Emergency Dentistry – Franklin Park, IL
Urgent Dental Care You Can Trust in Your Time of Need
Accidents happen, even if you do everything in your power to avoid them. During dental emergencies, the shock of the situation may prevent you from making the best decisions for your oral health. That’s why we recommend that our patients have our number pre-programmed into their phone in case they ever need professional advice in these crucial moments. When you call us, we’ll provide you with over-the-phone first-aid guidance and schedule an appointment for you as soon as possible for emergency dentistry in Franklin Park, IL.
Why Choose Grand Dental - Franklin Park for Emergency Dentistry?
- Dentist On Call for Emergencies
- Dental Sedation Available
- Saturday Appointments Available
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
No matter whether you chipped a tooth, got a popcorn kernel lodged in your mouth that’s causing you pain, or have a mysterious toothache, if you’re experiencing anything out-of-the-ordinary, call our dental office. We’ll assess your situation and schedule an appointment for you. While you’re on your way to our dental office, you can follow some of these tips to help relieve your discomfort.
Toothaches
Toothaches are often caused by infections that are hidden in the inside of your tooth, in an area called the inner chamber. To help with your pain, you can use an over-the-counter medication, like ibuprofen, place a cold compress on your face for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, and rinse with a warm salt water solution.
Chipped/Broken Teeth
If you’re able to find the broken-off pieces of your tooth, retrieve and rinse them under cool water. Place them in a sealable bag to bring with you to your appointment. If the area that broke off has created a sharp edge, you can cover it with orthodontic wax so it doesn’t scrape or irritate your oral tissue.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Try to get to our dental office within an hour of the incident. Retrieve your knocked-out tooth, being sure to only handle it by the biting surface. Gently rinse it under water and store it in a sealable container of milk or salt water to keep it viable. Bring the tooth with you to your appointment.
Lost Filling/Crown
If you’re able to locate the restoration that has fallen off of your tooth, you can rinse it off and place it back on your damaged tooth with a dab of denture adhesive or toothpaste. It’s important to remember that this is only a temporary solution, and in order to prevent an infection from developing, you’ll need to have your crown or filling repaired or replaced by a professional.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
It’s impossible to avoid an accident, but there are some ways that might help reduce your risk of experiencing a dental emergency, including:
- Keeping up with your at-home oral hygiene routine.
- Visiting a dentist near you every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
- Break bad oral habits like smoking and nail-biting.
- Protect your teeth if your grind them at night.
- If you play contact sports, get a customized nightguard.
The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
In order to determine what treatment you require, you’ll need to first let us examine your mouth, teeth, and gums to determine the root of the problem. From there, we can create a plan and walk you through it. We’ll be sure to let you know the price and walk you through all of your financing options to make sure that it’s within your budget. Don’t hesitate to ask us any questions that you may have while you’re here. We’re always happy to answer them!
Dental Emergency FAQs
A problematic toothache, a chipped pearly white, or a lost dental crown are all considered dental emergencies, but it may not be so clear-cut pointing out dental injuries and their seriousness. For anyone who has or is concerned about the possibility of dental emergencies, below is a list of questions designed to shed light on the topic. If after reviewing patients still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our office to schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Franklin Park.
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
When dealing with a toothache at night, we recommend the individual sleep with their head propped to avoid blood rushing to the head and causing an intense throbbing. A person can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever to minimize discomfort. It should also be noted to avoid acidic, spicy, cold, or hard foods immediately before bedtime. It is also helpful to use a cold compress to minimize soreness and pain.
Do chipped teeth heal?
A person’s tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but it cannot heal on its own. This is why when a person chips a tooth, it will not grow back. A tooth can remineralize but not grow back.
Instead, our team of dentists at Grand Dental – Franklin Park must use bonding or a dental crown to cover the chip. It is also possible to discuss the potential for customized veneers to hide a person’s chipped tooth. The decision will be made by the individual and the dentist once meeting for an initial consultation.
Can I fix dentures that are broken in half?
Dentures that are broken in half should only be treated by a skilled prosthodontist. Continuing to wear a damaged denture can cause lacerations and other cuts and scratches on the gums or teeth. Depending on the severity of the break, it’s highly likely we will need to replace them altogether. Our team can go over the details of a new prosthetic or discuss if the preference is to switch to dental implants for a more permanent and stable fit.
Is my tooth pain from an infection?
The only way to know for sure if a person’s tooth pain is caused by an infection is to schedule an appointment with a member of our team. If the tooth is throbbing or sore, there’s a good chance it is a dental emergency in Franklin Park. If a person complains of a bitter taste in their mouth, bad breath, tooth sensitivity, swollen gums, loose teeth, or a draining sore near the gums, it can also signal a tooth infection.