Sudden, severe oral pain has the power to ruin your day. But, what should you do if a dental emergency becomes unbearable? Before you rush to the emergency room, speak with an emergency dentist if you can.
Serving Lombard, IL, and surrounding areas, Dr. Julie Glud handles dental emergencies at Dental Care of Lombard. After resolving your oral health dilemma, Dr. Glud can show you what to do to prevent it from happening again. So, call (630) 629-5700 as soon as you realize that your oral health is heading for disaster.
Generally speaking, it’s better to visit the emergency dentist than urgent care for dental emergencies, and here are three reasons why:
Only a Dentist can Practice Dentistry
Although this initial point may seem obvious, some may not realize that most states do not allow just any doctor to perform emergency dentistry. For example, dentists can only perform tooth extractions or any other restorative dental care.
Urgent care doctors can provide temporary relief by prescribing painkillers or antibiotics in the grimmest cases. However, this only alleviates symptoms temporarily. Eventually, you will still need to make a trip to the dentist’s office to address the problem appropriately.
ER Visits Are More Expensive than a Trip to the Emergency Dentist
Notoriously, emergency room visits are costly. This is because the total emergency room cost can be broken down into multiple fees, including:
- Triage fees
- Facility fees
- Professional fees
- Supply fees
In Illinois, the average cost of an emergency room visit without insurance costs $1,818—which is just shy of the U.S’s average cost of a whopping $2,200.
As a blanket statement, emergency dental visits are not more expensive than traditional dental appointments. However, additional treatments (for example, pulling a tooth and immediately replacing it with a dental implant) may add to the total cost of treatment.
Thankfully, health insurance providers must cover emergency dental care under the Affordable Care Act. Deductibles, co-pays, and annual maximums should remain consistent with standard care.
However, please speak to our friendly and understanding team about our DCL Smile Club. Our in-house dental plan gives those without insurance access to more affordable dental care.
Emergency Rooms are Crowded Right Now
Since the beginning of the pandemic, it’s no secret that emergency rooms are more crowded than ever, which usually translates to delayed treatment and sub-operational spaces. Unfortunately, crowded emergency rooms could cost you more than a pretty penny—it could cost you your life.
As ER wait times increase, so do mortality rates. According to one study, investigators discovered that wait times rose between 5 and 8 hours, and the death rate raised 8% higher than expected. Additionally, when the waiting time was between 8 to 12 hours, the death rate was 10% higher than expected.
Speak to an Emergency Dentist in Lombard, IL
Suppose you suffer from a possible broken jaw, an oral infection that causes a high fever, or other similar issues. In that case, it’s appropriate to visit the emergency room or call 911 immediately.
Conversely, dental emergencies are defined as:
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop
- A gum infection causing swelling and discomfort
- Pain from a broken filling, tooth loss, or other dental trauma
- Uncomfortable swelling in or around the mouth
In case of a dental emergency, type “emergency dentist near me” in your favorite search engine, and book an appointment for the next available appointment.
Book an emergency dental appointment in Lombard, IL, by calling (630) 629-5700 or contacting us online.
