"Still charged me for the visit though... go figure."
Haha, been there! Once rushed my son in because he complained about tooth pain all weekend—turned out he'd just bitten down awkwardly on popcorn kernels during movie night. Felt a bit silly paying for that reassurance, but honestly, peace of mind is priceless. You're doing great looking out for your kid's health, even if it sometimes feels like overreacting. Hope things stay calm for you guys from here on out.
I completely relate to this. Had a similar situation last year—my daughter woke up crying about tooth pain, and I panicked thinking it was something serious. Turned out it was just sensitivity from grinding her teeth at night. Still had to pay the full consultation fee, which stung a bit since we're on a tight budget. But like you said, better safe than sorry... dental issues can escalate quickly, so it's understandable to be cautious even if it feels unnecessary afterward.
"Still had to pay the full consultation fee, which stung a bit since we're on a tight budget."
Do you think dentists should offer reduced fees or maybe quick phone consultations for situations like this? I mean, it's understandable they charge for their time, but if it's something minor or easily identifiable, couldn't there be a cheaper option? I'm asking because I'm scheduled for my first dental visit soon (no kids yet, just me being nervous!). I've always wondered about these emergency appointments—like, is it really necessary to rush in every time, or could some things wait until regular hours? Obviously, serious pain or injury needs immediate attention, but teeth grinding sensitivity... would waiting a day or two have made any difference? Just curious if anyone's dentist has ever suggested alternatives before heading straight into an emergency appointment.
I totally get where you're coming from about the fees—it can feel pretty frustrating, especially when money's tight. Dentists do have overhead costs and their time is valuable, but I genuinely think offering quick phone or video consultations at a reduced fee would be a smart move. It could save everyone time and money, especially for minor issues like sensitivity or mild discomfort.
About your teeth grinding sensitivity... usually, waiting a day or two won't make things worse if it's just mild discomfort. But if it's persistent or getting worse, better safe than sorry. My dentist once gave me a quick call-back when I had a similar issue, and he reassured me it could wait until my regular appointment. Honestly, that short conversation saved me from an unnecessary emergency visit (and the associated fee).
Good luck with your first dental visit, by the way—it's totally normal to feel nervous, but you'll probably find it's not as bad as you're imagining.
Totally agree about quick phone consults—my dentist did something similar when my daughter chipped her tooth playing soccer. I was panicking a bit, but he called back within an hour and reassured me it wasn't urgent. Saved us a stressful (and expensive) emergency visit. Kids always seem to have dental mishaps at the worst times, don't they? Has anyone else's kid had a tooth injury from sports or just random kid stuff...?
