Is Treatment the Same at an Emergency Clinic?

Dental trauma is not something anyone wants to suffer, it’s inconvenient, frightening, and often very painful, but it might help to know that there are numerous emergency clinics that run day and night to offer support for just such occasions. These surgeries are staffed twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year – even Christmas and New Year. Although the team won’t be the faces you are used to seeing at the dentist – unless you are a patient with an emergency clinic – they are trained to the same standards, and can provide for every kind of dental trauma you can think of. If you’re worried about receiving  treatment from an unfamiliar dentist, rest assured that the best care is being taken before, during, and after your time at the surgery, the staff are every bit as professional and helpful as your regular dentist. Furthermore, emergency clinics are used to seeing new people walk through their door, day or night, so they have a lot of experience with nervous patients who have never visited before.

I’ve suffered some dental trauma, should I try and get in contact with my usual dentist?

If it’s during working hours, you could certainly try, but a lot of dental surgeries are fully booked for check-ups and other treatments during the day, so it’s likely that they won’t be able to fit you in straight away. If you can wait, that shouldn’t be a problem, but time is normally a factor with dental trauma, particularly with knocked-out or severely damaged teeth. It’s understandable why most people would prefer to speak to their regular dentists, they will have formed some type of relationship with them and be comfortable in their presence, unfortunately, if you have an accident out of hours and need emergency assistance, it’s more than likely that you will be speaking to a new dentist. If you’re not sure about what action to take following an injury, it’s often helpful to call your normal surgery and take some information down from the answer machine, as they sometimes provide contact details for the nearest emergency clinic.

How are emergency dental clinics operated?

The majority of emergency surgeries will be open twenty-four hours a day for walk-in patients, as well as operating as a normal clinic during the day and offering emergency appointments whenever they are needed. It’s not always necessary to call beforehand, although some patients might like to explain their situation, or speak to a member of staff about their situation. Depending on the clinic in question, you might be put through to an answer machine to make an appointment, however, most places are aware that patients suffering accidents would probably prefer to talk to a human being, rather than explaining themselves to a machine, and so they have someone available to take emergency calls at all times.

If you’re worried about speaking to a new dentist, remember that all certified clinics in the UK train their staff to a high degree, and employ only qualified dentists and nurses as part of their team. It’s understandable that you might be wary of unfamiliar faces, but just because you’ve never met them before, doesn’t mean they are any less qualified or professional than your regular surgeon. If you are feeling particularly anxious before you are referred for treatment, it might be a good idea to discuss sedation techniques with your dentist; a relaxed patient makes things run smoother for everyone involved. When you are comfortable with your new dentist, they will examine your teeth to determine what the problem is, this is sometimes obvious, but x-rays may be required for more ambiguous symptoms. The great thing about these types of clinics is that they are fully equipped to deal with a range of problems, from physical damage, to pain related to infection, and they often have more equipment to hand than your regular dentist might have.

Is there any paperwork to fill out?

Before you can be admitted for treatment, you will be required to fill in a general health questionnaire – in the same way as if you were visiting a hospital you have never been to before. This is because the staff are not familiar with your medical history, and don’t have any records of previous treatments or health conditions that could affect your current circumstances. These forms are generally quite simple to fill in, but make sure you answer the questions fully and accurately, otherwise you could be held responsible if something untoward should occur during your surgery. One of the more prevalent issues is if you are on any type of medication, it’s not always safe to administer anaesthetic or sedatives if the patient is already taking something, so the dentists really need to know if you have any prescriptions that could adversely affect your treatment. It won’t do you any good to withhold vital information, so be honest and clear with your answers.

If your situation is not an immediate emergency, or you have some time spare after your paperwork has been filled out properly, you might be offered a permanent place at the clinic. This is well worth considering, especially if you have on-going dental problems that flare up at all hours. Joining a surgery that provides emergency support could be a real bonus in the future, as you won’t have to fill out paperwork in as much detail, and you might even become more familiar with the members of staff who are there to help you.

Is treatment for dental traumas more expensive than normal dentists?

It’s fairly typical that emergency treatment for dental trauma is a little bit more expensive than your regular check-up, but you can still get good quality care for a reasonable price, with a little forward planning. The Pearl Dental Clinic can offer you great service at competitive prices, and they aim to see each emergency patient within twenty-four hours of their complaint, give them a call if you’re looking for the best in dental care.