How Much Does Emergency Dentistry Cost?
The last thing you are worried about in a true emergency is the cost. When disaster strikes, you just want to find a solution and help those affected as quickly as possible. This is why the cost can sometimes seem so disparate from the actual event. The only thing the patient and the doctors care about is helping the patient and eliminating their pain. It is only afterward that the real cost becomes apparent. Obviously, every situation has a different number, but let’s look at some of the most common scenarios for Emergency Dental Cost.
It all depends on what services you require. In case of emergency, you may not have as much autonomy on the decision making process. But if these common services are required, this is the average cost.
Dental Emergency Tooth Extraction- If the tooth is severely damaged, or the damage is complicating problems elsewhere, the doctor may need to extract the entire tooth from the root. Not only is this process painful, but it can also run you between 1-4 hundred dollars per extracted tooth, especially if the root has broken the surface of the gum through trauma. If the extraction is such that it requires the patient to be anesthetized, this cost increases to 2-4x the initial charge.
Emergency Root Canal- When the root infection is making the patient sick, or any other complication as decided by an emergency dental professional, the patient may need an emergency root canal. The average cost for a non-emergency root canal is somewhere between 700-1200. Obviously dental/emergency insurance can offset these prices slightly, but patients should plan for that cost plus an additional cost from emergency labor services–especially if performed in an ER setting.
Emergency Cavity Filling- An emergency cavity filling is less common, but if it is causing the patient immense pain it may become an emergency. This cost will fall somewhere between 100-400 dollars per filling, depending on the composite and amalgam.
How can you Offset these costs?
1. Take care of problems before they become an emergency. See your dentist regularly for cleanings, practice meticulous hygiene, and make appointments early.
2. Call for service ay first signs of pain, bleeding, or infection. The earlier you go, the less likely you are in an emergency situation.
3. Call your insurance. Dental Insurance is vital for exactly these kind of services. Call your company and ask for coverage details and advice.
4. Payment plans. Dentists are people too. They understand that patients can often not pay entirely upfront. At the end of the day, they got in this business to help people. Money is nice too, but the office will work with you to ensure you feel comfortable and able to make payments over time.
What to do in case of emergency
If at any point you notice signs of infection, bleeding, or pain, contact your doctor. If you or a loved one are in an emergency situation, and immediate action is required, call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.