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Are you experiencing a bad toothache or another issue and unsure what to do for treatment? You know that you will need to go to a dentist eventually, but without insurance, how do you know that you won’t end up with a huge bill at the end of your treatment? While dealing with a dental emergency can be both intimidating and costly, especially if you don’t have dental insurance, there’s still a few things that can help. Continue reading to learn some tips to get affordable care while being uninsured.

Know What’s Urgent

If you aren’t insured, it is especially important to know what needs immediate attention and what can wait. As for urgent dental emergencies, here are a few that should have you on your way to your emergency dentist right away:

• Loose or knocked-out permanent tooth
• Swelling and painful aching
• Jaw injuries
• Uncontrollable bleeding

There are other dental emergencies that aren’t as urgent but should still be addressed as soon as you can make an appointment:

• Broken and cracked teeth
• Damaged retainers
• Dull toothaches
• Lost fillings, crowns, or bridges

While most oral health issues are best treated at the dental office, there are a few exceptions. If you have severe facial or oral trauma, a broken jaw, or symptoms of severe dental infections, like a high fever and swelling, you should head to the emergency room.

Have a Plan

Having a plan can help to make these types of emergencies go much smoother. Always do your best to stay calm. If you are anxious, you may actually feel more pain than before. If you have irritation or swelling in the mouth, try using a mixture of warm water and salt to rinse. Cold compresses are also helpful.

If you have a knocked-out tooth, you should rinse off any dirt and try to place it back into the socket. If you cannot, put it in a glass of milk in order to keep it moist until you make it to the emergency dentist. You must act very quickly in order to save the tooth. You should see a dentist within an hour of the injury.

Understand Your Financial Options

Cost of treatment is the number one reason that many people refrain from getting dental care. The good news is that a lot of dentists offer payment plans to help make emergency care and other treatments more affordable, especially if you don’t have insurance. Check with nearby emergency dentists to see if they have a plan that would work for you.

Just because you don’t have insurance doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to get the essential emergency dental care you need. By having a plan and discussing your options with a dentist, you will be able to have your smile fixed up without stressing over costs.