How Much Does Emergency Dentistry Cost?

In the middle of a dental emergency you are probably not thinking about what the emergency is going to cost you. Your priority should be treating the emergency quickly and safely. The best first step is to make a thorough and quick assessment of the emergency, which may involve calling your dentist and discussing the injury with them or their nurse. However, it is not a bad idea to be prepared for the costs of emergency dental services. Below is some information to help you prepare for what to expect if you or your loved one needs emergency dental services.

Factors Impacting Costs

The costs of emergency dental services can vary widely. In reality, costs will depend on several factors:

• What is the accident or injury?
• What procedures will be needed to treat the injury?
• How severe is the emergency? Have you lost one tooth or several?
• Your geographic location and number of dental providers in your area

Emergency Dentistry Services

It can be difficult to estimate the costs of emergency dental services. A good place to start is by getting an idea of how much different treatment procedures can cost. Here is a bit more information by type of procedure:

Root canals: If the root of a tooth becomes severely infected an emergency root canal may be needed. Root canals are typically not that expensive. The price of a root canal will vary and depend on the location of the infected tooth. A front tooth will cost between $600-$1,000 and a bicuspids or molar will cost between $800-$1,400.

Fractured or chipped teeth: One of the most common oral injuries is a chipped or cracked tooth. The cost of repairing a fractured or chipped tooth will depend on how seriously the tooth is damaged. There are many ways to repair a chip or fracture. If only dental bonding at a non-emergency appointment is needed to fix a chip, the cost will be lower. However, some more severe fractures may result in a tooth needing to be removed and replaced. A tooth extraction will be more expensive and range between $75-600.

Dental crown repair: Often, dentists will use dental crowns to fix a badly fractured tooth. Crowns are custom-made caps used to cover a broken or fractured tooth. Porcelain crowns made from ceramic are the most common type of crowns used today. Because they are custom made to fit your teeth, dental crowns range from $1,100 to $1,700.

When an oral injury happens and emergency dental services are required, it helps to have a little bit of an idea on what to expect from the “unexpected” costs. To help get a good idea of the costs, start by assessing the severity of the emergency you are dealing with. If bleeding and pain are under control and you have some time, call your insurance, your dentist, or dental providers in the area and shop around to find a provider who fits in your price range. Accidents happen and sometimes they are expensive, but finding emergency dental services that are affordable is possible if you are prepared.

More on Emergency Dentistry : What is an Emergency Dentist?