When money is tight, it is natural to try to reduce your spending as much as possible. For example, you might try home remedies before spending money on seeing a medical professional. However, seeing a dentist about a toothache is an expense that you cannot afford to put off. Here are four reasons to schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist even if you are on a tight budget.

1. You Can Pay Later

Most dentists offer payment plans to allow their patients to spread the cost of treatment. If you do not have enough money to pay for a dental appointment right now, you can still get treatment and repay the cost over the next few months. When you schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist, ask about payment plans to find out whether they offer this option.

2. Financial Help Is Available

Although many dental services are not covered by Medicare, the program does cover treatments that are essential for your health. If you have a concession card, you are also eligible for financial help via the Child and Adult Public Dental Scheme. If your income is low, be sure to ask your dentist about these programs. You could be eligible for low-cost or free dental care to treat your toothache and save your teeth from decay.

3. Delaying Toothache Treatment Increases Costs

Putting off getting treatment for a toothache could lead to more serious oral health problems developing in the near future. If you see a dentist right away, they might be able to act quickly to save the tooth with a filling or root canal procedure. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that decay will spread and you will end up losing the tooth. Tooth replacement options, such as bridges and dental implants, are typically much more expensive than fillings and root canal treatments.

4. Untreated Toothache Can Be Dangerous

Leaving toothache untreated not only increases the risk that you will lose teeth, but it also puts your general health at risk. Toothache can be a symptom of an oral infection. Without timely treatment, oral infections can spread from your mouth into the jaw bone and even into other parts of the body such as the brain. If you have a fever or swelling in your gums, do not delay no matter what your financial situation; find an emergency dentist who can prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection.