Helping Patients Find Weekend Emergency Dentists near Astoria, NY

Defining a Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies involve dental problems that require a dental professional to resolve the problem as soon as possible. If not treated quickly or accurately, it can become more bothersome to live with.

There are a few dental emergencies that people commonly experience, and if you can’t find a dentist open on Saturday or Sunday, they could quickly become more problematic. Below are five common dental emergencies to be aware of.

1. Toothache. Some people neglect to treat their toothache, believing it will go away on its own. However, toothaches usually form when there is an infection or injury to your tooth or root. While some treatment methods like over-the-counter medications and rinsing with water can help, these aren’t permanent solutions. If you have a toothache that is growing in intensity, you should visit a weekend emergency dentist so they can determine how to treat it.
2. Tooth injuries (chips, cracks, breaks). It is crucial that you do not try to fix your own tooth injuries by yourself, as you may end up doing further damage. Tooth injuries usually occur when getting involved in physical activities or from sustaining trauma to your mouth. Your dentist must check your mouth to determine if they can fix the tooth in question, and the longer you wait, the more severe your pain could get.
3. Abscessed tooth. An abscess is an infection that wears down the root or space between the teeth and gums. This usually manifests as swelling or pus in your gums, which is not only painful but can spread throughout your mouth and lead to further issues. If you notice an abscessed tooth on the weekend, find a dentist who is open on Saturdays or Sundays immediately.
4. Knocked-out tooth. Also called an avulsed tooth, this occurs when your tooth falls out of your mouth entirely. You must visit an emergency dentist open on Saturday or Sunday if this happens, as they need to check your socket for additional problems. Depending on how fast you get into their office, they may be able to save your tooth. While you can clean your tooth at home and make the process easier later, you must have a professional decide how to move forward.
5. Missing crowns or fillings. Sometimes, the crowns or fillings you’ve had from past dentist appointments fall out. If you’re out and about during the weekend and lose your crown, you risk damaging your teeth. A weekend dentist can replace or repair your restorations so you don’t experience further problems.

There are many other types of dental emergencies, such as denture problems, tissue injury, and jaw swelling, that we can treat as well. You may think you can tough it out and not visit a professional immediately, but we recommend finding a dentist open on weekends instead so you don’t put yourself through more harm.

Why Are Weekend Dentists Necessary?

People generally have busy schedules during the week. Many go to work in the morning and come home in the evening to rest and spend time with their families. These people also don’t have the ability to take time off work to go to these appointments. Because of this, some dentists open on weekends, allowing people with dental emergencies to come in and have their problems addressed. Some people may not be able to have regular checkups during the week as well, meaning they go exclusively on the weekends.

The most obvious reason weekend dentists are necessary is because if a dental emergency occurs, you shouldn’t wait too long before having the problem fixed. For example, if you have an avulsed tooth but decide to hold out for two months, the socket could become infected, and the pain can become excruciating. Rather than risk further complications, visit a weekend dentist who can handle your situation.

If we didn’t have weekend dentists on standby, everyone would have to wait longer to be seen by professionals, which could complicate your situation. Thankfully, some dentists are indeed open on weekends, so they can help clients who need it.

Booking an Appointment With Astoria Dental Group

Booking an appointment when dealing with immense pain can be challenging, but you can become disheartened if you aren’t able to find a dentist's office open on Saturday or Sunday. We do what we can to make sure your condition doesn’t worsen, so if you do need dental work during the weekend, our team at Astoria Dental Group is prepared to help.

The best way to get an appointment scheduled with us is to contact our partners at Emergency Dental Service. The team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the person on call will be ready to listen to your concerns and get you in our office as soon as possible.

What Your Weekend Dentist Appointment Looks Like

You might think a weekend dentist appointment is much different from a standard appointment, but the two are actually very similar. The main difference is that a weekend visit means you’ll spend less time waiting for service, as fewer people visit dentist offices open on Saturdays and Sundays in general.

Once you arrive, the team will begin with their examination so they can understand what exactly you’re dealing with. They’ll ask you various questions related to your pain level, how you were injured, and if you’ve had dental work done in the past. If the dentist knows what the issue is just from this evaluation, you may not need to have X-rays or other similar procedures done.

After a dentist has reviewed your situation, they’ll create a treatment plan for you. Sometimes, they can provide a fix that relieves your pain instantly. However, if your problem is more extensive or painful, you may be given a temporary solution and will be rescheduled for a follow-up at a later time. This can be frustrating initially, and the dentist will try not to do this, but there are simply times when helping you on your first visit isn’t possible. We know this can be difficult to hear, but know that we are committed to getting your problem resolved as soon as possible. If your problem isn’t fixed on your first visit, we’ll be sure to have you back as early as we can.

How Can a Weekend Dentist Help Me?

While weekend dentists don’t differ much from standard dentists, the main difference to note is that dentists who work on weekends have more flexibility and can see clients at more convenient times. They can address dental emergencies or see patients for regular checkups.

You may have a serious condition that one visit cannot resolve. For example, if you’ve neglected to have your avulsed tooth treated, the socket may have gotten infected and spread throughout your gums. While you may be given treatment that helps for the moment, you’ll likely be rescheduled for a later date to fully have your problem fixed. If you wait too long for the initial visit, only to be told to come back much later, your condition could become more difficult to treat. Having a weekend dentist on standby allows you to resolve your emergency sooner. Our team will let you know if a follow-up is required, as well as how we’ll treat the problem so you can prepare and avoid doing things that aggravate the emergency.

Why Aren’t All Dentists Available On Weekends?

Many dentists wish they could be available all the time and have the energy to help everyone in their community. Unfortunately, like with every profession, no one is available all of the time. The problem doesn’t extend to just time, however, as some businesses don’t have the resources needed to stay open longer than one week at a time.

Dentists specifically open up their own practices and are considered business owners. Because they own their own practice, they can hire hygienists and other staff members to complete their roster and serve their community. Since these dentists aren’t regulated by hospitals or other corporate structures, they can set their own hours of regulation and schedule people however is best for them.

However, the drawback to this is that not every dental office has enough staff or patients to warrant 24/7 operation. Usually, dental offices operate Monday through Friday and close for the weekend. With that said, some dentists do open on weekends, and dentists open on Saturday and Sunday can see patients who may not be available during the week. Also, if someone experiences a dental emergency over the weekend, they can go to a dentist's office that weekend and get treatment earlier than visiting during the week.

How Much Does a Weekend Emergency Dentist Charge?

There is no set cost for a weekend dentist’s service, as this depends on your specific issue, what treatment needs to be performed, and more. In fact, the thought of paying a large sum for dental work has made people refuse treatment despite their problem being a huge concern. It is true that you may be required to pay more if you’re visiting a dentist over the weekend, but this isn’t always true. Plus, the higher cost may be more beneficial than waiting for your problem to become worse.

Paying extra for a weekend dentist’s services comes from both specialized treatment and how urgent your situation is. If you need to come in on the day of your emergency, or if you simply can’t stand the pain any longer, you may need to pay extra to be seen sooner. Also, if your case is severe enough that your dentist needs to order custom equipment or procedures for you, you may have to pay more.

The staff at Astoria Dental Group understands that not everyone has the money upfront when meeting us for an emergency appointment. Because of this, we will work with you to create a plan that suits your needs. Contact the team at Emergency Dental Service for more information.

Astoria Dental Group: Open on Saturdays and Sundays

We’ve met some patients who came in to see us after not being able to handle their emergency any longer. While they were trying to wait a few weeks to go in, their problems worsened, which is what happens when a dental emergency is left untreated. It can be hard finding a dentist who is willing to see you during the weekend, as most people aren’t working and are spending time with loved ones or running errands. Fortunately, our team can help when you need regular dental work or a solution to a dental emergency.

Astoria Dental Group uses the latest technology and strategies to resolve multiple dental emergencies, including root canals, toothaches, denture issues, bleeding gums, and more. When you contact Emergency Dental Service, they’ll listen to your concerns and get you into our office as soon as possible. They offer a list of weekend dentists in your area that you can look through, and if you live near Astoria, NY, we’ll be ready to assist you.

For more information, call Emergency Dental Service at 1-833-624-1382 so the contact team can schedule an appointment for you.