We are happy to see your patients on an emergency basis during or outside our normal office hours. After all, we're here to make life easier for you and your patient. Please let us know that you're calling about a patient that needs to be seen immediately.
Generally, we are able to see an emergency patient the same day as the referral. This requires a little flexibility for us and the patient. If the patient can't make the offered appointment time that day we'll understand that the "emergency" has a lesser priority and find a mutually acceptable appointment time.
Emergency referrals require good communication between our offices to facilitate the experience for your patient. I'd like to see any recent x-ray films you taken and know what treatment you've instituted. Sometimes older radiographs provide a historical perspective. It's also important to know what additional treatment you've planned for the patient. For example, is this a critical abutment tooth?
Good communication is essential for these emergencies. Naturally, I'm able to provide the full range of periodontal services, sometimes, the final diagnosis, mandates non periodontal treatment, such as root canal therapy or extraction. When this happens, I'd like to know your preference - Do you want the patient to return to you for these services, be referred to a specialist, or get the service initiated or completed in my office? My office, as a specialty practice, does not have the ability to provide all services. However, pulpotomies, extractions and temporary fillings are some of the things we're able to provide to return your patient to comfort rapidly. We know sometimes your schedule dictates how the referral is made and what service you're able to provide. If you'll let us know this on a per patient basis we'll be happy to adjust things to serve you and the patient.
We like to provide you with a written report within ten days of the patient's visit. If you'd like we can telephone sooner. Occasionally, we'll hold back the report until we can observe healing so it can be more accurate. When the emergency referral is the portal of entry to comprehensive treatment in our office I'll hold off the letter until after the patient's comprehensive evaluation.