Emergency Dentistry – Elmhurst, IL
You Don’t Have to Wait to Address Urgent Issues
The moment you realize you’re experiencing an emergency, your first thought is likely to call an emergency room, right? In the case of a dental emergency, it’s actually better (in most cases) to get in touch with our office right away, rather than a hospital. Not only are we more capable of addressing your dental problem, but we can serve you the same day in most cases and even after regular office hours! The last thing you should do is put off the urgent care you need, so don’t wait another minute; call our office to schedule an emergency visit!
Why Choose Malecki Family Dental for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- After-Hour and Weekend Visits Offered
- Sedation Options for Nervous Patients
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies are not entirely resolved until you’ve received a professional recommendation from a dentist, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to manage and improve your situation ahead of your emergency appointment. While this is not a comprehensive list of all dental emergencies, you can learn how to handle a few of the most common below. After you’ve already called our office and scheduled an appointment, take note of the following:
Toothaches
Use dental floss to remove any food debris that may be stuck in between your teeth. If this doesn’t help, take ibuprofen to alleviate any discomfort and inflammation ahead of your appointment. Avoid touching the area with your fingers to prevent further irritation.
Chipped/Broken Teeth
Keep any pieces of your broken tooth that you can and bring them to our office so we can examine them more closely. Apply a cold compress to your cheek for 20 minutes, then remove for an additional 20 minutes to prevent damage to your skin. Cover the tooth with dental cement or dental wax if it’s sharp or jagged.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Locate the tooth and pick it up by the crown (top) portion. Avoid touching the root or removing any tissue that may still be attached. Once you’ve gently rinsed off any dirt or debris from the tooth, place it back into your open socket. If not possible, keep it in milk and get to our office within the hour.
Lost Filling / Crown
While a lost dental filling or crown is less of a dental emergency than other issues, you should still visit our office to have the restoration replaced. If a dental filling is lost, avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the exposed tooth sits. Use dental cement, denture adhesive, or chewing gum to temporarily reseat the crown.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Some dental emergencies can occur out of nowhere, including bad falls or sporting injuries. However, most dental emergencies are preventable when you keep a few tips in mind. For example, you should make sure to:
- Brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste
- Floss at least once a day
- Visit our office for a routine exam and cleaning every six months
- Always wear a protective mouthguard or nightguard when necessary
- Never use your teeth to perform tasks better suited for a tool
The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
Until we can perform a closer exam of your mouth, we can’t know for sure what the cost of your treatment will actually be. This is because certain dental emergencies require different treatments to resolve (i.e. dental crown placement vs. root canal therapy vs. extractions.) Even though we can’t provide an exact cost for treatment now, putting off treatment when you need it only allows your emergency to get worse. No matter what your needs may be, we’ll do whatever we can to create a treatment plan that fits into your budget.
Root Canal Therapy
If one of your teeth are experiencing so much discomfort that it’s impossible to ignore, the chances are quite high that you have an infection that requires immediate treatment. In order to save your tooth, we perform root canal therapy, which involves creating a small access hole in the top portion of your tooth and clearing away infected pulp in the center. From there, the area is irrigated, sealed, and the tooth is covered with a crown.
Tooth Extractions
If a tooth cannot be salvaged in any way, sometimes a tooth extraction is the only way to protect your oral health and neighboring teeth. After all, diseases like tooth decay are considered to be infections. That means they have the potential to spread to other teeth and cause dental problems. Removal of a tooth is also considered to be a last resort and only performed if a root canal therapy would not make a difference.
TMJ Therapy
Jaw pain is not something that should be ignored, especially if it’s a symptom that you experience on a regular basis. In the event you notice chronic jaw discomfort, strain around your jaw joints, or lockjaw, get in touch with our office to see if TMJ therapy can help you. This treatment works to provide relief to the jaw and remove stress that may be present due to clenching or grinding of the teeth.
