Not knowing what’s wrong with your tooth
Pain makes it hard to think, and not knowing whether the tooth can be saved makes it worse. An emergency exam here follows a clear order so you’re never left guessing.
First, you describe what’s happening and when it started. Next, the dentist examines the area and takes digital X-rays, which show what you can’t see, like an infection at the tip of a root or a crack below the gumline. Then you see the X-rays on the screen beside you and hear plainly what’s wrong and what your options are.
Some problems need a hospital instead of a dental chair. If you have swelling that’s spreading toward your eye or neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, a high fever, or an injury to your jaw, go to an emergency room right away. The closest one open 24 hours is Summa Health’s Wadsworth-Rittman Emergency Department on Wadsworth Road, and for anything life-threatening, call 911.
Leaving with a prescription and no fix
Too many emergency visits end with antibiotics, a pain prescription and an appointment for some other day, while the tooth is exactly as broken as before.
Because root canals and extractions are done in this office, treatment usually happens on the same visit as the exam. If an infection needs to calm down first, you’ll hear why and leave with a set time to come back, not a vague “call us next week.” Emergency exams are fitted in the same day whenever the schedule allows, or at a set time on the next open day.
Pressured into a big treatment plan while in pain
Being handed a long, expensive treatment plan while your tooth is throbbing is not a fair time to make big decisions. It’s one of the things people most resent about emergency visits.
An emergency exam here focuses on the problem that brought you in. If the dentist notices something else, you’ll hear about it, but nothing beyond your emergency is started that day. Before any treatment begins, you hear its cost with your insurance applied.
Scared after years without a dentist
For many people, an emergency is the first time they’ve been in a dental chair in years, and the fear can be as loud as the pain. You won’t be lectured about the gap or how your teeth look.
You can agree on a hand signal before anything starts, and raising it stops the work. If you need more help staying calm, nitrous, oral or IV sedation are available, and Dr. Khalil holds a conscious sedation license, which few general dentists in Ohio have.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can I get an emergency exam?
Emergency exams are fitted in the same day whenever the schedule allows, and the earlier in the day you reach the office, the easier that is. If today is full, you get a set time on the next open day. The office is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What happens during an emergency dental exam?
You describe the problem, the dentist examines the area, and digital X-rays are taken to see below the surface. You look at the X-rays together on the screen, hear what’s wrong, and choose a treatment. Whenever it can be done, treatment happens on the same visit.
Do I need X-rays at an emergency exam?
Usually, yes. An infection at the root, a crack below the gumline or decay between teeth often can’t be seen with the eye alone. Digital X-rays show these quickly, and you see them on the screen beside you.
How much does an emergency exam cost?
It depends on your insurance. Many plans cover a limited emergency exam and the X-rays that go with it. If treatment is needed, you hear its cost with your insurance applied before anything starts.
Will you check my whole mouth during an emergency exam?
The exam focuses on what brought you in. If the dentist notices something else, you’ll hear about it, but only your emergency is treated that day. A full exam and cleaning can be scheduled once you’re out of pain.
Can I get treatment the same day as my emergency exam?
In most cases, yes. Root canals, extractions and infection treatment are done in this office. If a severe infection needs antibiotics before the tooth can be treated, you’ll leave with a set time to come back.