As someone from showbiz, I had always needed to be cognizant of my appearance, including my dental hygiene. But, as your best-laid plans are often foiled, a persistent toothache crept up on me despite my best efforts to keep my dental hygiene top-notch.
It started with persistent throbbing pain in my left cheek for a couple of days, but as with most minor niggles, I didn’t think much of it at first. It was only when I was jolted up in the middle of the night, crying in sheer agony, that I realized something had gone seriously wrong.
Teledentistry Emergency Dentists
6127 S Rainbow Blvd Suite 105, Las Vegas, NV 89118, United States
+18885883394
Trying To Reach My Regular Dentist
My first instinct was to try and call my dentist, but it was after hours, and there was no response. Moreover, I could not reach any emergency dentists in and around my area as they were either shut down or even too overbooked to accommodate me first thing in the morning.
I felt as if I was alone, in excruciating pain, and had no idea what to do. All I knew was that I desperately needed help with my dental problem. At this point, it had completely halted my normal functioning, with me unable to go to work to interact with anyone normally.
Even though I had heard about teledentistry before, I was hesitant to try it out. As with most people I’ve spoken to, I always felt more comfortable seeing my physician as well as my dentist in person. But now, with no other options available, I decided to give it a try.
I figured anything had to be better than sitting alone with my troubles with no help in sight. So, I found a teledentistry service online and scheduled a video call for the next morning.
Getting Some Help, Finally
The next morning, I woke up feeling miserable, as much as I had expected. The searing pain had kept me up all night, and I was not looking forward to what lay ahead. With not much else going for me, I jumped on the video call with my scheduled teledentistry advisor.
However, to my utter astonishment, the call went swimmingly. The dentist at the other end was friendly and professional, and we quickly got down to business. It started off with me describing my symptoms to the dentist, who listened patiently.
Then, he had me open my mouth to take a look inside. For a thorough inspection, I had to bring the camera near the opening of my mouth. After checking for a while, the dentist was able to surmise that one of my molars was inflamed and infected. The dentist then proceeded to explain that I might need a root canal done but needed more evidence before that could be confirmed. He also prescribed some painkillers and antibiotics to manage the pain and infection for the time being.
Being Able To Manage My Pain
I was relieved and, frankly, a bit surprised that I could finally get some much-needed relief from the pain without leaving home. And even though my ordeal was far from complete, the temporary relief allowed me a moment to catch my breath and get my affairs in order. I reached out to my family, who lived far away and were getting increasingly concerned about my situation and laid their fears to rest. I also contacted work and told them about needing some time off.
As discussed, the next course of action was to gather some more evidence to finalize the solution. For this, the dentist suggested something that I had never heard of before – teledentistry with a licensed dental hygienist. The hygienist could remotely guide me through the process of taking x-rays and sending them to the dentist to determine the final course of my treatment.
A New Experience Awaited Me
Even though the first session had helped me out immensely, I was still skeptical about what was to follow. But, the dentist explained that advanced teledentistry procedures with a dental hygienist were a safe and effective way to get the treatment I needed without having to leave my home. And at this point, I was willing to try anything anyway, so I agreed to the plan.
The next day, I received a package with a teledentistry kit containing unfamiliar items. However, a handy guide informed me that a dental mirror, a dental probe, an intraoral camera, and an x-ray sensor had been delivered to me.
To say I was nervous about using the equipment myself would be an understatement, but the instructions were clear. And to top it all off, a hygienist was on the other end of the video call to guide me through the process.
Gathering Evidence With The Teledentistry Kit
We started with the hygienist explaining how to position the equipment and take x-rays of my mouth. It sounded complex, but I was actually surprised by just how easy it was. The hygienist was patient and reassuring throughout the process, and I felt like I was in safe hands.
Once I was done taking the x-rays, the hygienist explained how to send them to the dentist. The dentist then reviewed the x-ray evidence and confirmed that a root canal was necessary to fix my condition completely. He also suggested valuable guidelines and steps to prepare me for the process. The painkillers and antibiotics would keep me pain-free until I could get the process done by visiting my regular emergency dentist.
My Final Thoughts On Teledentistry
You learn something new every day, and my first experience with teledentistry was nothing short of sensational. I received help when all else had failed me. The assistance was fast, the process was highly convenient as I got most of my care from the comfort of my own bed, and the results were highly satisfying.
I would certainly opt for teledentistry again if faced with any future dental complications. I would also recommend this fast, hassle-free, and reliable solution to everyone. Teledentistry is indeed a great way to address all your emergency dental problems, and I can vouch for that.