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What Can I Expect During an Emergency Dental Visit?

November 12, 2024

Have you been experiencing excruciating tooth pain?


Do you suspect you have an urgent dental emergency?


Did you suffer an oral accident outside of regular business hours that needs to be dealt with now?


If you never had a dental emergency or urgent dental need before, don't fret. There are an increasing number of urgent dental clinics nationwide, and they are ready to handle your urgent oral needs. 


While an urgent dental visit can look similar to a regular dental visit or cleaning, some differences exist; we want to set expectations for your emergency appointment to encourage you to take charge of your oral health.


Scheduling an Appointment or Seeking Medical Help

Sometimes, the hardest part is making the call, even if you're distressed.


Dental anxiety affects roughly 36% of the population, and this fear can be exasperated during an already stressful situation. However, as with most emergencies, time is of the essence; the longer you wait, the worse the problem can get.


If it is during regular office hours and you have a dentist you already like and are comfortable with, call them or check out their website to see if they have an online appointment scheduling option. We recommend calling them to explain the situation; they may be able to squeeze you in, and they will have time to prepare for your arrival adequately.


However, due to the nature of healthcare, some dental offices may not be available when you need them, especially if you have a pressing dental problem, are in significant pain, or suffer an accident outside of standard business hours.


In these instances, look for an urgent dental office to get you in sooner to address the situation. These clinics are specifically outfitted with the equipment and staff to handle all dental emergencies, from chipped or missing teeth to emergency root canals.


If no other option is available and the injury is severe, go to the nearest Emergency Room. While they won't be able to perform dental procedures in most cases, they can help alleviate the pain and stop significant bleeding until you can see a dentist.


What to Bring With You

If you have dental insurance, the most important thing to remember to have on hand is your insurance card and information. If you have a dental emergency and a tooth is knocked out, try to preserve it (either in milk, saliva, or a dental emergency kit) and bring it with you.


Some dental offices will have new patient paperwork available online; you may need to bring that. However, you may complete the paperwork in the office once you arrive. 


As cliche as it sounds, the next most important thing to bring with you is an optimistic attitude (or as much of one as you can muster, given the circumstances). Going to the dentist doesn't have to be anxiety-inducing or feel like a chore. If you have a dental emergency, remember that quickly acting is your best choice and that the urgent dental team is there to help you.

Check-in and Waiting Room 

Most dental offices will have you check in immediately at the reception desk.


If it's your first time visiting the office, there may be additional paperwork you'll need to fill out. New patient forms can help the team understand your medical background and dental needs. 


Waiting rooms can be tedious, especially during an emergency or if you're experiencing pain. Adults might consider bringing a loved one to calm them in the waiting room. 


Waiting rooms can be even more anxiety-inducing for children. While many family dentists or urgent dental clinics may have toys or entertainment in the waiting room, bringing your own with your little ones never hurts


Bringing their favorite toys or books to distract them in the waiting room can help calm their nerves before their appointment. 


Meet With the Urgent Dental Team

Once you're called back from the waiting room, the visit will look different depending on its nature.


If you came in due to a dental emergency, you may speak with a hygienist first or work directly with the dentist.


While hygienists and dental techs are there to help patients and perform specific tasks, the diagnostic process is usually up to the dentist. 


Discuss Problems & Receive Diagnosis

Here at STL Urgent Dental, we practice problem-focused dentistry. After you check in at our office, we will focus on your specific oral problem and address the cause of any tooth pain. 


Our methodology involves:


  • Taking X-rays.
  • Performing a visual examination.
  • Reviewing patient history.
  • Asking the patient questions and assessing their symptoms.
  • Running any specialized tests.


Once these tests are completed, we will discuss our recommended plan to solve the issue that you are facing. 


Taking X-Rays During Diagnosis

X-rays are an essential part of the diagnostic process. They allow dentists a full view of what's going on with your teeth and are utilized for diagnosing the root issue, procedure planning, and comparison after treatment.


Many different X-ray machines exist, so it's imperative to follow instructions while the images are taken.


At STL Urgent Dental, we use a 3D CBCT Dental X-ray, which helps our team understand our patients' situations. The 3D element allows us to view every dimension of the bone rather than 2D panoramic X-rays. 

Meet With the Dentist

Your time with the dentist is crucial during an urgent care or emergency visit. Their primary goal is to fix the immediate issue at hand.


The dentist will often determine whether you need an extraction or if the tooth is salvageable with another treatment. They will then discuss the options with you and explain their reasoning for any recommendations or actions they take.


The dentist will begin the procedure once you agree to the prescribed remedy. While we can't administer anesthesia, we do inject local anesthetics to numb the area.


In most cases, such as tooth extraction or reinsertion, the procedure will happen all on the same day, with a recommendation for a potential follow-up visit with your general dentist.


In other instances, such as some root canals, we may have to complete the entire treatment plan over several visits.


If the situation requires a specialist or different care, we will get the patient to a safe, manageable stage before helping with a recommendation to the required clinic.


Billing and Referrals

The last step in any dentist appointment will be checking out. If the dentist referred you, the receptionist or someone on the team can provide that information now.


You'll also establish payment methods and pay any immediate balances due for your visit. Every practitioner, general and urgent, has a different pricing method, the insurance they accept, and the types of coverage they work with. Ensure that you know the clinic's pricing model before your appointment.


The next step is looking forward to scheduling your next appointment. If you came in due to an emergency and need a specific follow-up appointment with your general dentist, you'll want to schedule it ASAP. 


Call STL Urgent Dental Today

Now that you know what to expect and understand the general flow of urgent dental visits, you are ready to move forward.


Remember, there is no shame in children or adults being nervous about dental visits. That said, your oral and overall health must stay up-to-date on your dental visits and act quickly if you have an urgent need.


Our St. Louis Urgent Dental team is here to help with your urgent, after-hours dental needs! We are open seven days a week (until 9 p.m. M- F) and deal with dental emergencies, including root canals, crowns, socket grafting, extractions, implants, broken teeth, and more.


Please note that we are a "problem-focused" clinic and do not perform regular cleanings.


Our procedure pricing and other details are on our website.


Schedule an appointment, and you'll be smiling again in no time!

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