When Same Day Dental Appointments Are Required
When it comes to dentist visits, most can be scheduled months in advance. However, some situations require immediate attention.
In this article, I’d like to discuss three instances where same day dental appointments are a must
How Quickly Can I Get an Appointment?
I am a creature of habit. I like routine; in fact, I thrive on routine. As such, I come downstairs every morning, grab a banana, and make a cup of coffee. That cup is not the five-dollar kind. It is a simple cup of coffee. While I enjoy my morning starters, sugar and caffeine, I turn on the TV to watch the local news.
Lately, a commercial extolled the virtues of a medical facility that will get a patient an appointment the same day if they are in pain.
That concept of immediate response has been one of my practice cornerstones since I started my dental career.
In today’s world of scheduling months in the future, this health practice on television thought that this approach was new and refreshing.
They got that idea half right. It is definitely refreshing, but it is not new.
Any time you call my office with an emergency, we will do all that we can to see you that day. Let’s take some time to define when seeing a dentist that day is a necessity.
Three Dental Emergencies Requiring Same Day Dental Appointments
- Trauma:
Any time you fall on your face, get hit in the face, or have any of a myriad of accidents, you should see a dental professional as soon as possible.
If the lips or gums are involved, stitches may be needed. If your gums are bleeding, an exam to determine if teeth are misplaced is crucial.
Early intervention can prevent future scarring and the early death of teeth, which can have serious effects on one’s smile and oral health. - Facial or gum swelling:
If you wake up or feel like your gum is enlarged, this could be a sign of an infection.
When it comes to the mouth, gum, or facial swelling, it usually originates from a tooth. Your dentist can determine which tooth or teeth and recommend a fix.
In the era of antibiotics, we consider infections to be minor annoyances. Before antibiotics came on the scene, infections and their swelling coming from the mouth area often resulted in death. The faster that you can get an appointment, the better for you. - Severe pain:
If the center of a tooth is injured due to a cavity, the tooth will respond with severe inflammation. This inflammation originates in the center of the tooth and creates an internal swelling.
Because the tooth is a hard and small confined space, there is no place for the inflammation to spread. This confinement causes severe pain and pressure on the tooth. Over-the-counter toothache medicines will do nothing for this problem. Professional help should be sought out as soon as possible.
Let Us Help Ease Your Pain
If you are suffering, we will see you that very day.
There are many other situations where waiting a little bit is acceptable.
With that in mind, we won’t judge. If you are quite anxious about securing an appointment, tell us, and we will try our best to accommodate your desires.
Call us at 440.951.7856, and Nikki or Jamie will make that appointment for you.
My patients always know we will try our best to offer excellent, responsive oral care.
If you need us, we are there for you. In the meantime, take care of your oral health. Its importance in our lives is immeasurable.
Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD, is a highly qualified and experienced general dentist licensed in Ohio. He is also a respected Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine staff member.