Emergency Dentistry in Itasca, IL
We Believe in Giving You What You Need When You Need It
Has the thought of facing a dental emergency without support kept you up at night? You can rest easy, knowing that at Hamilton Lakes Dentistry, you’re never alone. Our goal is to tackle your dental issues swiftly so that you can return to your regular routine pain-free and with confidence.
Call us today to see how our emergency dental services in Itasca, IL can best serve you when faced with an urgent dental need.
Why Choose Hamilton Lakes Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Unsure if what you’re experiencing is a dental emergency? You’re not alone. Many people have difficulty knowing whether their chipped tooth, lost dental crown, or even soft tissue injury warrants a visit to the emergency dentist’s office. Below, you will find a list of common emergencies we see in-office so that you can better prepare should you experience any of the following.
Toothaches
Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Although many patients are under the assumption that toothaches can simply be ignored, there are actually several cases when it warrants a call to our Itasca emergency dentist right away. A few examples include: if the pain has continued for more than 24 hours, if the problematic tooth is discolored, if there is a bump on your gums near the tooth, and if you’re experiencing symptoms of an infection.
How You Should Handle a Toothache If you’re in a lot of pain, you can start the process by using a cold compress or taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. We also recommend not chewing on that side of your mouth and avoiding acidic, spicy, and sugary foods to prevent further discomfort.
How We Treat Toothaches Once you arrive at our office, one of our talented and experienced dentists will pinpoint the root of the problem by taking X-rays and conducting an oral exam. At this point, they will be able to determine the best course of action. For cavities, a tooth-colored filling or dental crown is often the solution. In cases of extreme decay or damage, the tooth may need to be extracted and replaced with something like a dental bridge or implant.
Chipped Teeth
Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? That depends! If the chip is minor and isn’t causing you any discomfort, then we recommend carefully monitoring it and visiting our Itasca dental team within a day or two. If, on the other hand, the chip is substantial and causing you a lot of pain, then call us right away.
How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth Similar to a cracked tooth, we recommend rinsing your mouth with room-temperature water before covering the tooth with dental wax or sugar-free gum. To prevent additional damage, don’t use that tooth to chew.
How We Treat Chipped Teeth Dental bonding, dental crowns, and veneers are the three most common ways to treat chipped teeth. The treatment we recommend will depend on a few factors, including how severe the chip is and where the tooth is located in your mouth.
Cracked Tooth
Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? A cracked tooth is a dental emergency! Both small and large cracks increase your risk of developing an infection and splitting the tooth further. So, call us ASAP.
How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth Since it’s possible for an infection to develop, we recommend first rinsing your mouth with clean, room-temperature water (room-temperature is key because it will help prevent additional sensitivity). Next, cover the tooth with a piece of dental wax or sugarless gum and avoid chewing on it. Of course, you can also take over-the-counter pain medication if you’re uncomfortable.
How We Treat Cracked Teeth Fortunately, many cases of cracked teeth can be treated with a durable, lifelike dental crown. However, if the crack is so severe that saving the tooth is no longer the best option for your oral health, then we may need to extract it. Then, we can fill the open space with a tooth-replacement solution, like a dental bridge or implant.
Very Sensitive Teeth
Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Yes, sensitive teeth can be a dental emergency, so you should not wait to call our office to schedule an appointment.
How you should handle very sensitive teeth: Sensitive teeth can arise for many reasons: a cracked tooth, an infection (abscess), aggressive brushing, too much whitening, a cavity, or even gum recession. Managing the pain you’re experiencing is a priority, which is why you should only consume lukewarm water and foods, as anything hot or cold can cause additional discomfort. You’ll also need to avoid bad habits such as eating ice or chewing on hard items that place added pressure on your sensitive teeth.
How we treat very sensitive teeth: Once we have the chance to view your teeth with a visual exam and digital images, we will craft a treatment plan that is designed to target the source of your tooth sensitivity. It may be that you only need prescription mouthwash or desensitizing toothpaste. It’s also likely that you might require fluoride treatment, periodontal therapy, a tooth-colored filling, or tooth extraction.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Is my knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? Yes, if you have a knocked-out tooth, you need to seek emergency help right away.
How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: The first step is to make sure that you rinse out your mouth so that any debris is flushed away. You’ll then want to retrieve the tooth, if possible, and reinsert it into the socket. You can gently bite down to hold it in place. You may also choose to place it in a container of milk to keep the root moist.
It’s important that you get to our dental office as quickly as possible, as there is limited time for us to try and save the tooth.
How we treat knocked-out teeth: Upon your arrival, we will quickly examine your mouth and the status of the tooth. If it appears fully intact and still viable, we will attempt to put it back into place using a stint. If it can no longer be used, we will discuss options for replacement, which may include dental bridges, dentures, or dental implants.
Lost Filling or Crown
Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? No, a lost dental crown in Itasca or lost filling is not considered a dental emergency. Although you should see a dentist within a day or two, you will not need to seek immediate care the same day.
How you should handle a lost filling or crown: It’s natural to be fearful of what might happen to your smile when you lose a crown or filling, but what you really need to know is that you should avoid chewing on that side of your mouth. You’ll also want to be careful when brushing and flossing your teeth to avoid further irritation. If you can retrieve your lost crown, it is possible to use dental cement to temporarily put it back into place.
How we treat a lost filling or crown: Whether you try to re-bond your restoration while at home or not, you can trust that our team will take appropriate action to improve the state of your smile. This can include reattaching the crown or filling if it is still fully intact or having a new tooth-colored filling or metal-free dental crown created.
Broken Denture
Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Since your day-to-day life is significantly hindered with a broken denture, the answer is “yes!” Whether there is a tiny crack in your restoration or it has split down the middle, you should schedule an appointment with us as soon as you can.
How You Should Handle a Broken Denture It may seem like fixing your denture is as simple as using an at-home denture repair kit or super glue, but it isn’t. In order to restore your restoration in a way that benefits your oral and overall health, you need to come in for a visit with our Itasca dental team.
How We Treat Broken Dentures If we can, we will repair your denture at our office. If that’s not possible because it has split into multiple pieces or it’s simply time to have a new one made, then we will get to work on having a new traditional denture or implant denture made.
Loose Permanent Tooth
Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes! Remember, the longer you wait to schedule an appointment, the more likely it is that an infection will develop, or the tooth will completely fall out.
How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth Handling a loose permanent tooth is mostly about what not to do. For example, you shouldn’t put off scheduling an appointment, and you shouldn’t chew on that side of your mouth. Instead, do your best to keep the area clean and get to our office ASAP for treatment.
How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth There are some cases where a dental splint can be used to support your tooth, helping it to heal back in place. Other times, the only way to restore the look, health, and function of your smile is to remove the tooth and replace it with a dental bridge or implant. It really depends on your unique situation!
Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue
Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Usually, soft tissue injuries aren’t considered a dental emergency. If, however, the bleeding persists for more than 10 minutes or you need medical attention as well (like for a fractured jaw), then you should go to the ER.
How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue If the cut is small, you should be able to handle this dental injury in three simple steps. First, rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean, cool water. Second, apply pressure to the area with a clean, damp washcloth. Third, use a cold compress to reduce puffiness.
How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue In most cases, soft tissue injuries are either minor enough to be handled at home or severe enough to necessitate a visit to the ER. With that said, you’re always welcome to give us a call if you’re unsure what to do.
Jaw Pain
Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Many patients assume that jaw pain doesn’t necessitate a visit to their dentist’s office. In reality, if it has persisted for more than 24 hours, it hurts to bite down, or you’re experiencing other abnormal dental symptoms, you should absolutely call your dentist!
How You Should Handle Jaw Pain From home, try alleviating your discomfort by using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time, sticking to soft foods, and taking an OTC pain reliever as instructed.
How We Treat Jaw Pain To determine the answer, we need to conduct a thorough exam! From there, we can determine what the root of the problem is, like TMJ dysfunction.
Something Stuck Between the Teeth
Remember, you should never ignore something stuck between your teeth. The longer the food particle or debris sits there, the more likely it is to negatively impact your oral health. Try rinsing with warm saltwater before flossing gently around the area. If that doesn’t work, do NOT reach for something sharp, like a toothpick. Instead, give us a call.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
Since the cost can result in just as much concern as the dental injury itself, we know that our patients value transparency. However, the only way to know how much you can expect to pay out of pocket for treatment is to undergo a thorough consultation with our team. As always, we will review the price before getting started to ensure there aren’t any unpleasant surprises along the way. Plus, we offer multiple financial solutions, which can help make even the most extensive treatment plans more affordable.
