No one knows when a dental crisis will happen. You may fall and break a tooth. You may wake up early one morning with the worst pain you’ve ever felt in your mouth. But, in general, a dental emergency can take you by an unpleasant surprise.
Since these situations aren’t ones that happen on a schedule, nor are they ones you can deal with for long, you will need to find a dentist that provides emergency dental care.
How to Choose the Best Emergency Dentist
Not all dentists provide emergency dental care. Part of it can be due to the fact that providing emergency dental care means that dentists have to work all day at their office and then might be needed to come in during the night or on weekends if needed. As dentists often practice with only one other dentist, or even alone, this kind of schedule can be extremely stressful, so they will not have emergency dental services.
When you find dentists who are willing to provide services after hours or rearrange their schedule to fit in a dental emergency, you know they are willing to go above and beyond, and that they truly care about people’s oral health.
Not all emergency dentists are created equal though. You should look for some key factors when selecting the one for you.
Length Of Practice
How long has the emergency dentist been practicing? Experience is important when a dentist is working on your teeth during an emergency situation. The dentist must be able to handle crisis situations with great skill and confidence.
Generally, you will find that confidence in dentists who have been practicing for years. Some dentists that offer emergency dental services do it due to being new dentists and having a small clientele, so try and look for dentists who have at least five or more years experience practicing as a full dentist.
Assistance During Care
Is the dentist providing emergency dental care alone or with the assistance of someone else? Sometimes, a dentist will provide emergency dental care on their own, which can be done but can be tricky, as most dentists work best with an assistant.
It is better if your emergency dentist has a dental hygienist with them for assistance. That way, the dentist can focus more on your dental issue and have their assistant pass them needed tools, take notes, and the millions of other tasks that dental hygienists cover.
Good Reputation
Does the dentist have a good reputation in the community? You can tell a lot about a dentist by listening to what people say about him. With the internet, you don’t have to go from house to house looking for reviews, you can simply type in the dentist’s name or the name of their practice.
Google reviews are an easy way to get a good idea about what that particular dentist or practice is like when it comes to dental care. If there are multiple dentists at the practice you are looking at, see if there are any standout mentions of a dentist, either good or bad. It is best if there are over 20 reviews of the dentist or practice. That way, you can get a good idea of what the dentist is really like, rather than the skewed perspective that a handful of reviews can give.
Of course, you can also talk to friends, family, and co-workers for dentist recommendations, but in a dental emergency, you may not want to take a full survey. Simply using the internet is a faster way to find an emergency dentist with a good reputation.
Available When Needed
Will the dentist see you when you need the care? When a dentist is willing to offer after-hours care, he shouldn’t try to get out of it when you call. He should be receptive and ready to come to the office no matter what time it is during the day or night.
Also, another thing to consider is how quickly the emergency dentist can get you in for an appointment. Many emergency dentists will sacrifice their lunch hour to make space in a busy schedule, so as long as they aren’t too booked, a good dentist should be able to see you the same day you call to address your dental emergency.
Bridge Creek Dental Offers Emergency Dental Care
Are you experiencing a dental emergency and live in or near Billings, MT? Then you should visit us here at Bridge Creek Dental. Our dental office offers emergency dental treatment and can get you back on track with your dental health.
Our experienced dentists have been practicing for many years, and they are always ready to help new and existing patients with their dental care. You can contact us right now to get the care you need quickly and easily.