There are times when you will experience a dental emergency. This could be dental pain, a broken tooth, infection or another dental issue. When this happens, you can't choose the timing of it. You may find yourself having the issue after your dentist's office is closed. If that is the case, you will need after-hours dental care. These are just a few things you need to expect when you use this type of care.
After-Hours Fees
One of the first things you should expect when you need after-hours dentist care are fees. These fees may be for an after-hours clinic visit, for an additional payment for services or for admittance into an emergency care unit if the hospital is the location for the after-hours dental service. These fees will likely be due at the time of admittance for services. Some fees may be waived for people paying out of pocket or those with full-coverage dental options.
Basic Procedures
In most cases, an after-hours dentist will offer basic procedures. This means they will cover things like extractions, minor infections and fillings. If they find you need a major dental procedure, such as surgical extraction or a root canal, they will likely refer you to your normal dentist or oral surgeon. If this is the case, they may prescribe antibiotics for any infection and other medications for swelling and pain you may be experiencing.
Infection Care
In many cases, you may be experiencing dental issues due to infection. Infections can result in inflammation and can also result in severe pain. With that in mind, an after-hours dentist will be able to determine if there is an infection in the area. They will also be able to determine other issues related to the infection and the possible treatment plan for the infection and the resulting or connected issues. If it is determined that you have an infection, the dentist will likely treat the infection first. However, there are some cases where a tooth may be infected and need immediate removal. In those cases, the dentist may opt to remove the tooth to reduce pain and further infection from spreading.
Before you need the after-hours service, check with your dentist. They can let you know if they have after-hours care for emergencies. They can also let you know if there are any additional fees that you need to pay in addition to your insurance co-pays or costs. The dentist can also let you know if there are any issues that the after-hours clinic can not see, so you can prepare ahead of time.
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