Emergency Dentist in Elmhurst, IL:
Urgent Dental Care
When a dental emergency occurs, all you want is to feel better. Happy Tooth is a mainstay in Elmhurst for doing our absolute best to get your dental emergency taken care of the same day you call. We perform root canals, complicated extractions, implant replacement, and more to resolve the issue. In the vast majority of cases, we can address the source of your pain without referring you out to a specialist and prolonging your experience.
We Treat Dental Emergencies Today
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
The first thing to check in a dental emergency is if you’re bleeding. If you are, then focus on stopping the bleeding first. You can do this by using pressure with a gauze pad on the bleeding area. You can also use a black tea bag, soaked in warm water, on this area.
If you’re having severe pain after a dental procedure such as a root canal or extraction, MAKE SURE YOU ARE TAKING YOUR MEDICATION EXACTLY AS PRESCRIBED, and call us immediately.
If you’ve injured your mouth, check to see if you have a broken or chipped tooth. If you can find the broken or chipped piece, save it and bring it to our office with you.
If you’re having a dental emergency, call us immediately so you can be seen as soon as possible. If you have unbearable pain, swelling increases quickly, or you cannot stop the bleeding, go to the emergency room for care.
What is a Dental Emergency?
Happy Tooth is your emergency dentist in Elmhurst, Ilinois. But it’s still critical for you to understand what qualifies as a dental emergency, so you know when to seek urgent care. Potential dental emergencies include:
- Severe pain / toothache
- Sudden tooth injury
- Knocked-out (avulsed) tooth
- Broken teeth
- Detached crown or temporary crown
- Loose crown, filling, or tooth
- Unexplained gum bleeding
- Intense pain in gums or surrounding tissues
Whatever emergency dental treatment you might need–such as tooth removal and replacement, root canal, or tooth rebuilding–our Happy Tooth dentists can often take care of it here in our office the same day.
What May Be Causing Your Toothache
Possible causes for your toothache may include:
-
- Cavities
- Cracked tooth
- Abscessed tooth
- Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism)
- A damaged dental restoration (like a filling or crown)
- Gum disease
When to Go to the ER for a Toothache
You should head to your local emergency room if you have:
- Swelling that continues to increase
- Unbearable tooth pain that doesn’t get better with medication
- Bleeding that won’t stop with applied pressure
- A fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.33 degrees Celsius)
Knocked-out (avulsed) Tooth
We don’t want anyone to experience the trauma of a knocked-out (avulsed) tooth but it does happen, most often in children and adolescents. This is when a tooth–usually a front tooth–is dislodged from its socket by a fall or other impact.
A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency, and immediate attention may save the tooth. Gently place the tooth back into the socket, root first. In children, this should be done by an adult. Be careful to hold the tooth by the crown–do not touch the root. Bite on a napkin or gauze to anchor the tooth in place. Contact us immediately for an emergency appointment.
If the tooth cannot be placed back in the socket, it is extremely important to place the tooth in milk and call us as soon as possible. If a dentist can place the tooth back into its socket within an hour or two, there is a strong chance it will not need to be replaced, but will remain a viable part of your child’s smile for many years to come.
To help prevent tooth avulsion, we advise wearing a mouthguard during contact sports.
Broken or Chipped Tooth
Dental injuries such as a broken or chipped tooth (pieces of a tooth, not a whole tooth including the root) are quite frequent, often resulting from sports-related incidents, falls, or biting into hard foods. To manage the injury, gently rinse your mouth using warm water and preserve any recovered tooth fragments in a clean container to bring to your visit, though this isn’t always necessary. You can reduce swelling by applying a cold compress to the outside of the affected area for 20 minutes at a time.
Until you receive professional care, avoid chewing on the affected side to prevent further damage, and contact our office immediately for an emergency appointment to address the matter in a healthy and appropriate way.
If a Crown or Temporary Crown Comes Off
Clean out the temporary crown gently with your toothbrush. A local supermarket or pharmacy may have some temporary cement or denture adhesive you can use to put the crown back in place temporarily. Add a small amount of temporary material inside the crown and firmly put the crown back in place.
A temporary crown comes off more frequently than most patients realize. Going without a crown, or a misaligned one, can jeopardize the permanent crown’s placement.
Abscessed Tooth / Infection
An abscessed tooth is a pocket of infection that forms around the root or between the gum and tooth, usually from an untreated cavity, injury, or gum infection. Signs include a persistent, throbbing toothache, swelling in your face or gums, sensitivity to hot or cold, a bad taste in your mouth, or fever. Some people may have no symptoms at all. A dental abscess won’t resolve on its own and can spread to other areas if left untreated, so it’s important to call us as soon as you become aware of having one.
Until we can see you, rinse gently with warm saltwater and take approved over-the-counter pain relievers as directed (please check with your medical provider whether these medicines are appropriate for your personal medical status), but please don’t wait to seek treatment, as only a dentist can properly treat the underlying infection.
Managing Your Pain in a Dental Emergency
At Happy Tooth, we’re here to not only resolve your dental emergency, but to manage your pain and help you stay calm during your treatment. We use every method at our disposal to make you feel comfortable in this stressful situation.
When immediate dental care isn’t available, try the following to alleviate discomfort:
- Gently swish lukewarm saltwater to soothe tender teeth and gums
- Take approved over-the-counter pain relievers as directed
- Apply cold compresses externally to reduce swelling
- Use oral numbing gels with caution, following package instructions
- Steer clear of extreme temperatures in food and drink
- For jaw discomfort, try a warm compress
- Refrain from chewing near the affected area
Remember, these are only temporary solutions. Seek professional dental care as soon as possible for proper treatment.
While medications may offer temporary relief, they don’t solve the underlying dental issue. Self-medicating with old or borrowed antibiotics can cause the infection to grow and be more resistant to treatment. Different infections require specific antibiotics–not every antibiotic will work in every case.
Using leftover or borrowed narcotic pain medications is also risky due to the potential for overdose or addiction. Always seek professional dental care for proper diagnosis and treatment to ensure long-term oral health.
Why Immediate Care Matters in a Dental Emergency
When a dental emergency is ignored, it can lead to permanent damage to the teeth, gums, and a patient’s overall health. Any infection could also spread into other areas. Seeking treatment immediately can help you avoid those complications and also resolve the cause of your pain.
Reduce Your Risk
Don’t wait for an emergency to call us. You can reduce your risk of many dental emergencies by receiving regular cleanings and dental checkups.
Schedule an appointment to stay current on your dental care and identify problems early.
Contact Happy Tooth today to schedule a consultation. We want to help you take great care of your oral health before an emergency happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dental emergency is any situation involving severe pain, bleeding, swelling, or damage that cannot wait for a regular appointment. At Happy Tooth, we commonly care for emergencies such as knocked-out or broken teeth, severe toothaches, lost fillings or crowns, abscesses, and soft tissue injuries. If you’re unsure whether your situation is an emergency, please call us. We would much rather you reach out and feel supported than wait in pain and uncertainty.
Yes. We do our best to accommodate emergency patients the same day they call. If you’re experiencing dental pain or trauma, contact our Elmhurst office as early as possible and we will do everything we can to see you quickly and help you feel cared for.
Call Happy Tooth immediately. The faster you act, the better the chance of saving the tooth. Our team will listen and guide you through the next steps as quickly as possible.
Treatment costs vary depending on the type of care needed. Before any work begins, we will always provide a full breakdown, so you can understand your options and feel confident about your care. For more information, give us a call, and we’ll be happy to walk you through everything.
Happy Tooth has emergency phone lines available for patients who need urgent dental guidance. If you are experiencing a dental emergency after hours or on the weekend, please call the main office line, listen to the voicemail message, and follow the instructions provided. Patients may also receive follow-up information through a missed call text.
