When you’re dealing with a dental emergency you’ve probably been caught a little bit off guard by it. The last thing you want is to walk into a dentist’s office with no idea of what to expect.
Your dentist will be happy to put you at ease, but if you don’t know anything about what the visit will entail, it’s understandable to be nervous anyway. To help a little with that, here’s a guide to what you can expect from your dental emergency visit.
What Will Happen at My Emergency Appointment?
The first part of your emergency appointment will be taken up by a so-called emergency dental exam, wherein your dentist will check what the problem could be. Even for obvious issues like broken oral appliances, your dentist will probably still want to make sure there aren’t any underlying issues.
How Does an Emergency Exam Differ from a Regular Exam?
The primary difference is in what’s being prioritized. At an emergency exam, your dentist wants to be able to address whatever issue you’re having as quickly as possible, especially if you’re dealing with pain. As such, the emergency exam will focus exclusively on the area of the mouth where you’re having problems, and it will test only for those issues that can cause the symptoms you’re dealing with.
What Will Treatment Look Like?
If possible, your dentist will try and treat your issue during your appointment. If you have a chipped tooth, for example, they may use composite resin to repair the tooth quickly and painlessly.
If you have a severe infection, however, your dentist may instead put you on a course of antibiotics and ask you to come back for treatment. This may make the eventual periodontal therapy easier. Of course, your dentist will do whatever they can to help you with the pain.
Your dentist may also say that you need a treatment, like a root canal, that involves more than one step. In that case, they may begin the treatment during your first appointment, or schedule you to come in another day.
One thing’s for sure though; your dentist will do whatever it takes to ease your discomfort. If you’re dealing with a dental emergency, your dentist will be able to help you with whatever treatment you could need.
About the Author
Dr. M. Kent Smith has been practicing for over 30 years, and he is far from finished. Every day he strives to be better, and his patients can see the result of that passion in the quality of care he provides. Dr. Smith received his doctorate from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and he has received advanced training during his residencies at the VA Medical Center, the Children’s Hospital, and the O’Donoghue Rehabilitation Hospital.
If you have any questions about dental emergencies, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (405) 341-7773