There’s never a good time for a dental emergency. From damaging one of your pearly whites to losing it altogether, having to stop what you’re doing and go to your dentist’s office to receive urgent care can be stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. Though avoiding these situations is best, it’s wise to have a plan for what to do if the need for prompt treatment arises. Read on to learn about five factors that you should take into consideration when choosing an emergency dentist.
#1: Hours
A dental office that is only open a few days per week or one that has inconvenient hours isn’t the best choice for when you need to receive prompt treatment. Before you choose an emergency dentist, make sure that their hours fit your needs. An office that offers later hours during the week or that is open on the weekends is ideal.
#2: Location
As you can imagine, choosing an emergency dentist located on the other side of town is incredibly inconvenient. Choose a dentist’s office that’s nearby so you can get there quickly. Be sure to account for traffic, construction, road closures, and other issues in the area that may affect your drive time.
#3: Financial Options
If you have dental insurance, it’s wise to choose an emergency dentist who accepts it so you can cut down on treatment costs. Some dentists also offer in-house dental plans or financing so that you can make payments over a specified period instead of paying for the entire treatment upfront.
#4: Professional Organizations
Check to see if the emergency dentist you’re considering is part of any professional dental organization. Dentists who are part of the American Dental Association (ADA) are required to abide by a code of ethics and a code for professional conduct. Memberships like that are a good way to determine how much your dentist cares about what they do and whether they’re qualified to treat you with the best possible care.
#5: Follow-Ups
After undergoing an emergency dental treatment, you will likely need to come back in the future so your dentist can ensure that you’re healing as intended and that no new issues have arisen. This is why it’s important to ask how follow-up appointments work. You will also want to make sure that you have your emergency dentist’s phone number and that they have yours so that you can reach out to each other when necessary.
Though dental emergencies are stressful and can be frightening at times, choosing the right emergency dentist ahead of time will make things a lot easier. With the above factors in mind, you will be able to find the right dentist to treat you can help get your smile back on track!
About the Practice
If you ever experience a dental emergency and need help getting the situation under control, Dr. Sara Fallahi, Dr. Zach Kingsberg, and their exceptionally talented team of oral health professionals at La Prada Family Dentistry are here for you. They offer late hours during the week and are open for half the day on Fridays for your convenience. Before you know it, your smile will be as good as new! Call La Prada Family Dentistry’s office at (214) 473-5696 or visit their website for more information on their services or to schedule an appointment.