Are They as Good as My Regular Dentist?

During a dental emergency, lots of worries and concerns are likely to run through your mind, and one of the things that would probably keep you calm is to see a familiar face at the surgery, unfortunately, this is not always possible – especially if you have an accident out of office hours. Lots of patients might feel anxious about speaking to a dentist they aren’t familiar with, but most emergency dental technicians are every bit as friendly and professional as your regular dentist. The staff at the Pearl Dental Clinic are experienced with new patients and can provide high quality service for all your dental problems, give them a call day or night if you can’t get an appointment with your usual surgery.

How does the service work at an emergency clinic?

Emergency dental clinics are usually in operation twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, offering walk-in service as well as emergency appointments to anyone who needs assistance. You don’t need to call beforehand, although some patients prefer to let the staff know they are on their way, or would like to ask their advice on their current situation. The majority of clinics, because they are staffed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, will have someone available to answer your call and speak to you if you would like some help. Occasionally, you might find a clinic that will connect you to an answering machine before you can make an appointment, but a large percentage of surgeries choose to cater to the needs of the patients and have a member of staff waiting to take the incoming calls. It’s generally agreed that patients who are experiencing an emergency are better off speaking to someone who is trained to deal with their personal situation, rather than explaining themselves to a machine.

All certified emergency clinics in the UK will have a team of highly qualified surgeons, who are fully trained to help with any type of dental emergency, just because you haven’t been referred to them before does not mean that the service you receive will be any less competent. Furthermore, you don’t have to be a current patient of the clinic or be affiliated with them in any way if you require treatment, that’s what is so helpful and convenient about the walk-in services that these places provide. Nervous patients are well catered for at these types of surgeries, as the staff are often used to working with people who are scared or in some pain. There is sedation available if your nerves really get the better of you, and more surgical equipment that you might usually see at a dental clinic.

Most reputable surgeries will require you to fill out some paperwork before you can undergo treatment, this is simply because they won’t have seen you before, and don’t know any specifics about your medical history. It’s normally quite a simple questionnaire that just makes it clear if there are any health issues that might affect your treatment or if you are taking any medication that could react badly with anaesthesia, you might also be given the opportunity to become a permanent patient of the clinic – this is definitely worth considering if you are worried about the on-going condition of your teeth.

After you are referred to a surgeon, the examination will allow them to determine what sort of treatment you require. Most dental clinics work with qualified oral surgeons, who are available to carry out any emergency procedures that your regular dentist wouldn’t be equipped to perform. This can range from simple x-rays to more complicated surgeries like tooth replacement and extensive dental damage. It may be that you require immediate attention, but the most appropriate course of action is to deal with any pressing issues – such as heavy bleeding or missing teeth, and then make another appointment for the next day, when the patient’s condition can be re-evaluated. Some surgeries operate normal working hours and then open the emergency clinic at night time, whilst others open their office into the evening, and then hand over to the emergency staff in the later hours. The hours of surgery and emergency clinic vary from place to place, but most establishments have normal operating times and then emergency ones for the out of hours patients.

You should make sure the dentist talks you through your treatment fully before you sign anything, outlining the cost and presenting you with a step by step breakdown of all procedures required. If you don’t feel adequately informed by your surgery, ask them to make things a little clearer before you agree to anything, and if you are in serious doubt of their credentials, look elsewhere for treatment. Having said that, the majority of certified emergency clinics can provide you with a highly professional service, with full aftercare and patient advice available.

Is the emergency clinic more expensive than my normal surgery?

You might be surprised to find that a lot of emergency clinics are actually quite competitively priced – if you find one that is significantly cheaper than most, it’s likely that there is a reason for this, so don’t immediately jump on the cheapest option, or you could come out worse off than when you went in. A lot of people who are desperate for medical assistance might not consider price to be an immediate issue, but that kind of attitude could cause financing problems later on in the process, the best thing to do is read some testimonials online about service and price and choose a local clinic that would suit you best, should you have an accident or dental emergency. Prior planning can really safe you some time and stress down the line, so keep their contact details handy and you won’t be scrambling around for assistance if the worst should happen.