Emergency Dentist Appointment? Make your visit more comfortable.
There are many reasons why you had to make an Emergency Dentist Appointment. Typically it’s not for good reasons i.e. Extreme toothache, broken tooth, lost crown, damaged braces and the list goes on.
Visiting the dentist isn’t fun at the best of times and can be very stressful for some people. With most people admitting that they feel uncomfortable whilst being sat in the dentist chair.
In this post we want to provide you with some suggestions on how to prepare yourself before the Emergency Dentist appointment. To make your visit as comfortable and painless as possible whilst providing your dentist with everything they need to help you.
If, however, you’re looking for advice on how to find an Emergency dentist, this article might be better.
Before your Emergency Dentist Appointment.
Some simple checks prior to your appointment will help things go far smoother.
If possible, carefully brush and floss your teeth, simple dental hygiene before your appointment makes it easier for your dentist to quickly clean the area.- If the dental clinic isn’t your regular dentist, it is wise to check if they need your dental history. If so, contact your regular dentist to have it sent over, if your lucky the emergency dentist will do this for you.
- Remember to bring Insurance and payment information, if it is a new dentist arriving a little bit early will allow the receptionist to process your insurance details and allow you ample time to fill out the health questionnaire that every dental office requires.
- If you have damaged a tooth or broken dentures/crowns etc, clean and bring the item with you preferably in a lidded container. This will make it easier for the dentist to replace or repair the damage.
- Arrive on time or early, dentists are known for running late, but getting there on time allows you to relax before seeing the dentist. This can be helpful. Often people arrive stressed out from work or from their journey to the dental office. Allow yourself 5-10 minutes before the appointment to relax.
- If your regular dentist can’t see you, forcing you to find a new dentist, it is wise to check the status of your dental insurance so that you are not left with a costly bill after the appointment with the new dentist.
These simple things can help improve your visit to the dentist.
During the Emergency Dentist Appointment.
Typically it is whilst the dentist is working that we feel uncomfortable or pain. This is especially true in Emergency appointments as there can be a lot of pain initially. Below are some key things you can do to relax and lessen the pain.
- RELAX, Studies show that once you sit in the dentist chair, stress levels increase with people clenching fists, and their muscles tightening. This is one of the core reasons for you being uncomfortable and can also lead to pain as the jaw muscles tighten making it harder for the dentist to work in the mouth.
Talk to the dentist before he/she starts. Take note to mention if you are nervous and ask what the treatment is to follow. If you have a sensitive gag reflex, tell the dentist, he/she will take extra care not to exacerbate gagging. If you are especially nervous or concerned, agree with the dentist a signal which will allow you to take a break. Raising of the hand is often a good method.
The key aspect here is for you to understand what he/she is doing but more importantly that the dentist knows what you are worried about. This is especially true for Emergency Dentist appointments as they can often be with new dentists.- “Music calms the savage beast”. A lot of the time, dentists will allow patients to plug into their MP3players or mobile phones with small headphones and allow them to listen to music. Or be able to play the music in the room from a speaker set. Listening to your favourite songs triggers the brain to think about old memories and instantly takes your mind off what the dentist is doing. We suggest you pick relaxing favourites and not a compilation of Thrash Metal.
- BREATHE, most people hold their breath whilst the work is being carried out. Often subconsciously again triggering the body to be uncomfortable and under stress. You should focus on your breathing when possible in through the nose and out through the mouth. Using deep breathing techniques will physically relax your body and mind.
This can be done through the dental appointment but especially at times of pain, as it will help you relax and focus your thoughts away from the pain.
After the Emergency Dentist Appointment.
Here we have a few points on what to do before you leave the emergency dentist and what you can do to reduce the pain after the appointment.
- Speak with the dentist after the appointment and check if there were any issues, what you should do to reduce the pain. Especially check if he spotted anything of concern that needs further work, this can often prevent you from needing an emergency appointment in the future.
- If you are visiting a different dentist to your regular one, this is a great opportunity for a second opinion. For example, if you have a cavity and you saw the dentist 3 months ago, should any decay should have been seen. If this is the case, you may need reconsider who your dentist is.
- Check with the receptionist that they have all your details, double-check that they have your address and phone number correct. Also make sure they have the right name, address and number for your current dentist, so that they can send the records through.
- If you are using a new Dentist make sure you get a receipt for the work done or a copy of the invoice they will be sending your insurance company.
- The dentist will recommend the best pain relief for your symptoms, but frequently Advil will help to reduce the pain and the swelling. If you are overly concerned about pain post-treatment, you ask for a prescription for pain-killer, but often enough the Advil will help and applying an ice pack for 15 minutes to the area will reduce help swelling. Repeat the ice packs every 15 minutes with breaks in between for 5 minutes and keep doing this for the first 24 hours.
We hope that the information we have provided above is useful and helps you during your Emergency Dentist Appointment.