Offering patients effective recommendations to minimise dental pain whilst they wait for emergency dental treatment will mean that they are able to manage their discomfort at home, and have an overall more positive experience of the dental care process. Patients may search for home remedies for their pain whilst they wait for their treatment, which might offer varying outcomes. It’s important to be aware of what these might entail, and offer advice for effective pain management techniques.
Defining a dental emergency
When communicating with patients in preparation for practice closure over the Christmas period, it is important to clarify what defines a dental emergency. This will help patients make decisions about how, when, and where they seek care, and how to manage any pain they’re experiencing.
The Clinical Standard for Urgent Dental Care[i] from NHS England outlines the varying types of conditions which may be considered emergency (life threatening), emergency dental need, urgent dental need, and non-urgent dental need. For example, a life-threatening emergency might include orofacial swelling that is spreading and may compromise the airway or orofacial fractures, a dental emergency might include uncontrollable bleeding or an avulsed permanent tooth, and urgent dental need might include severe dental and facial pain, fractured teeth, or significant facial trauma. Conditions might be considered non-urgent if patients are experiencing mild or moderate pain which is responding to pain-relief, have loose or displaced crowns, bridges, or veneers, or bleeding gums, for example.
Patient-centred communication
As specified by the GDC’s Standards for the Dental Team[ii] it is recommended to communicate effectively with patients. Patient-centred communication is essential, and should ensure patients receive full, clear, and accurate information that they can understand. This should be consistent before, during, and after any care they may receive, enabling them to make informed decisions with the guidance of the dental team.
Clear protocol over the Christmas holiday
Should a patient attempt to contact the practice whilst it is closed over the Christmas period, it is important that the answerphone message contains helpful information for patients experiencing dental emergencies. This should include ways that patients can access emergency treatment over the holidays, whether that’s an emergency out of hours service provided by your practice, or the NHS 111 service – a critical lifeline for those facing dental emergencies, offering advice and directing patients to their nearest available emergency dental service.[iii]
It is also important that patients receive advice for first aid, in case their condition is high risk and requires immediate management. For example, if a patient has a badly cracked tooth, advise that they rinse their mouth with warm water and apply a piece of gauze to stop the bleeding, or for a knocked-out tooth, provide clear and simple instructions about how to attempt to place the tooth back in the socket. It may also be helpful to have information and recommendations for managing dental emergencies available on the practice website.[iv]
Commonly, patients will contact the dental practice due to severe pain, seeking appointments and treatments as soon as possible. When very limited appointments are available over Christmas, it’s important to offer specific advice for pain management to help patients cope. For example, it may be beneficial to rinse the mouth with warm water, use dental floss to ensure any food is dislodged, and apply a cold compress to the cheek.[v]
At-home pain management techniques
There are a number of other potential home remedies that might help patients feel more comfortable whilst they wait for dental care, including relaxation techniques, like deep breathing exercises to help calm the nervous system, meditation to reduce anxiety, and distraction to divert attention away from the pain.
However, probably the most effective option for the majority of patients will be pain relief medication. Commonly, patients will reach for oral analgesics such as paracetamol and ibuprofen – yet these are slow to take effect (with ibuprofen taking 20-30 minutes[vi], and paracetamol up to one hour[vii]). Instead, for fast relief from toothache, recommend Orajel™. Containing 10% benzocaine, Orajel™ Dental Gel allows patients to apply the powerful local anaesthetic directly to the affected area for relief in less than two minutes. Plus, for patients experiencing more intense pain, Orajel™ Extra Strength can be found at the pharmacy and contains 20% benzocaine offering the strongest treatment for toothache.
By providing patients with the information and tools they need to manage their pain at home, dental practices can ensure an overall more positive experience whilst they wait for an urgent appointment at this busy time of year.
Author: Jenny Sinclair – Marketing Manager Orajel
For essential information, and to see the full range of Orajel products, please visit https://www.orajelhcp.co.uk/
[i] NHS England. Clinical standard for urgent dental care. Accessed August 25: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/clinical-standard-for-urgent-dental-care/
[ii] GDC. Standards for the dental team. Accessed August 25: https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle2/principle2
[iii] Smileology. Emergency dental care in Kent. Accessed August 25: https://smileology.co.uk/emergency-dentist-near-me-kent
[iv] Cleveland Clinic. Dental emergencies. Accessed August 25: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11368–dental-emergencies-what-to-do
[v] Cleveland Clinic. Dental emergencies. Accessed August 25: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11368–dental-emergencies-what-to-do
[vi] NHS. About ibuprofen for adults. Accessed Aug 25: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-adults/about-ibuprofen-for-adults
[vii] NHS. Common questions about paracetamol for adults. Accessed Aug 25: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/common-questions-about-paracetamol-for-adults/
