What to Bring to Your Emergency Dentist Appointment

Wondering what you should bring along to an emergency dentist visit? Read on to learn more. If you are rushing to the emergency dentist, do not forget to bring a few important things with you. A little bit of preparation can make a big difference in the quality of care you receive once you arrive.

What to bring when visiting an emergency dentist

An emergency dentist will act based on the immediate and most urgent issues a patient is facing. While they will be making decisions in the moment, a little background information can help the process move faster and provide valuable contextual information so the professional can make the right decisions for the patient.

Be sure to bring:

Identification

If the patient has identification, bring it to the appointment. This helps not just to identify them but also to look up insurance information (if relevant) and even gives the dentist a visual reference of the patient. If they have suffered trauma to the face, an ID picture can help the dentist restore the smile and facial structure to align with the patient's normal face.

Medical information

Any medical information, such as allergies, important medical conditions, and previous oral work, is important to share. If the patient is taking any medications or supplements, let the emergency dentist know, as some conditions or pharmaceuticals can interfere with some processes (such as anesthesia).

If you are not sure about this information, it is still helpful to tell the dentist what you know. If you can find the contact information for the primary care doctor the patient visits, share it.

Accident information

Any details about what happened to cause the emergency are invaluable for deciding how to treat it. A description of the trauma to the face (how recently it happened, what caused it, etc.) can inform the dentist's method of care, but if you are unsure how the problem began, say so.

In some cases, a tooth breaks or bleeding begins for seemingly no reason. Just share the last thing you know the patient was doing and any other information that may be relevant.

Any missing pieces

If a tooth has chipped or completely fallen out, be sure to bring those pieces with you to the emergency dentist if you can find them. Store teeth in milk or, ideally, in the patient's saliva on the way to the office. If the entire tooth is out, try not to touch the root(s) when you pick it up.

Support, when possible

Sometimes, a patient will need to go to the emergency dentist right away and has no time to wait for others. However, whenever possible, bring at least one person along. This helps to keep the patient safe and provides someone to help, including securing transportation if the patient needs to undergo surgery with anesthesia.