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What is Emergency Dental Care? Where to Go for a Dental Emergency

We hope you never have to encounter one, but dental emergencies do happen. There can be a fine line between regular dental issues and a dental emergency. Knowing the differences can help you choose an insurance plan that can help cover your dental needs.1

It can also be helpful to understand the waiting periods in your dental plan, so you know what to expect if a surprise issue arises.

3 Min Read

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • A dental emergency requires immediate care for issues involving teeth and surrounding tissues, such as severe pain, infection, or trauma.
  • Emergency dental care can be expensive without insurance, with costs ranging from $137-$835 for a tooth extraction to up to $6,514 for dentures.4,5
  • Having dental insurance can help lower out-of-pocket expenses for emergency treatments like root canals, extractions, and denture replacements.
  • Aflac dental insurance can offer coverage for costs related to emergency dental procedures. Our plans can help cover a variety of preventative, basic, and major services.

In addition to finding a dental insurance plan that covers emergency needs, you may want to explore other kinds of benefits. Aflac’s dental insurance also offers hearing and vision care, so you can take better care of your overall health, alongside affordable rates and no waiting period for preventative care. Read on to learn what a dental emergency is, what to do if you need emergency dental care, and how dental insurance can help cover the costs.

What is a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is any issue involving your teeth and surrounding tissues that requires immediate dental care. If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, it’s essential to have it treated by a professional as soon as possible.

What to do if you need emergency dental care

Every dental emergency is different, so there may not be a one-size-fits-all solution. There are a few scenarios where it may make sense to go directly to the hospital and other situations where it’s best to go to your dentist as soon as possible. Below we’ve outlined what to do if you need emergency dental care, depending on the issue at hand:

  • Go to the hospital: A hospital trip typically makes more sense if something happens to your facial bones. Any issue that impacts your ability to breathe should also be immediately attended to at a hospital. If any of these events occur, it’s best to call 911 and get help as soon as possible.2
  • Visit your dentist: On the other hand, a dentist trip is better if you are in serious pain, but the issue is non-life-threatening. If you can breathe properly, a trip to the dentist to get emergency dental care would likely be all that is necessary.2
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How much can emergency dental care cost without insurance?

Trips to the hospital and dentist to get emergency dental care without a dental insurance plan can add up quickly. Here are some types of dental emergencies and their costs:

  • Lost dentures: If you lose your dentures, you’ll need to replace them quickly in order to restore chewing and speaking abilities. Removable dentures can cost on average $452 to $6,514.3
  • Tooth extraction: A dentist may need to remove a tooth that is severely damaged or decayed. A tooth extraction can cost on average between $137-$835 per tooth.4
  • Root canal: A root canal is typically needed when deep tooth decay, cracked teeth, gum infection or severe facial trauma take place. Depending on the location and severity of the issue, the cost of a root canal procedure and necessary treatments on average can range anywhere from $200 to $1,472.5

How dental insurance can help cover emergency dental care

Some dental insurance plans help provide emergency coverage to help make emergency dental care costs more manageable. Depending on your location and medical history, Aflac dental insurance offers a variety of benefits that can help cover expenses related to emergency dental procedures. For instance, Aflac offers coverage for major services such as oral surgery.

Additionally, getting regular dental care may help prevent an oral emergency from happening later.

Should I get dental insurance to help cover emergency dental care?

Consider your financial situation and budget when deciding if dental insurance is right for you. This type of coverage helps to be prepared in case a dental emergency occurs. Additionally, dental insurance can help you pay less in other out-of-pocket dental care costs. Aflac dental insurance comes with affordable premiums and extensive coverage for the following:

  • Preventive care, such as routine exams cleanings
  • Basic services, such as fillings and simple extractions
  • Major services, such as inlays, onlays, and dentures

Aflac dental insurance can help cover your dental emergency

If you experience a dental emergency, it’s important to get emergency dental care as soon as possible. You may be able to get help covering emergency dental care with Aflac’s dental insurance. If you already have a dental plan, we also offer supplemental dental insurance to help cover treatments and procedures that your primary provider may not fully cover. This can be especially helpful if a dental emergency catches you and your wallet by surprise.

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