Emergency Dentist Costs in Canberra: What to Expect

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Experiencing a dental emergency is up there as one of the most stressful things to go through, particularly if it happens suddenly. If you’re currently suffering with severe dental pain, the last thing on your mind is the actual cost of your treatment.  This article will give you an overview of fees associated with emergency dental costs, the different financing options available and a general idea of what to expect, should it happen to you.

What is a Dental Emergency? 

As the name suggests, a dental emergency is often associated with severe oral pain, tooth cracks, chronic infection, bleeding, trauma or inflammation. In some cases, if you have an existing dental disorder that has been left untreated such as root canal, crown placement or even tooth extraction, this can also fall under an emergency situation. 

if you can’t eat, sleep or go about your normal daily routine comfortably, contacting your local emergency dentist in Canberra is vital. Determining the exact cost of your treatment will depend on a range of variables including: the severity of the problem, whether or not you have private health insurance, overnight hospital stay and/or cost of medications. Your dentist will usually give you an idea of cost during your emergency appointment. 

What to expect in terms of cost for a dental emergency?

Seeking an emergency dentist can be very daunting, especially if you don’t have proper health insurance coverage. 

Many plans don’t always cover what you need, so it’s important to get this checked with your insurer ahead of time, just to be sure. The following procedures are some of the more common emergency dental procedures patients come in for; and with each situation different, it can be difficult to say exactly how much each procedure will cost. We’ll endeavour to cover basic estimates, so you have some idea of what to expect. Your emergency dentist in Canberra will happily consult with you about payment plans and other finance packages to suit your personal requirements

1.Root Canal Procedure

A root canal treatment is a procedure that saves your natural tooth from falling out completely. A dentist will remove the infected and damaged pulp, clean it out while avoiding a full tooth extraction. Being quite a specialised procedure, it will generally cost between $1600-$2900. If it’s a front tooth root canal, this will work out a little cheaper, costing anywhere between $1600 -$1900. However, molars can be slightly more expensive in price ranging from $1900 -$2900. 

2. Filling Dental Cavities

Filling dental cavities will ensure your teeth remain intact, reduces chronic pain and helps preserve your teeth without further damage. Your emergency dentist will determine which material to use on your teeth for protection, as well as restoring your ability to chew properly, such as a crown. This may include resin composites or white coloured filling, costing anywhere between $250-$500 depending on the number of surfaces . Your emergency dentist Canberra will explain the exact costs for your cavity at the time of your appointment. 

3. Dental Crown

A dental crown is often needed when a tooth is fractured, a filling is missing, where a root canal may be required or excessive discolouration is present. Whether metal or porcelain, your dentist will determine the right crown for you. A metal crown is longer lasting and more durable, costing anything from $2500- $2900.  A porcelain crown is usually placed on front teeth, where it’s more visible. The approximate cost is around $2500- $2900. 

4.Tooth Extraction

A tooth extraction is usually the last resort in a dental emergency and is usually necessitated because of a chronic fracture or severe infection present. Being a serious emergency procedure where an anaesthetic is required, this can range anywhere from $575 to $675.  A non-surgical extraction will cost between $450-$550.

Claim Through Your Private Health Insurance

Private Health Insurance comes with various different plans, all with different levels of coverage and pricing. Some extras plans can help with X-Rays, Fillings, Tooth Extractions and emergency care. Having the right health insurance will not only reduce your ‘out of pocket’ expenses, it will also give you peace of mind when dental emergency strikes. At My Dentist Canberra, we offer on the spot payment with a range of private health insurers; however, it’s important to check your policy for gap payments, annual limits and waiting periods. You can have most, if not all of your emergency dental costs covered with top of the range extras cover, making it a more cost-effective choice, should the inevitable happen. 

Choose a Flexible Payment Plan

If you don’t have private health insurance or your existing plan doesn’t cover enough for your emergency procedure, My Dentist Canberra offers flexible payment solutions to help ease some of the financial burden. This ensures you get access to immediate care without the additional stress of ‘how to pay’ for it all. You can apply for this at the clinic and get ‘on the spot’ approval – with minimal paperwork and no upfront costs. You also choose what suits you best – weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments. Alternatively, you can opt to pay with Afterpay , Zip, National Dental Plan and Medicare for extra flexibility. 

Early Super Release for Full Mouth Rehabilitation

Although not widely offered, accessing your super may be an option if you’re undergoing full mouth rehabilitation.  You can apply to have funds released through the ATO under compassionate grounds – providing you can prove it’s an essential treatment that will help deliver a better quality of life, as well as for health reasons. 

Your super may cover services such as extractions, dental implants, mouth restoration and comprehensive dental work. Undergoing a full mouth rehabilitation can be quite expensive. Therefore, it’s worthwhile seeking an early super release to help fund significant oral function and reduce daily pain.