Wouldn’t it be great if everything was run-of-the-mill and ordinary? Maybe we wouldn’t genuinely want that, but it sure would be great if we could avoid crises and emergencies. The last thing we want to have to face is a medical emergency. Do you know how you would handle a dental emergency?
Just in case you ever face a dental emergency, you should know how to contact an emergency dentist in Saskatoon. The staff at Brighton Dental hopes you’ll never have to contact an emergency dentist. But if you do, they hope that you know how to reach one right away. Not every dental clinic in Saskatoon offers emergency dental care and not every dental clinic is right for your family. Here’s what to consider when you’re looking for an emergency dentist in Saskatoon.
When are they available?
Emergencies don’t just occur during banker’s hours. Will you be able to reach your emergency dentist 24/7/365? Should you use their standard number or is there an after-hours contact method? In the case of some dental emergencies — such as a tooth that has been knocked out — you’ll want to be in a dentist’s chair within 30 to 60 minutes. Because you’ll want advice and pain relief as soon as you can in many cases, a dentist with as much availability as possible is the best option if every other factor is basically the same.
What will the emergency dentist be able to do?
Dental clinics probably won’t offer their full suite of services on emergency bases. Teeth whitening, for example, probably won’t be available. But will other potentially important emergency services be available if needed, or is it just a consultation line? For example, will the emergency dental clinic that you’re considering be able to perform x-rays, extractions, and surgery on an emergency basis if needed? Will pain relief, anesthesia, and specialized alternatives such as sedation dentistry be available if appropriate?
Will they deal with emergencies affecting children?
Children are not miniature adults, and children facing a dental emergency are particularly vulnerable to pain, fear, stress, and anxiety. Treating children gently but effectively is something pediatric dentists are specially trained to do with a complete understanding of a child’s particular anatomy and oral development. Do your children have particular developmental or medical issues that make dental treatment potentially more complicated or stressful? If your child has special medical concerns — things like a cleft palate, autism, dental fear, or anxiety — be sure to let the staff at the emergency dentist know so that they can provide the most effective and efficient treatment possible.
What payment options do they accept?
The last thing you’re going to want to worry about in case of an emergency is how to pay for the care you or your children need. The staff at the office of an emergency dentist understand that and will help you through the process in a sensitive way. Having said that, getting emergency dental treatment might be expensive and it might need to be paid for right away. Knowing in advance how payment arrangements are handled — and whether benefits are accepted — can ease some of the inevitable stress in case of an emergency.
We hope you never need to attend a dentist’s office on an emergency basis. In anticipation of potential dental emergencies, though, take the time to find one using these questions to guide your search. Once you find one, place their number and hours on your fridge or on your phone. Then cross your fingers and hope you never need to use it.