When you have a severe toothache or another urgent oral health issue, you likely won’t think twice about scheduling an emergency dental appointment. Later, though, you may find yourself worrying about the financial aspect of your care. How much does an emergency dentist cost? And can you expect dental insurance to help cover your visit? The answers to these questions can be found below.
What Can You Usually Expect to Pay for Emergency Dentistry?
The cost of an emergency dental visit can vary quite a bit from patient to patient. This is, of course, a natural result of the fact that there are various types of dental emergencies that require different forms of care. Whether you need dental crowns for damaged teeth or root canal treatment for infected dental pulp, the kind of emergency service you require will influence the amount you end up paying.
Your dentist can only give you an estimate of how much your emergency dental treatment will cost once they have examined your mouth and learned more about the nature and severity of your oral health issue.
So, Will Your Dental Insurance Help Pay for Your Emergency Visit?
You can usually expect your dental insurance company to cover at least part of the cost of an emergency dental visit. On top of that, some level of coverage is typically provided for many of the restorative services that may be recommended as part of your emergency treatment plan.
That said, there are various factors that can influence the coverage available for emergency dental care, including:
- The specific dental insurance plan you have.
- Whether your dentist is an in-network or out-of-network provider.
- Whether your emergency is the result of a pre-existing condition.
- The exact type of treatment that you need.
- Whether you’ve met your deductible.
- How close you are to reaching your annual maximum (the total amount that your insurance company is willing to pay for your dental care during a single year).
What Other Financial Options are Available?
If you’re worried that your dental insurance plan won’t provide sufficient coverage for emergency care, you may want to consider other options for fitting the cost into your budget more easily. For example, you can apply for CareCredit financing, which allows you to divide the cost of your care into a series of monthly payments. CareCredit lets you choose a financing plan that’s right for your situation, many of which come with low interest or even no interest.
It’s always best to seek emergency dental care as soon as possible in order to avoid more complex (and potentially more costly) problems down the line. If you have questions or concerns about the cost of your emergency treatment, don’t hesitate to let your dentist know.
About the Practice
At Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Weatherford, our dentists have been bringing optimal care to our patients for decades. We can provide same-day appointments for individuals who are in need of emergency dental care, and we’re happy to accept most traditional dental insurance plans. To schedule a consultation with our team, visit our website or call (817) 594-3806.