Emergency Dentist – Itasca, IL

Same-Day Care When You’re In Need

Man and woman with healthy smiles after emergency dentistry

Worried you’ll be left without a helping hand when suffering from a dental injury? There is no need to worry when you can count on our dental team at Hamilton Lakes Dentistry. Consisting of three dentists who are ready to provide timely care when an immediate need arises, we can identify the problem and recommend appropriate dental treatment that will get your smile back on track in minimal time. Simply call our dental office today to find out how our trusted emergency dentist in Itasca, IL can best serve you if faced with an urgent dental need.

Why Choose Hamilton Lakes Dentistry for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Emergency Appointments
  • Early and Evening Hours Available for Greater Convenience
  • Flexible Financing Available

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

  • Call to schedule an appointment: The first step is to call our dental office right away so that we can determine the severity of your dental emergency. We will work to get you in the same day as well as offer first-aid tips to help you better manage the pain while at home.
  • Perform a thorough examination: Once in our dental office, we will work diligently to identify the underlying cause of your injury and take all necessary diagnostic images to better prepare a plan.
  • Review findings: After compiling all the photos and notes from your appointment, we will develop a treatment plan that we will go over with you. Here, you will learn how we plan to fix the problem as well as how much you can expect it to cost.
  •  Deliver timely care to treat your smile: The final step is to get your smile back to its natural, beautiful, and healthy state. Once you agree to the treatment plan, we will start the process of addressing your dental injury.

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.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Dental patient shaking hands with dentistry team member after discussing the cost of dental emergency treatment

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.

Every Dental Emergency is Different

Closeup of man with glasses experiencing tooth pain

In short, no two dental emergencies are the same, which means that you’re unlikely to pay the same as someone else for care. That’s why the exam is so important! At this time, we’ll determine the severity of your injury as well as the restorative treatment required to fix it. As mentioned above, we will review all of your options (after getting you out of pain, of course) so you can confidently decide how to best proceed. We’ll also discuss the financial options available, such as flexible financing, so you don’t have to stress about the cost either.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Dental insurance information on clipboard next to glasses and keyboard

Although it’s very rare for dental insurance providers to cover the entire cost, you may be reimbursed for a portion of your treatment. For example, your plan may include a complimentary emergency exam annually or cover 50% or more of the price of any restorations needed, like a dental crown. Please keep in mind that we’re a fee-for-service practice, which means that, while we aren’t in-network with any dental insurance companies, we can absolutely file the claims on your behalf to help you get the maximum reimbursement.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Senior man smiling while holding handheld mirror

If you are a part of the 50% of patients who are uninsured, then flexible financing might be more ideal for you! With third-party financiers like CareCredit, you don’t have to pay for the entire cost of your dental treatment at once. Instead, you can choose a payment plan that spaces out your payments into budget-friendly chunks that are spread out over the course of several months. Patients also like this financial solution because signing up only takes a few minutes and there are plans with little-to-no interest attached.

Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money

Woman smiling while sitting in dentist's treatment chair

Fortunately, dental injuries are largely preventable. If you commit to a solid oral hygiene routine, invest in a custom mouthguard, eat a well-balanced diet, and visit us every six months for a dental checkup and cleaning, you’ll be significantly less likely to experience a knocked-out tooth, loose restoration, or something similar. In other words, to protect your smile and your wallet, do your best to prioritize preventive care.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman flossing teeth to prevent dental emergencies

Not all dental emergencies are indeed preventable. Accidents happen, and we know that. However, most can be avoided if you take special care of your smile. Some of the most effective ways to minimize your chances of ending up in the emergency dentist’s office include:

  • Maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine that includes brushing for two minutes, twice each day, and flossing at least once a day. You should also rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash.
  • Keeping your regularly scheduled six-month dental checkups and cleanings with our team.
  • Eating a healthy diet that consists of leafy greens, lean meats, low-fat dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
  • Wearing a mouthguard if you play sports. It can also be helpful if you are prone to bruxism (teeth grinding).
  • Never using your teeth as tools to open packages or containers.
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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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

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.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatment

Learn More About Periodontal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

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.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About 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.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Metal-Free Dental Crowns

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTURES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

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!

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TMJ TREATMENT

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.