The Emergency Exam
There are a couple of ways clients enter our practice for the first time. Sometimes, clients are looking for a tour of their mouth, wanting to know everything that is going on with their oral health. Sometimes, something specific has come up that causes immediate sensitivity or concern. In this case, we generally want to see them as soon as possible so that we can alleviate the sensitivity and figure out what is going on. Continue reading to learn more about how we take on new clients for emergency visits.
When a client calls for the first time with a specific issue they want addressed, we first try to figure out if it is an emergency.
Is it an emergency?
If the client is experiencing high levels of sensitivity, it might be an emergency. In this case, we ask the client to come in as soon as possible, and to be patient until we have room in the schedule to see them. Our regularly scheduled clients take priority, and we will have the emergency client seated as soon as possible. At that point, we will do what we can to alleviate the sensitivity, we will figure out what the most likely cause is, and we will book back for treatment once the sensitivity has dissipated.
Does it need to be addressed immediately?
Sometimes, a client may not be experiencing sensitivity, but still needs to be seen right away. A good example of this is chipping a front tooth. If it’s not sensitive, it might not be a true emergency. At the same time, the client may not want to walk around with the chipped tooth. In this situation, we try to get the client in as soon as possible for treatment. The dental administrator on the phone will likely ask you to come in and be prepared to wait: we will have you seated as soon as we can, between our regularly scheduled clients.
We usually ask our new clients to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start of their appointment to fill out and go over any client screening forms. We generally send out new client paperwork a day or two prior to the appointment, as well as a health screening form on the same day as the appointment. If you would like us to request any paperwork from a previous office, this can be done at the same time, or we can even send you an electronic form a few days before so that you have your previous chart information on-site for your first visit with us.
Is this appointment for an emergency or specific exam? Or is it for a complete oral exam?
If this is a new client exam with a full exam and hygiene appointment, we will likely book you in for a complete oral exam. However, if this is an emergency or specific exam, we will book you in for a shorter, more exact appointment now, and book the complete oral exam for later on down the road.
Sensitivity
We have all experienced tooth pain or sensitivity at some point in our lives. If you are experiencing sensitivity, contact us today.
What does the emergency or specific exam look like?
Specific exams usually take anywhere from 5 (for simple cases, like kids) to 30 minutes (for complex cases). Your dentist’s objective is to (1) figure out what is going on, (2) relieve sensitivity, and (3) book you back for treatment.
Figuring out what’s going on
First, your dentist will ask you about any tooth pain or sensitivity. They will also do some tests to determine what is causing the sensitivity. This usually involves taking radiographs, which can help diagnose impacted teeth, abscesses and decay or cavities between teeth. These radiographs also provide a baseline to help identify changes in the future.
Modern radiograph machines emit very little radiation. We commit to exposing you to the least amount of radiation during your visit, and we do this in two ways. We start by only taking the radiographs we need, and we follow up by investing in electronic radiograph machines that expose you to about the same amount of radiation as you would experience during a day in the sun or a weekend watching TV.
Relieving sensitivity
Once your dentist has worked with you to determine the cause of the problem, they will do what they can to relieve the immediate sensitivity. For example, if there is an abscess, they might recommend an antibiotic for a week.
Booking you back for treatment
If there is a problem that requires further treatment, you may need to book back for future treatment. The purpose of emergency and specific exams is truly to diagnose the issue and relieve sensitivity.
At the end of your appointment, you will know what is happening in your mouth, what your options are, and what the next step is. Before leaving the office today, you will be able to book back for the next step in treatment.