Do you know what to do when a dental emergency occurs? You may have a special kit, complete with gauze, pain relievers, and dental cement, that you can use at home to manage the situation, but what can you expect when it’s time for your emergency dental visit? Do you know what steps your dentist will take to restore your smile and help you out of pain? Read on to discover a typical approach your dental team might take when dealing with an oral injury.
Step 1: The Examination
When arriving at the dentist’s office, you will be immediately escorted to a treatment room to undergo dental X-rays and other similar imaging. This will help your dental team understand the problem and what is causing pain, swelling, etc.
Your dentist will look for signs of inflammation, damage (i.e., cracks, chips, fractures, etc.), or infection. This can occur above or below the gumline, which is why X-rays and high-resolution imaging are required.
Step 2: Relieving Your Pain
Your dental team wants to help you get out of pain as quickly as possible. If you know where it hurts, make sure to clearly explain it during your appointment. Your dentist may suggest an injection or other pain relief to help you feel more comfortable. Also, they may suggest anti-inflammatory medication or antibiotics to address an infection or swelling.
Step 3: Create a Treatment Plan
After examining your mouth and reviewing the digital X-rays, your dentist will create a personalized treatment plan. They will explain how they plan to address the problem using specific restorative solutions (i.e., dental fillings, dental crowns, root canal, tooth extraction, etc.). If you agree with the recommended service(s), they will either administer treatment on the same day or schedule it for a later date.
Step 4: Receive Essential Treatment
Based on the severity of the injury and the type of restorative treatment required, some potential procedures that might be required to fix your injured tooth or teeth include:
- A root canal to address a serious infection and avoid extracting the tooth
- A dental crown to repair a broken or damaged tooth
- A dental filling to restore a cavity-stricken tooth
- A tooth extraction to remove a severely decayed tooth that is posing a risk to remaining teeth
- Antibiotics to eliminate a minor infection or reduce swelling caused by facial trauma
When you know what to expect at an emergency dental visit, you can trust that you will get the timely care you need from a team that cares about helping you out of pain.
About the Practice
Silver Creek Dentistry comprises multiple dentists who provide full-service dental care with the most advanced, innovative dental technologies available. Offering high-quality, comfortable solutions for all patients, our team is here to work quickly when a dental emergency occurs. Regardless of the damage or level of decay, we have the treatment options you need to experience relief and enjoy a fully restored smile. Contact us via the website or by calling (920) 748-7200 if you need help with an unexpected dental injury.