Emergency Dentist — Gorham, ME
Dental Pain? Broken Tooth? We’re Here to Help
Emergencies of many kinds happen to everyone, and dental emergencies are not an exception. With any emergency, you can become stressed and worried. Our staff at Morgan-Hill Dental Care want to help you with your dental emergencies and quickly relieve the stress. Call our dental office as soon as possible so we can help you get the needed treatment.
Why Choose Morgan-Hill Dental Care for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments for Patients in Pain
- Team of Skilled & Compassionate Dentists with Years of Experience
- A Variety of Options for Making Emergency Dental Care Affordable
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies are typically sudden and overwhelming, but we encourage you to keep calm! Keeping your cool can help you act quickly and correctly to alleviate pain and keep the issue from getting worse. Should you or a loved one experience dental pain, a broken tooth, or any other worrisome symptoms in your smile, here’s what you should do:
- Step 1: Call us right away. Please call us as soon as you can so we can help. Our team will give you first-aid instructions for handling your situation and schedule you an emergency appointment for as soon as possible, often within the same day.
- Step 2: Get an emergency exam from one of our dentists. As soon as you arrive, one of our highly experienced dentists will see you for an exam. They’ll work quickly to evaluate your emergency and ease any severe pain you may be feeling.
- Step 3: Go over the findings and make a treatment plan. Your Gorham emergency dentist will review their findings with you and fully explain the treatment options they recommend, including the estimated length and price. Together, you’ll make a treatment plan to get your oral health back on track.
- Step 4: Get the professional dental care you need: Once a treatment plan is made, our team will get to work right away. Whether you need a filling, crown, root canal, or something else entirely, your health and comfort will be our top priorities while we repair your smile.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Unsure if your situation warrants emergency dental care? Give us a call! For dental and oral health issues, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you put off getting the care you need because you’re unsure of how serious your issue is, you run the risk of allowing the problem to become significantly worse. If you have a broken tooth, dental pain, or any type of worrisome dental symptom, give our knowledgeable team a call so we can guide you through the steps you should take next. Below, you’ll find some of the most common dental emergencies we treat here at Morgan-Hill Dental Care.
Unparalleled Experience & Qualifications
At Morgan-Hill Dental Care, we’re dedicated to seeing emergency cases FAST, not in days or weeks. In fact, patients of record are welcome to contact us after-hours and on the weekends through the doctors’ personal phone numbers. With well over 50 years of collective experience between our three dentists and our state-of-the-art technology (including CEREC® same-day restorations, all-digital X-rays, and more), patients will be in the very best of hands here in Gorham.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
From painful toothaches and knocked-out teeth to a dislodged filling, dental emergencies can be anxiety-inducing to handle. However, what often preoccupies patients the most is the cost. After all, the last thing you want is to be stuck with an exorbitant bill, especially if you are on a fixed budget. Don’t worry – our team is here to help you navigate the financial aspect of your care so it’s as stress-free as possible. To learn more, read on!
Remember, Every Dental Emergency is Different
Sudden tooth sensitivity, a serious cut to your gums, a deeply cracked tooth… these are just a few of the many dental injuries one can experience. Since there is no one-size-fits-all treatment, there is no one-size-fits-all price. While the first priority of our emergency dentist in Gorham is to relieve any discomfort you’re feeling, our team will provide you with a price estimate and discuss your financial options beforehand.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Are you currently insured? Then you’ll be happy to hear that you may have available benefits that make emergency dental care more affordable! The best way to find out is to double-check your dental insurance paperwork. Don’t worry – since you likely won’t have time to do that amid a dental emergency, our team can help. We would be happy to file a claim after learning what restorative treatments are needed.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
If you’re uninsured, you may be worried about the cost of your care. Fortunately, dental insurance isn’t the only way to lower your out-of-pocket expenses. Our team is proud to offer several solutions. In addition to offering pre-payment discounts, we happily accept CareCredit. This trusted third-party financier allows you to space-out your payments over the span of several months. With little-to-no interest attached, it’s easy to see how this option can take the stress off your wallet. Lastly, we offer DenVantage. With one flat annual fee, your routine dental care is 100% covered and you’ll enjoy discounts on other essential services. The best part? There are no claims, deductibles, or maximums!
Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
It’s true: dental injuries are not entirely preventable. There are, however, several best practices you can implement to significantly reduce your risk of experiencing one. Things like brushing your teeth twice a day, visiting your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning, and avoiding unhealthy habits, like smoking, can go a long way in keeping your oral health in pristine condition. Remember, the moment something feels amiss – from slight pain to unusual swelling – get in touch with our team. Addressing the root of the problem in the early stages can save you both time and money down the line.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Unfortunately, accidents happen and not every broken, painful, or knocked-out tooth can be avoided. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of a dental emergency! Our goal here at Morgan-Hill Dental Care is to help you keep your smile happy, healthy, and intact for a lifetime. That’s why we encourage everyone to use these simple yet effective tips to prevent dental emergencies in Gorham. Of course, if you do find yourself in a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to call us right away for the urgent dental care you need!
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home
Simple healthy habits like brushing and flossing every day can go a long way when it comes to preventing dental emergencies. Practicing great oral hygiene at home plays a key role in fending off nearly every oral health issue and keeping your teeth strong. If you don’t brush or floss every day, harmful oral bacteria can accumulate and cause painful infections and permanent damage. Thankfully, you can easily keep this from happening simply by caring for your smile daily.
Be Careful with Your Diet
If you want to avoid an unexpected trip to your local Gorham emergency dental office, you should keep an eye out for foods that can potentially harm your teeth or gums. Certain foods can put you at a higher risk of a dental emergency, including:
- Hard, crunchy foods: Eating too many hard foods can wear down your enamel and chip or crack your teeth.
- Sticky snacks: Sticky foods won’t just leave sugar in hard to clean areas of your mouth, but they can tug on dental crowns and fillings and eventually dislodge them.
- Energy and sports drinks: These popular beverages are very acidic and can cause severe enamel erosion over a short period of time.
There are plenty of smile-friendly snacks that can boost your oral health as well! Raw fruits and veggies can brush away plaque, dairy products can help strengthen teeth, and foods with vitamin C promote healthy gum tissue.
Protect Your Pearly Whites
If you play sports or grind your teeth in your sleep, it’s essential that you protect your smile from damage. A custom-made sports mouthguard or nightguard for bruxism can help you avoid rushing to your Gorham emergency dentist with a broken or knocked out tooth. While there are plenty of mouthguards available for purchase at your local pharmacy or grocery store, these items won’t provide adequate support and will wear down quickly. Not only will a custom appliance from your dentist work better, but they’re typically more comfortable as well!
Don’t Use Your Teeth As Tools
Are you ever tempted to use your teeth on a bag, bottle, or package that you’re excited to open? While it may seem convenient at the time, you could find yourself with a broken tooth in the blink of an eye. You should only use your teeth to rip and tear food—anything else exerts too much pressure on your enamel. Save yourself an unexpected trip to your Gorham dentist by always using the proper tools for the job!
Dental Emergency FAQs
Thousands of questions can flood your mind when handling a dental emergency in Gorham. Should I go to my dentist’s office or the ER? What is causing my tooth pain? What should I do next? Don’t worry – our team has taken the time to answer some of the most asked questions about urgent dental care. If your question isn’t on this list, then don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team would be more than happy to assist you!
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
Remember, toothaches typically do not go away on their own. In fact, a once painful tooth that has gone radio silent could be a sign that the infection has killed the nerve. So, scheduling an appointment with our emergency dentist in Gorham should always be the first priority! With that being said, there are a few ways you can manage your tooth pain in the meantime. First, keep your head elevated by propping yourself up on a few pillows. This will prevent blood from rushing to your head as you sleep. Second, avoid acidic, cold, and hard foods at dinner. Lastly, use a cold compress and take an OTC pain reliever before bed.
Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?
There are a few scenarios in which visiting an emergency room is best. For example, if you are struggling with potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding, a fractured jaw, or difficulty breathing. When making the decision of where to turn for help, it’s important to remember that most hospitals don’t have a dentist on staff. Therefore, they’ll only be able to help you manage your pain until the root of the problem is addressed. That’s why it’s best to contact our emergency dentist in Gorham for all other injuries, like a chipped tooth, abscess, dislodged dental crown, etc.
Is my tooth pain from an infection?
It’s possible! When an infection is left alone to develop, it can result in a sore or throbbing discomfort. Most often, these symptoms will be in conjunction with others, like persistent bad breath, tooth sensitivity, and swollen gums. Regardless, the priority should always be to call your dentist’s office. After explaining your concerns over the phone, they will be able to determine the urgency of the situation and schedule an appointment for you to visit the dentist.
What is causing my jaw pain?
Jaw pain is often the result of chronic teeth grinding and clenching. However, it could also be the result of a previous injury, arthritis, or TMJ disorder. Again, the best way to find out for sure is by visiting your dentist. In addition to assessing the root of the problem, they can create a custom treatment plan. That way, your discomfort can be alleviated, restoring your quality of life.