No matter the cause, having a dental emergency is usually not a fun experience. Whether you have an acute toothache or bit into the bone of your barbecued ribs and chipped your tooth, you’re probably feeling anxious on top of in pain. If you’ve never had an immediate issue with your teeth, you might be scared and unsure of what to expect. Fortunately, we’ve put together this list of 4 steps you can expect your dentist to take when you arrive for your appointment.
Step #1: Scheduling Your Appointment
If something unpleasant has just happened that resulted in a dental dilemma, try to remain calm. It’s natural to panic, but it won’t help your situation. Try to take a few deep breaths, and then call your dentist. Depending on your circumstances, they’ll book you to come in either right away or as soon as they have availability. They may also provide over-the-phone care instructions that you can follow in the meantime.
Step #2: Examination
Once you arrive, the first thing your dentist will need to do is assess the condition of your teeth and gums to identify the issues and suggest possible solutions. They may require X-rays or other imaging to get a comprehensive picture of what has taken place. If there is no obvious cause for the problem they’ll verify whether there are underlying issues that might be at play. For example, if you arrive with an excruciating toothache but there are no visible cavities, they’ll check for signs of gum disease or look for an abscess in your X-rays.
In order to avoid unforeseen complications, you may need to share your most recent medical history with your dentist, too, so that they don’t offer a solution that could interfere with other conditions or medications.
Step #3: Pain Relief
Your dentist won’t want you to be uncomfortable for any longer than absolutely necessary, so they’ll probably apply a local anesthetic to the impacted area to numb it. They may offer other forms of sedation, depending on the extent of the injury. If they need to perform a root canal, for example, they’ll probably use nitrous oxide while they work. Many also provide oral sedation in pill form or can supply you with medication intravenously.
Step #4: Treatment Selection
Based on their findings, your dentist can recommend a treatment to remedy the issue. Depending on the situation, they might have more than one for you to choose from. Though they may not be able to completely repair the damage in a single visit, they can at least get started. For instance, if a tooth was knocked out and can’t be reattached, your dentist can give you options to restore your smile but probably won’t be able to give you the finished false tooth that same day. There are steps they must follow to ensure your restoration fits well and is built correctly.
While it may be intimidating to find yourself in the middle of a dental emergency, your dentist can help get you back on your feet and on your way to restoring your perfect smile!
About the Practice
At Amberly Dental, patients of all ages benefit from two dentists who provide a full range of oral healthcare services all under one roof. They provide same-day appointments in case of emergency and offer multiple forms of sedation so that you don’t have to wait for relief. Their dedicated dental team is happy to provide first-aid instructions over the phone. If something has happened and you need an appointment, you’re welcome to request one on the website or by calling (402) 786-2007.