- (253) 845-3000
- 13613 Meridian Ave E, Suite 180 Puyallup, WA 98373
Want Us to Email You a Copy?
No problem!
Type in your email address below to download our eBook: 10 Reasons why you should visit South Hill Dental if you have a dental emergency in Puyallup. (You can read the full guide without giving us your email -- keep scrolling!)
When we hear the words dental emergency, we often think of a scenario where a person’s tooth is accidentally knocked out or broken. Whilst this is one type of emergency, there are other reasons it may be necessary to visit your dentist as soon as possible, some are more obvious than others but ignoring the signs of a dental emergency can cause longer term problems.
Dental emergencies include:
As with a medical emergency, acting quickly and effectively can make a massive difference in the long term. The problem is, unlike a medical emergency, many of us are more likely to ignore a toothache or dental trauma, which can actually lead to the need for more extensive dental treatment and can even lead to losing the tooth in question.
Visiting a dentist in Puyallup in the event of a dental emergency will ensure you get the right advice and treatment.
Your dentist can use their specialist knowledge and experience to diagnose and treat your dental emergency effectively, using specialist equipment, such as x-ray machines, and scanners.
The very nature of dental emergencies often means you can’t plan for them! Depending on your individual needs, we can offer same day appointments at our state of the art dental clinic in Puyallup. There is no need to be in pain or left worrying about the health of your teeth, when you can arrange an appointment with us immediately.
A common reason people ignore dental pain is concerns over dental insurance. Whether dental insurance covers emergency dental treatment and to what value are frequently asked questions by patients needing urgent treatment. Here at South Hill Dental, we work with a large number of dental insurance companies and our experienced dental receptionists can give you specific advice about what will and will not be covered by your individual insurance plan.
We also provide all patients with a comprehensive treatment plan, with a fully costed breakdown, so you can plan accordingly.
Sometimes we can ignore dental pain and trauma because we aren’t sure whether it constitutes an emergency. This can lead to putting off making an urgent appointment, which in turn can lead to lasting damage to a tooth, that could have been avoided.
If you are unsure of whether or not you have a dental emergency, you can always phone our office on (253) 845-3000 to get advice and information.
With over fifty years of combined clinical experience, Drs Harinder and Kunal Walia are highly qualified and experienced to treat your dental emergency, with the support of an experienced dental team.
Dr Harinder Walia graduated from Amritsar Dental College in India in 1972, before further studying oral surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in England until 1976.
Since 1979, Dr Walia has been in private practice, as a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr Kunal Walia graduated from the University of Washington in 2007 and is a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
We understand that not everyone has a regular dentist and so when you have a dental emergency it can be daunting, not knowing who to contact. Here at South Hill Dental, we welcome new patients who need urgent treatment. We can also then offer advice and treatment options for further treatment that may help to avoid future dental emergencies.
Often, we don’t expect a dental emergency - so the cost of a dental appointment can be unplanned. Patients often worry that emergency dental treatment will be more expensive, thinking of it in a similar way to maintenance callout charges. We don’t want any patients to be put off seeking advice and treatment due to concerns over increased costs. It’s vital you visit a dentist as soon as possible, to avoid further damage and, in some cases, to even save your tooth. That’s why we offer an emergency dental exam and x-ray for at least half the regular price. Here at South Hill Dental you can get an emergency dental exam and X-ray for just $59.
In cases where severe toothache is being caused by an infection or abscess, it may be necessary to treat this with a course of antibiotics and to take steps to manage pain as the infection is treated. Our experienced dental team can advise you on the most appropriate pain management for your individual concerns and can prescribe antibiotics if needed to treat infections.
We are really proud of our state of the art clinic, fully equipped with all of the tools and equipment we need to be able to effectively treat your dental emergency in-house. We have the latest X-ray and scanning equipment to diagnose the cause of your dental pain and can even offer sedation for nervous patients, where appropriate.
A dental trauma or severe pain can be overwhelming. Often the thing you need most is a friendly face, especially if you have had bad experiences at the dentist in the past or have dental anxiety or phobias. Here is one patient describing their experience at our dental clinic in Puyallup:
“This is by far the friendliest and cleanest dental office I have ever been to in my fifty plus years. The staff are so welcoming and you can tell there is a lot of respect amongst them as they work as a team. PLus they are gentle and very efficient at their duties. The dentist is awesome as well. Let’s face it, going to the dentist isn’t on anyone’s favorite thing to do, but with the treatment and atmosphere at South Hill Dental, it was even a kind of pleasure!”
The best way to avoid dental emergencies in the future is to ensure you have an oral and dental health regime that includes regular check-ups and where needed, appropriate preventative treatment. Here at South Hill Dental, we offer excellent preventative care for patients of all ages, with specific treatments for children - like fissure sealants and fluoride varnish, which work to coat and protect the teeth from bacteria and plaque which lead to cavities - and recall programmes for adults, where we can effectively manage and monitor dental and oral health.
If you have a dental emergency and need our help, you can call our office at 253-845-3000. We are available during business hours at our office, and you will also be connected to someone after hours on this number.
The best place to go for emergency dental treatment is to a qualified dentist, who can help treat the symptoms and get you on the path to recovery. Our dental office is available and fully equipped to treat dental emergencies during business hours and our on-call team can help after-hours to advise you on the best course of action for your specific situation.
The cost of emergency dental care at South Hill Dental will depend both on the type of treatment that is required and your dental insurance plan. There may be an initial cost that you need to pay, which is then followed by payment for the full treatment that you need.
It depends on how your insurance plan is set up through your employer. Most insurance plans will pay a percentage of the treatment, which is usually between 50-80%, and some may also have a deductible cost that needs to be paid as well.
Emergency dental treatment should not be more expensive than the same treatment under normal circumstances. In our dental office in Puyallup we charge the same for emergency dental treatment as non-emergency dental treatment. However, there could be an additional charge if the team has to come in for a dental emergency after-hours.
If you chip a tooth, then the best course of action is to be seen by a dentist as soon as possible. If it is a large chip or fracture of the tooth, then try to save the piece that has broken off. If your whole tooth comes out, then that is a dental emergency that requires being seen by a dentist immediately.
This will depend on your individual dental insurance policy, but most insurances will cover a chipped tooth. The amount covered varies depending on the insurance plan that is selected through your employer.
Our team here at South Hill Dental makes every effort to see patients who have dental emergencies on the same day, or at least within 24 hours. Our dentists are highly qualified to treat a dental emergency. We normally provide emergency treatment the same day as your appointment. Our team is also able to deal with after-hours calls and will try to schedule you an appointment for your dental emergency.
Emergency dental care is not free. There is a cost to treatment. In rare cases, your dental insurance company may pay for the entire cost, leaving you with no expense. Here at South Hill Dental we do offer free dental care once a year for those in need. However this is not available all year round, and the dates vary, so please check out our community page for more details.
