Although many common dental problems can be avoided with proper preventive care, there’s no guarantee that you’ll never have a dental emergency. Thankfully, many dentists offer same-day visits for urgent scenarios, so you don’t have to wait to get help.
However, you might avoid calling your provider if you have dental anxiety or are unsure what to expect from your appointment. Continue reading to learn more about 3 things that typically happen during these visits for some much-needed peace of mind before you arrive!
Step #1: Exam
Issues like toothaches, decay, disease, and injuries can have one or more potential underlying causes. That means the first thing your dental team must do when you arrive is examine your mouth to identify the extent of the damage and the root of the problem. This can involve visually examining your teeth and gums or taking X-rays or other digital images and scans to see below the surface of your gums.
Once they’ve determined what needs to be fixed, they can suggest appropriate treatment plans and walk you through the details for your approval.
Step #2: Pain Relief
Then, depending on what happened, your dentist can provide a local anesthetic to numb the affected area and/or administer a sedative to alleviate any associated aches. Many also can administer multiple medications that can help you feel calm, relaxed, and comfortable throughout your visit, so that if one option isn’t feasible for whatever reason, you might still benefit from another.
For instance, oral conscious sedation is inhaled through a gas mask placed over your nose while we work and kicks in moments after it’s inhaled. This fast-acting medication is considered safe for most patients, but depending on your circumstances, your dentist might recommend oral conscious sedation instead.
Step #3: Treatment
Once you and your dentist have agreed on a treatment plan and you’re sitting comfortably, they can begin your procedure. Some services can be completed in the same visit, like undergoing an emergency root canal to alleviate a toothache or infection.
However, some services, like replacing dislodged teeth, might require multiple visits over a period of several weeks to complete from start to finish. Your provider will do everything they can to address the immediate concern, such as offering pain relief and making impressions, but might have to finalize your treatment at a later time.
Your dentist knows that many people feel nervous about their emergency dental appointments and will do everything they can to help you feel at ease once you arrive.
Meet the Author
Dr. Daniel Goldberg is passionate about helping families in East Gwillimbury build and maintain beautiful, healthy smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry, where he graduated with honors, and completed a one-year general practice residency at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Today, he combines a caring approach with advanced technology to provide a comprehensive menu of services to meet all your needs, including same-day emergency visits and multiple options for sedation. You can request an appointment on the website or call (289) 366-3024.