If you are suffering from serious dental pain, you should not wait until your next checkup to find out the cause of your discomfort. Instead, you should schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist, who can investigate the cause of the pain and give you treatment. To ensure that the dentist can do their job quickly and safely, be prepared to give them the following information.
1. Where (Exactly) It Hurts
The more precise you can be about the location of the pain, the better. Pointing into a sore mouth can be uncomfortable and awkward, so try to describe the location of the pain as accurately as possible. For example, if you can tell the dentist that the second molar on the upper right is painful, that can be more helpful than pointing at the tooth and saying that it hurts.
2. When the Pain Started
It is important for your dentist to know how long the pain has been going on so that they can get an idea of what the cause might be. Pain that has been ongoing for a long time could be a sign of a spreading infection or decay gradually taking hold of a tooth. Think back over the last few days or weeks and try to remember when your toothache began.
3. How the Pain Started
Some dental pains develop gradually, whereas others have a sudden onset. If there was an event that triggered your pain, such as biting down on a hard piece of food or being in a sporting or auto accident, be sure to let the dentist know.
4. Any Other Symptoms
If you have other symptoms, such as a fever, headache or generally feeling unwell, it is important that you let the emergency dentist know. These symptoms could be signs of a spreading infection, which will likely require urgent treatment with antibiotics. Even if you think a symptom is not related to your dental issues, don't hesitate to mention it.
5. Any Medications You Take
Dentists need to know about medications that you take in case they could have an effect on your treatment plan. For example, blood thinners can increase the amount of bleeding that occurs during oral surgery or tooth removal, so it is important to let your dentist know so that they can prepare for this possibility. Even birth control can affect healing, so be sure to list everything.
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