Emergency Dentist — Albuquerque, NM

Broken Tooth? Oral Pain? We’re Here to Help

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Have you fractured, dislodged, or even knocked out a natural tooth? Are you experiencing a great deal of pain or sensitivity in a specific area of the mouth? These frightening accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, and often when patients and families are least expecting them. As a first step, please do your best to remain calm. Then, follow these easy steps to get your dental emergency under control:

• Step 1: Pick up the phone and contact our Albuquerque practice to schedule your emergency dental appointment, typically for the same day.
• Step 2: Follow the first aid instructions provided by one of our experienced team members over the phone for handling your situation until you arrive at our office.
• Step 3: See Dr. Boehmer for your emergency dental exam, where she will address your dental pain and examine your teeth and gums to learn more about your emergency.
• Step 4: Boehmer will review her findings with you and explain which treatments she recommends. Together, you’ll create a custom treatment plan.
• Step 5: Our talented team will get to work right away to repair your smile and save your teeth. If needed, we may offer calming dental sedation for maximum comfort and stress-free treatment. 

Dental Emergency FAQ’s 

Do you have more questions about dental emergencies? While we hope you never encounter a dental emergency, we want our patients to be as prepared as possible should one occur. That’s why, for your convenience, we’ve gathered some of the most frequently asked questions we get about urgent dental care so you can learn more. If you don’t see the information you’re looking for, we invite you to give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

Should I Go to the ER for My Dental Emergency?

There are only a few instances where making a trip to the emergency room for a dental emergency is highly advised. These include:

• Continuous bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10-15 minutes
• Increased swelling that’s making it difficult to swallow
• Fractured, dislocated, or broken jawbone

The reason it is encouraged that you seek help from an emergency dentist for any other type of dental emergency than the ones above is that they are considered to be “urgent” but not life-threatening. Also, your dentist is fully capable of treating toothaches, knocked-out teeth, soft tissue injuries, chipped teeth, or even lost crowns and fillings. So, avoid the long wait times at the ER and let a skilled dentist provide start-to-finish care in less time.

Why Is Seeing a Dentist the Best Choice in a Dental Emergency?

The reason you should see your dentist instead of visiting the emergency room is that:

• Your dentist has the educational and professional knowledge and background to treat most emergencies. A general doctor can only treat your symptoms in most cases.
• You will not have to deal with long wait times at your dentist’s office, as staff will work to schedule a time when you can come in.
• Your emergency dentist can detect and diagnose your problem with a personalized treatment plan designed to repair and improve your oral health.

What Can I Do To Manage a Toothache?

It is recommended that an over-the-counter pain reliever and cold compresses are the best ways to alleviate pain when faced with a dental emergency. Naturally, when calling and speaking to one of our staff members, we can provide recommendations as to which products to use and for how long, but make sure to only take them as instructed. If the pain does not subside in an appropriate amount of time, it may be an underlying issue that is worse than a typical toothache. This would require that you come in for an emergency visit and let Dr. Boehmer examine your problem area.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Emergency Dental Visits?

You are strongly encouraged to review your dental insurance policy long before a dental emergency occurs. While most insurance companies understand that accidents happen, the amount of coverage you will receive depends on the type of restorative care you will need. Most insurers will cover between 70-80% for minor services and between 50-70% for major services.

If you are unsure what questions to ask or how to determine your level of coverage, don’t hesitate to ask one of our qualified team members for help. They will contact your insurance company and retrieve all of the answers you will need to make a confident and well-informed decision about your dental health.