What is an emergency dentist?
An emergency dentist is a dental professional that provides care for patients outside of office hours; they differ from regular dentists in that they don’t normally provide check-ups for cosmetic treatment or general maintenance. Most emergency dentists have appointments available 24 hours a day, every day of the year – including Christmas and other public holidays – and you don’t necessarily have to be registered with the specific clinics to receive care. Many people may not be familiar with this kind of service, and their first thought would probably be to go straight to the hospital as soon as something untoward occurs; however, this is not always the best course of action because doctors and nurses don’t usually have the right skills or equipment to deal with dental trauma effectively – it is also probable that they will have more pressing issues to be dealing with. Generally speaking, emergency dentists won’t provide cosmetic treatments, such as teeth whitening or cleaning, for that you would need to make a regular appointment. If you would like to register with a surgeon that provides 24-hour care, speak to a member of the team at the Pearl Dental Clinic; they should be able to organise registration for you and make an appointment if you require it.
Is an emergency dentist more expensive than a normal one?
Because it takes more time, money, and effort to arrange immediate care, you should expect to pay a slightly higher price for treatment from an emergency dentist. The cost shouldn’t be unaffordable for most working people, but it can still be substantially higher than treatment with your usual dentist. Any kind of service that demands instant attention and occasionally difficult surgery right away will inevitably be more expensive. Whichever surgery you are registered with – if any – the dentist should certainly explain the procedure beforehand and outline applicable costs to make sure you are fully aware of what you are undertaking.
You can definitely reduce your costs if you are aware of how serious your condition is to begin with; if you suffer with on-going dental problems that don’t necessarily need emergency care, you can make a normal appointment and save yourself some money. However, that doesn’t mean you should try and ignore painful symptoms or obvious malocclusions just to try and avoid spending money – sometimes expensive operations are necessary to keep you in good oral health.
How can I get in contact with an emergency dentist?
It is actually very easy to contact an emergency dentist if you are having trouble with your teeth; the best way to do it is to register with a surgery that provides this service in the first place, that way you are prepared for every eventuality. If you don’t want to change from your regular dentist but you are worried about possible complications in the future, just keep some contact details of the local emergency clinic handy; most surgeries operate a walk in service for patients registered with other businesses. In general, it is not necessary to swap dentists, but it can really help in the event of an emergency. If you are unsure about a specific clinic, speak to your normal dentist and see if they have any recommendations about local providers – it could also help to converse with friends and family members or checked online testimonials for previous customer’s experiences.
The easiest way to get in touch with an emergency dentist is over the phone; this allows you to speak to someone directly and it means you can explain the situation and describe your symptoms so that the team member can assess the extent of the problem. Although it is not necessary to phone ahead before arriving at the emergency dentist, some people prefer to speak to a professional instead of just turning up; it could put your mind at ease to talk things over with a dental nurse or a dentist and it may even transpire that you don’t require emergency assistance, which would save you a trip.
As well as direct contact with the emergency clinic, there are usually several dental lines available for information and advice; the operating times of these lines can vary depending on the company running them. This kind of assistance can be really helpful if you are unsure about your symptoms and you don’t want to make an unnecessary trip to the dentist. Such advice is also great for people with on-going dental problems that flare up at inopportune moments – usually outside office hours.
If you can’t find any contact details for an emergency dentist in your area, it might be helpful to call your usual surgery and make an enquiry; if you are experiencing problems out of office hours, it’s unlikely that there will be anyone available to take your call, but most clinics operate an answering machine service to provide patients with information on local offices that might be able to help.
Will I be treated by someone I know?
Unless you are registered with the emergency dentist that you arrange treatment with, then you won’t be speaking to your usual dentist or other members of the team that you have become accustomed to. Some people might find this a worrying thought, but there’s really no need to worry about your health and safety when working with a professional clinic; the team members will have received the same training as your regular surgeon and they will be prepared for every circumstance that is brought to their attention.
For nervous people, it is a good idea to register with a dentist that provides both regular check-ups and 24-hour care, that way it is possible to become acquainted with the staff and the thought of being treated in an emergency will not seem so daunting. Plenty of people up and down the country receive this kind of care on a daily basis and find that the team members they are referred to are every bit as caring and professional as their regular surgeon.