Tips To Find a Dentist When Working Out of Town

Is it possible to find a dentist in a pinch when out of state or away on business? Imagine this scenario: You have flown 300 miles away for a business trip and now there is an aching molar or broken crown to handle along with work obligations! Before spiraling into a panic, understand that there are several options available for patients who need to find a dentist quickly.

Identify whether the situation is an emergency

While any dental problem that takes place away from home can feel like an emergency, it is important for patients to distinguish whether the current situation is a true emergency that warrants quick attention or whether it is simply an inconvenience.

An inconvenience can wait until the person returns home; an emergency calls for a patient to locate the nearest dentist as soon as possible. An urgent dental situation usually involves one of the following situations:

A sudden, severe toothache

Emergency-level pain can strike suddenly and quickly. If the patient is experiencing a minor ache that has been there for a few days, waiting until the return home may be a better choice; however, in the case of a sudden, sharp pain that makes concentrating impossible, it is a better choice to find a dentist while out of town.

A damaged, missing, or broken tooth

If a patient has fallen or has been involved in another type of accident and broken a tooth, the broken piece should be saved if possible and assessed by a qualified dentist for reattachment. Saving the tooth is not always possible, but the dentist should assess for damage to surrounding tissues and nerves.

Bleeding gums

A spot of blood while flossing is not an emergency situation — but swollen gums that are bleeding heavily may indicate an infection. Get to the dentist as soon as possible if these symptoms pop up while working out of town.

How to find a dentist while working out of town

When stuck in an emergency dental situation, patients may turn to family or friends in the area to locate the right provider. If the patient knows nobody in the area, asking managers or work supervisors at the local branch of the company that sponsored the work trip may do the trick.

If neither are options for the patient, a quick internet search and a few phone calls could turn up a dentist who holds emergency hours, which often include late night or weekend appointment times reserved for patients with immediate dental needs. Patients should inquire whether the dentist takes their insurance. If not, there may be an option to set up a payment plan if the damage or procedure is expensive. If the patient does not have insurance, a local dental school or community clinic may be able to offer treatment at a reduced cost.