Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’ve started to feel tooth pain and you weren’t sure who to call for help? Perhaps you assumed the problem would go away on its own, only to find it getting worse as time passed? When you have an emergency dentist’s phone number saved in your phone, you’re never left second-guessing. If you don’t have an emergency dentist to turn to during the worst-case scenario, consider these five tips to keep in mind during your search.

Find a Practice Close By

The last thing you’ll want to do is have to drive a long distance to get your dental emergency handled. This is particularly true in case a tooth is knocked out or when a dental infection is present. Opt for a location that’s between 20 and 30 minutes either from your home or a place you often frequent (such as your child’s school.) The closer you are to help during a dental emergency, the less stressful the experience should be.

Consider Your Finances

It’s best to choose a practice that is able to take your dental insurance plan if you have one, but that doesn’t mean you automatically have to keep searching if they don’t. Most offices also allow for flexible financing, making expensive services easier to fit into a budget.

Confirm Their Hours

Not only do you want to make sure that you can get to the dental office throughout the week, but do so during hours that are more convenient. For example, offices that are open early (around 8:00 a.m.) and available to see patients five days a week should give you more confidence in the event a dental emergency appears.

Review Their Services

When a dentist is able to provide different types of restorative and emergency services, including tooth extractions and root canal therapy, it ensures you can keep more of your dental care under one roof with a team you can trust and get to know better. If they provide cosmetic dentistry as well as traditional restorative services, you can also work to restore a tooth’s functionality and esthetics at the same time, saving you an errand to another office.

See if Their Family-Friendly

If you have children of multiple ages and they are particularly active, the chances of them having a dental emergency are certainly higher. Dentists will see you for a dental emergency if you’re experiencing one regardless of age, but it’s better to visit one that is clearly willing to accommodate patients of all ages no matter what. This shows they are more than prepared to help your whole family address sudden dental problems, not just adults.

Whether you want to be better prepared or you’re looking for an emergency dentist due to a dental concern you already have, it’s never too late to schedule a visit! Feel free to set up an appointment with a dentist you’re considering in order to get an even better idea of their expertise.

About the Author

Dr. Kboudi welcomes patients of all ages to his practice, especially if you believe you’re experiencing a dental emergency. Open five days a week and prepared to accommodate same-day appointments, Beverly Hills Complete Dentistry is fully dedicated to getting you out of discomfort, confirming the cause of your emergency, and building a personalized treatment plan. To schedule an appointment, you can contact him through his website.