of your tooth where its pulp lies, resulting in irritation and infection of the pulp nerves.
This can cause a great deal of pain and can also occur if decay is present.
In other cases, throbbing tooth pain could be due to chronic teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?
Having a toothache can feel a lot worse at night, especially when it’s time to sleep. To make your rest as comfortable as possible, be sure to keep your head elevated. This prevents your blood from rushing to your head and intensifying the toothache.
Additionally, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever as needed, and be sure to avoid foods that are acidic, sweet, cold, or hard, immediately before bed.
You can also try a cold compress on your face over the tooth that is in pain.
How Do I Know if My Toothache is an Infection?
If your tooth is experiencing throbbing pain, it is likely that you have a tooth infection. Other signs you may notice include a bitter taste in your mouth, persistent bad breath, tooth sensitivity, the loosening of your teeth, red or swollen gums, or a draining sore on your gums surrounding the aching tooth.
Ultimately, the only real way to properly diagnose a tooth infection is to see your dentist as soon as possible and have it X-rayed and examined in person.
Can I Pop a Dental Abscess on My Own?
Never, under any circumstances should you ever attempt to pop a dental abscess on your own. If one appears, please contact your dentist as soon as possible, as this is a serious infection and considered a dental emergency.
Popping an abscess will only expose the rest of your mouth to dangerous bacteria and irritate the infected area more.
Additionally, delaying treatment can allow the infection to spread throughout the mouth as well as the neck, throat, and head.
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