Most everyone faces a dental emergency at some point in life. When this happens, dentists often use something called the “pain scale” to help determine the severity of your pain to determine the best course for medical treatment.
How to Use the Pain Scale Effectively
The pain scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being very little pain and 10 being extreme or unbearable pain. Each individual feels pain differently. One person may consider their pain a 4 while another person with a similar condition may consider it a 9.
It’s up to you, as a dental patient, to let the person treating you know your honest level of pain so they can help treat you and address your discomfort.
There Is No Right Answer
When it comes to informing your doctor of the pain you’re in, there is no such thing as a “right” answer. Your goal should be to determine how much of this pain you can tolerate and provide what you consider to be an accurate number to describe how you are feeling.
When you find yourself in a dental emergency, this step is likely skipped if the injury or concern is obvious, but when it is not, it’s best to give physicians the number which describes your distress. Inform them it feels like an emergency because sometimes the symptoms or indications of your problem are not visually evident.
Getting the Best Care
Don’t try to hide the pain you are feeling or keep pushing your dental concerns to the bottom of your to-do list. Over time, dental issues can worsen and result in greater physical complications and more expensive treatment. Remember that your dental health can affect more than just your mouth; germs can spread to internal organs and (in extreme cases) may infect your bloodstream.
Springdale Dental Centre offers the care and understanding you need when encountering a dental emergency. Call us now at (905) 458-1212 and meet our attentive and trustworthy staff.
