One of the most annoying things about a dental emergency is that it can happen when you least expect it, and the experience can be frightening. Fortunately, a visit to an emergency dental clinic can make you feel much better in no time. However, emergency dentists must gather crucial information from patients before proceeding with treatment. This article explores some of the questions you should expect from an emergency dentist.

Where is the source of pain? 

When you walk into an emergency dental clinic, the first thing a dentist will ask you is the source of pain. Notably, the exact source of the pain can help a dentist determine the type of treatment to administer or the painkillers to use. For instance, if you only experience lingering pain on your teeth when you drink or eat something cold or hot, it could indicate an inflamed pulp or worn enamel. On the other hand, pain originating from the back of the jaw could be a sign of an impacted wisdom tooth. Most importantly, the correct description of the source of the oral pain helps an emergency dentist administer the correct procedure.

Can you rate your pain? 

Once you let an emergency dentist know the source of pain, they will ask you to rate the severity. For instance, you are the only person who can tell the intensity of a toothache and no one else; hence, you should be as accurate as possible. The reason is that effective pain management depends on the intensity of the ache. For example, if you rate your pain 7/10, an emergency dentist will give you a strong painkiller that lasts a couple of hours. On the other hand, if you rate your pain 3/10, a dentist will administer a mild painkiller. Thus, you must rate your pain as accurately as possible to get the proper treatment.

Does any other facial part hurt? 

When most patients show up at an emergency dental clinic with pain, the chances are high that they also suffer aches in other areas of the face. Similarly, pain originating from facial areas could radiate in the teeth and jaws. Therefore, an emergency dentist must find out if any other part of your face hurts besides your teeth, gums, or jaws. For instance, a sinus infection might register as dental pain because the ache typically radiates to the cheeks and jaws. Similarly, trigeminal neuralgia -- nerve disorder -- can trigger pain in the teeth when the nerve is compressed. Therefore, let an emergency dentist know if any other part of your face hurts so that they can administer the correct procedure or refer you to another specialist.