Appointment Request
Dental pain is terrible! If you have an extreme toothache or significant damage to one of your teeth, you should certainly call your dentist to request an emergency appointment. They will arrange their schedule to see you as soon as possible, possibly even on the same day. What can you expect when you arrive in the office for emergency care? This blog post provides an overview of what might happen:
Examination
In order for your dentist to help you, they need to understand the problem. Therefore, one of the first things that will happen during your appointment is an examination. Focusing specifically on your areas of pain, your dental team will use their eyes, dental instruments, and possibly X-rays to get a clear idea of why you are suffering and how the situation can be addressed.
Pain Relief
Your dentist is likely to provide emergency pain relief. This may come in the form of local anesthesia, which can block pain signals and provide temporary relief from your dental problem. In some cases, appropriate doses of pain medication may also be provided.
Treating the Problem
Your dentist will propose a treatment plan that is tailored to your unique situation. In some cases, the problem can be addressed right away. For example, if a tooth is severely damaged, and there is no reasonable way to preserve it, your dentist may offer to extract the tooth. Other services that might be provided on a same-day basis include fillings, crowns (if your dentist has same-day crown technology), and more.
Other types of cases require more complex care that might not be available on the same day as your emergency visit. Your dentist will tell you how to care for your damaged tooth until you can come back for additional treatment.
Following Up
It is important to attend any recommended follow-up visits with your dental team. For example, if you had a tooth extracted, you should return to discuss tooth replacement options. If your dentist could not provide a new permanent restoration (crown, bridge, filling, etc.) on the day of your emergency visit, you will need to go back so your oral health can be stabilized for the long-term.
Your dentist wants to get you out of pain and back on the road to a healthy smile! Do not hesitate to request an emergency appointment if you are in severe pain.
Meet the Practice
At Ocean Oaks Dental Group of Vero Beach, we pride ourselves on using a combination of state-of-the-art technology and advanced techniques to provide top-quality care for patients. We are often able to accept same-day emergency cases, and we have an in-house lab that allows us to quickly create high-quality restorations. To learn more about us and how we may be able to serve you, contact our office at 772-569-4424.