Emergency Dentistry: Treatment Planning in Fairlawn
So you have already been examined by your dentist, what's the next course of action? It's a treatment plan. Here's how we do it at 911 Dental.
Our treatment plan is laid out in phases.
Phase 1: Acute Phase
In this phase, we aim at getting the patient out of pain. When you walk into a dental office with a dental emergency the last thing you want is to be delayed treatment. We ensure to first address the pain, swelling, infection, or trauma to make that patient calm down.
Some treatments can be postponed if there is no pain or risk of infection. However, others cannot. That's why we check each case before we determine the urgency of treatment.
Phase 2: Prevention Phase
After the acute phase, the patient should be empowered with advice and recommendations on how to prevent the recurrence of the initial pain they came in with. For example, if the patient needs to go home and return for treatment after some hours or days, what it is they should and shouldn't be doing? The prevention phase is aimed at educating the patient on what things they should start or stop immediately.
Phase 3: Definitive Phase
In this phase, all the treatment options are laid down and discussed with the patient. The severity of the problem is also explained. The definitive phase also involves tests, exams, and evaluations to get all the information out. The definitive phase is meant to solve the root cause. If a patient came in with pain and was stabilized, this is the phase that should inform the patient of the underlying cause of the pain and ways to permanently end it.
Phase 4: Maintenance Phase
The maintenance phase involved continuous monitoring of the administered treatment to ensure it worked as intended.
What's the importance of treatment planning?
Psychological preparation
Treatment planning provides the patient with clear guidelines on what they can expect with the actual treatment. Some treatments last for several months or at least require consecutive dental visits, preparing the patient psychologically ensures that the dentist and the patient know what to expect.
Familiarity
Most people do not like visiting the dentist out of fear. Without a treatment plan, the patient may never return. A treatment plan usually considers the patient's side for example during planning, the dentist may ask the patient about their availability and proximity to the dental office. This builds familiarity between the dentist and the patient.
Agreement
A treatment plan allows both parties to agree on how the procedures should be done such as the use of local anesthesia or otherwise.
Treatment planning may seem like a time-consuming activity and a patient may be worried that their no time to plan in emergency situations. But this is not the case. If the treatment phases are followed correctly and the patient is already out of pain, there's room to sit down and create a plan so that the available treatment options do not come as a surprise.
At 911 Dental, we understand the importance of a comprehensive approach to oral health. If you or your loved one requires treatment in Fairlawn, please reach out to us at 330-574-2991.
