
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
It’s impossible to avoid an accident, but there are some ways that might help reduce your risk of experiencing a dental emergency, including:
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!