Helping Patients Find Weekend Emergency Dentists near Chandler, AZ

What Is a Weekend Dentist?

Dentists open on weekends are just like regular dentists you may already visit, though there are a few exceptions. The main difference is that these dentists open on weekends are available so that they can provide treatment to individuals who have dental emergencies.

The reason these dentists are open on Saturday and Sunday is because if someone suffers a severe dental problem during the weekend, they have somewhere they can go to receive treatment. Leaving a dental emergency alone and not treating the problem can lead to additional pain, and it allows for infections to form or spread. Since regular dentists are likely booked further out, weekend dentists are open so they can treat dental emergencies and keep them from progressing.

What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?

You may wonder if your situation counts as an emergency if you need to visit a dentist with Saturday hours. By definition, a dental emergency requires a professional to examine the issue immediately and provide treatment, as the problem could quickly get out of hand and result in further damage. Something like plaque buildup isn’t an emergency, and this can be handled by a regular dentist at regular intervals. However, if you have bleeding gums that aren’t getting better, your best option is to visit a weekend dentist.

There are several types of dental emergencies that our team at Johansen Dental can fix, including:

• Toothache. Some people think toothaches aren’t that serious and can be left alone for a long time. However, a toothache is evidence that there may be a larger problem with your gums, tooth’s root, or the tooth itself. For example, there could be an infection spreading in that area, or you might be experiencing tooth decay. A Saturday dentist can isolate the problem and determine how to treat it the day you come into our office.
• Tooth injury. Anything considered trauma to your tooth is known as a tooth injury. An injury could loosen up the tooth, making it shift to a different position or making it fall out entirely. If you quickly contact us and come to our office, we may be able to save your tooth or realign it. However, if you prolong treatment, the tooth can become more damaged and harder to treat.
• Avulsed tooth. Also known as a “knockout,” avulsed teeth are usually the result of a physical accident from playing sports or getting involved in an auto accident. The tooth can be saved and re-inserted into the socket, but you must act quickly. As soon as a tooth has been knocked out, visit a weekend dentist who can address the tooth immediately. If you have saline or salt water, you can rinse your tooth to remove any debris and make the re-fixing process easier.
• Dental abscess. If you notice swelling in your gums and they are full of pus, then there could be an abscess by your tooth. An abscess is an infection that weakens your tooth’s root or the space surrounding the tooth. If you don’t have it treated by a dentist open on weekends, your tissue could sustain damage, and the infection could spread throughout your mouth.
• Breaks, chips, or cracks. A weekend dentist can help you fix teeth that have been cracked, chipped, or broken. Cracks can sometimes be fixed with dental filling, but if you don’t seek dental care immediately after a break, the tooth can break down further. This could also leave an opening for an infection.
• Lost crowns or fillings. You might have crowns, fillings, or bridges due to past dental work. Sometimes, these can become loose or break, and if you wait too long before fixing them, you could damage your teeth further. A Saturday dentist can help you repair your restorations. If you need to get a new one, they can have one made the day of, or shortly after.

There are several types of dental emergencies that you sometimes can’t avoid. However, if you notice any dental emergency that’s preventing you from doing basic activities such as eating, drinking, or speaking, you must seek a weekend emergency dentist immediately.

Why Do I Need to See a Dentist Open on Weekends?

You might feel like you can manage your dental emergency and have your problem fixed a couple of months down the line. Our team at Johansen Dental highly advises against this, as leaving an emergency alone could lead to further damage that is hard to treat.

Weekend dentists are open because they want to help those who sustain dental emergencies over the weekend. This is more common than people realize, and if dentists didn’t open on weekends, you would have nowhere to go if you suffered a tooth injury during the weekend. Dental emergencies are also unexpected, and if you don’t have a plan in place for what to do in these situations, your pain could become more excruciating.

Some people use short-term remedies to manage their pain, but this should only ever be used as a temporary solution. Methods such as rinsing your mouth with water or taking over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen can help calm down your pain, but this won’t solve the problem. Thankfully, weekend dentists have the tools and skills required to treat your emergency.

What Should I Know About Weekend Dentists?

An appointment with a weekend dentist looks very similar to a regular dentist’s appointment but with a few changes.

First, when you contact a weekend emergency dentist for help, you can usually get into their office the day you call, or the following day. Unlike a regular dentist’s office, you won’t have to wait in the office for too long before being seen. Not as many people seek dental care on the weekend compared to during the week, you can be examined sooner than you would on a weekday.

Weekend dentists start the appointment by checking your mouth for any problems, including the ones you’ve mentioned on the phone or in person. If your dentist cannot see the issue with their own eyes, they may use X-rays or other similar devices to check for issues. For instance, a chipped tooth may be obvious to a weekend dentist, but if you’re having a toothache, your problem may not always be noticeable.

After an examination, the weekend dentist then decides how to treat your case. If you have something like a cracked tooth, they may be able to resolve this the day of. However, more extensive issues might take an extra day to treat. What the dentist does depends on how severe your condition is, and while every weekend dentist wishes they could fully resolve your case the day you come in, this sometimes isn’t possible.

It’s worth knowing that if a weekend dentist cannot fix your issue on your first visit, they’ll not only reschedule you as soon as possible, but they’ll provide a temporary treatment plan. For example, if you have a broken crown, they may give you a temporary fixture so you can eat and drink without causing harm to your actual tooth. Root canals may require a second visit as well, but the dentist can prescribe specific pain medication that is stronger than over-the-counter options.

Why Aren’t All Dentists Open on Weekends?

It can be frustrating knowing that your primary dentist doesn’t open their offices on the weekend, but this isn’t because they don’t want to help patients. This comes down to the reality of running a business.

Dentists open their own private practices and hire hygienists and office staff as a way to help multiple people at once. However, many of these dentists cannot stay open all week due to limited staff, finances, and other factors. Because dentists are technically considered business owners, they can assign hours to all of their employees however they’d like, and many dentists opt to open only from Monday through Friday. However, not every dentist follows this pattern.

Some dentists specifically open only on weekends, while others have the resources needed to remain open all week and weekend. If people didn’t have access to a dentist with Saturday hours, for example, then they would be forced to wait out their emergency until they could be seen by a professional. Dental emergencies must be taken seriously and addressed quickly. Because of this, some dentists are open on weekends, so they can help individuals at any time with their toothaches, mouth injuries, bleeding gums, denture problems, and other dental issues.

Do Weekend Dentists Charge More Than Other Dentists?

Some people are concerned about the cost of weekend emergency dental services, which has prevented some from seeking help at all. While it is true that you may be required to pay more for an emergency dentist’s services, this is based on two factors only found in emergency situations.

First, dental emergencies are urgent matters. Because you must be seen quickly with short notice, it could cost more. Second, weekend dentists must use more advanced technology to handle your situation. Devices such as X-rays and custom-made fillings and crowns cost extra, and if you need these services on short notice, this can increase the cost as well.

You may think that you have to have all of your money ready as soon as you call EDS, but this isn’t the case at all. Many dentists, such as ours at Johansen Dental, understand that you may need an alternate payment method after dealing with an emergency. You may qualify for certain discounts or payment plans, which could be beneficial if you don’t have insurance. Regardless of your financial situation, we’ll work with you to ensure you’re able to pay while also receiving treatment.

Booking an Appointment With a Saturday Dentist Near Me

If you’ve had enough of your toothache or if you need to hurry and have a professional re-fix an avulsed tooth, booking an appointment with a weekend dentist is fairly simple.

The best way to get in touch with an emergency dentist on the weekend is to contact Emergency Dental Service and tell them what you’re dealing with. If you’re located near Chandler, AZ, even if you’re just visiting, they can put you through to our team at Johansen Dental. If you’re out and about and experience a dental emergency out of nowhere, we’ll work to resolve it as soon as possible.

Get in Touch With Us Today

Dental emergencies almost always happen when you least expect them to. Weekends are meant to give you time to relax from work, run any errands you didn’t have time for during the week, or spend time with your family. Even if you don’t get injured, you could still experience bleeding gums or a toothache in the blink of an eye. When this happens, you need a trustworthy and efficient weekend dentist to treat your condition. It’s risky to wait it out and hope things will get better, as dental emergencies only become worse when left alone.

Emergency Dental Service has put together a list of weekend dentists near you, so feel free to browse their selection. If you have a dental emergency near the Chandler, AZ area, our team at Johansen Dental will be ready to assist you. Call EDS at 1-833-624-1382 to learn more about how we can help.