How Much Does Emergency Dentistry Cost?
Emergency dental visits are often fraught with stress – if you or your family member needs to be seen by an emergency dentist, it is likely because you’re experiencing a high degree of pain or symptoms serious enough to warrant emergency treatment. Frequently, these very real health concerns are coupled with preoccupations about the cost of the emergency treatment. While costs can vary due to a number of factors, such as geographical location, severity of the injury, and one’s own insurance coverage, the information presented below outlines some of the common costs for the four procedures most commonly performed in an richmond emergency dentist’s office.
Fillings
Cavities requiring filling can present with a great deal of pain and discomfort, often resulting in a trip to a nearby emergency dentist’s office. So, too, can cracks or breaks in one’s tooth. Fillings in the form of dental amalgams or composite resin can be used in both of these cases; not only can they fill dental cavities created by tooth decay, but they can also be used to fill cracks, chips, and other small breaks in a tooth. This multipurpose use makes fillings one of the top dental procedures performed in emergency dental visits today.
The cost of fillings varies in terms of the type of filling, the extent of the damage, and the materials used (amalgam versus dental composite) but typically run between $110 and $240 per filling.
Crowns
Replacing or creating a new crown is also a common procedure that is done in an emergency dentist’s office. Crowns are often used when breaks or fractures are too large to be filled with amalgams or composites and the delicate interior of the tooth needs to be protected. In routine dental visits, they can also be used for cosmetic reasons. In the emergency dentistry setting, the price of a dental crown varies primarily by material, which is also determined at least partially by placement. While metal crowns are typically used in the back of the mouth where they are not as visible, porcelain crowns are a more aesthetically pleasing choice and tend to be used in more visible areas. Prices for a single crown can run from approximately $1000-1500.
Extractions
If a tooth is infected or damaged to the extent that it is no longer viable, it may need to be removed to preserve one’s oral health. Costs for tooth extraction are most closely related to whether the extraction can be performed in a non-surgical manner or not. If anesthesia is not required, a simple tooth extraction can cost as little as $75 or as much as $300. If anesthesia is required, the cost is higher: typically between $200-600 per tooth.
Root Canals
Root canals are also commonly performed procedures at an emergency dentist’s office. Root canals must be performed when an infection has reached the delicate root of one’s tooth. During a root canal, a dentist will remove the infected matter, fill the cavity that has been created, and place a crown on top of the tooth to protect it from further trauma. Root canals have a wide range of costs depending on the extent of the infection, the placement of the tooth in the mouth, and the materials used in the crown that is placed. Typically, costs run anywhere from $700-1200, with front teeth and bicuspids incurring the lowest costs and molars incurring the highest costs.