Emergency Dentist – Honolulu, HI
We’re Here When You Need Us
At Dentaworks Hawaii, our team is equipped to provide immediate care to those experiencing dental emergencies. No matter the problem, we want to get you out of pain quickly and restore your smile to its natural beauty. From chipped and broken teeth to lost dental crowns, knocked-out teeth, and broken dentures, we’re here when you need us, so don’t be afraid to call our office to schedule an appointment with our emergency dentists in Honolulu.
Why Choose Dentaworks Hawaii for Emergency Dentistry?
- Calming and Compassionate Dental Team
- Progressive Technology for Greater Comfort & Accuracy
- High-Quality Restorations That Look Natural
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Call to schedule an appointment: The first step you need to take is to call our dental office to alert us of your situation. We’ll work to schedule an appointment as well as offer ways to minimize any pain you might be experiencing.
- Undergo thorough examination: Our team will take diagnostic images as well as perform a thorough visual exam to determine the underlying root of the problem.
- Review our findings: After compiling our findings, we will create a personalized treatment plan designed to get your smile back on track.
- Deliver timely care: Our team wants to help you out of pain, so we will work quickly to help you find relief while also repairing and rebuilding your smile.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Unsure if what you’re experiencing is a dental emergency? Always feel free to call our office and let us know; however, you can also review the list below to find out what we treat and how we plan to address it.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
We believe that cost should never be a barrier between you and the care you need at a critical time. This is why our team at Dentaworks Hawaii strives to help you budget for your care by providing accurate information and multiple ways to afford your treatment. Whatever you need, Dr. Wong and Dr. Koyanagi are here to help to alleviate your pain and reduce your stress. Continue reading below to see more about how we handle payment for your dental emergency.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
Your dental emergency is unique. Even if you and another person suffer from chipped teeth, there’s a good chance that both of you won't pay the same price. Multiple factors must be considered, which is why a consultation with our team is important. Once we have all the necessary information, we can work with you to help you plan and save so that your restorative care doesn’t require you to pay high out-of-pocket costs.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
There’s no doubt that many dental emergencies are caused by unfortunate accidents that are beyond your control. However, we see many patients with toothaches, decay, infections, and other damage that could have been avoided with proper dental hygiene. Prevention, including home oral care and regular checkups and cleanings with us, can save you thousands of dollars in possible treatment costs.
This is why we strongly advocate for a more proactive approach to prevent small dental issues from becoming large, expensive emergencies. For example, as soon as you find a cavity, you should come to us for help. Otherwise, what may have been solved with a simple filling could eventually necessitate a much more costly root canal or extraction.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
While most dental insurance plans cover some amount of emergency care, every provider is different. Some plans may offer one or two emergency exams a year, however others may only cover a partial amount for some designated treatments. If you’re not sure what your coverage applies to, we can help you. Our staff is highly knowledgeable on insurance information for many providers and can even file claims on your behalf.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
Even if you’re one of millions of people across the country who don’t have access to or can’t afford dental insurance, there’s no need to worry. We offer several options that can help you cut the cost of your treatment.
- In-House Membership Plan: With our excellent membership plan, you’ll not only save a substantial amount on most procedures, but you’ll also have less of a hassle. There are no deductibles or maximums to concern yourself with. Just enroll and save!
- Financing Through Cherry and Lending Point: We’ve partnered with these amazing lenders to allow our patients to quickly get the care they need while helping them manage their budget. Qualifying patients will be able to finance their treatment and pay off their balance in smaller monthly payments.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can happen to people of all ages or genders at any given point in time. Although it’s impossible to predict when one will occur, there are proactive steps you can take to avoid it. Proper preventative care keeps your teeth and gums healthy so that they’re better able to resist common issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and physical injury that leave them vulnerable to disaster.
Below, we’ve outlined a few different ways that you can keep your smile in excellent condition so that you’re less likely to need an urgent appointment. If something has happened and you need immediate attention, please contact us. We can walk you through care tips over the phone that you can follow until you arrive at your scheduled time.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Scheduling consistent checkups and cleanings with our team allows us to identify and treat problems before they progress into anything worse. Our dentists have the training and experience to spot potential areas of concern, like weakened enamel, that you might otherwise miss. Then, they utilize state-of-the-art equipment to provide accurate, long-lasting treatments to resolve them. Our team will also examine your mouth for any signs of oral cancer to ensure that you don’t fall victim to this dangerous condition.
This keeps your grin in tip-top shape so that the emergency is less likely to happen in the first place!
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
There are plenty of things our staff can do to help improve your dental health, but it’s imperative that you regularly clean your teeth and gums at home, too. Brushing and flossing twice daily (morning and night) removes harmful plaque and bacteria buildup that cause issues like cavities and gingivitis. Consistently clearing the unwanted residue from your teeth keeps the enamel intact and maintains your natural defense.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
The foods that you eat have a huge influence on your oral well-being. For example, you might want to steer clear of too many sugary or acidic foods. Bacteria in your mouth combine with them to wear down your enamel. Also, super hard and crunchy options like seeds, nuts, and ice can cause chips or fractures.
Instead, try to fill your plate with a variety of wholesome foods to support your oral and overall health. Dairy has plenty of calcium to support strong teeth and bones, while citrus fruits contain vitamin C for healthy gums.
Wear a Mouthguard
If you participate in team sports or martial arts, your teeth are particularly prone to injury. A single blow to the face could loosen or dislodge one entirely. Thankfully, you can guard your grin by wearing a mouthguard during your physical activity. Our team can give you one that’s fully customized to fit like a glove for optimal protection.
Also, if you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding) at night, we can give you a nightguard that covers your teeth to mitigate the added pressure. This ensures that you don’t wear them down prematurely and eases any associated jaw pain.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Teeth
It’s tempting sometimes to tear open a piece of mail, package, bottle, or container with your teeth. Unfortunately, doing so can crack or break them, making it easier for bacteria to penetrate them and cause infection. You can prevent this by taking the few extra moments needed to locate the appropriate tool or device for the job. It’s worth it to find scissors or a letter opener instead of using your canines.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Can I pop a dental abscess on my own?
Remember, dental abscesses are often due to a serious infection. As a result, attempting to pop it (or actually popping it) can lead to several consequences, including bacteria spreading to your neck and throat. The best thing to do if you notice a pimple-like bump or blister on your gums is to call our Honolulu dental team ASAP.
Will my toothache go away on its own?
It is possible for the pain to subside with time. However, this isn’t the good news you may initially think it is. This change in symptoms is usually the result of the infection “killing” the tooth, making it impossible to register pain. At this point, the infection can spread to your surrounding teeth and gums, wreaking havoc on the look, health, and function of your smile. That’s why the best thing to do is schedule an exam with our emergency dentist when the symptoms first arise.
Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?
Since emergency rooms don’t typically have dentists on-staff, you should head there for toothaches, dental sensitivity, and similar dental injuries. Of course, it’s a different story if you’re experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms. If you’re having trouble breathing, your face is extremely swollen, you can’t seem to swallow, or your jaw is fractured, then you should absolutely go to the hospital or call 911 right away.
What does throbbing tooth pain mean?
Throbbing tooth pain could be the result of everything from a small crack to a significant infection. In other words, throbbing tooth pain warrants an immediate call to our Honolulu dental office. Until your appointment, do what you can to alleviate your discomfort, like sticking to lukewarm water, avoiding crunchy foods, and taking OTC pain medication as directed.
My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?
Even if your chipped tooth doesn’t hurt, we recommend giving us a call to explain what happened and schedule an appointment before the end of the week. We also recommend keeping a close eye on your symptoms and avoiding anything that could cause it to break further, like eating crunchy foods.
Can superglue be used to repair broken dentures?
Although superglue is an effective adhesive, it contains toxins that are not safe to ingest. So, you definitely shouldn’t use it (or any other household products) to try and repair your restoration. Instead, call us ASAP so we can repair or replace it.