Emergency Care

Dental emergencies can be frightening and painful, and prompt care is usually necessary to prevent permanent tooth loss. If you experience a dental emergency, we’re here for you. Contact Glen Ellyn Dentistry at 630-942-0727 immediately for instructions and to request an emergency appointment. 

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine what exactly constitutes a dental emergency. In other words, it’s common to be uncertain whether your current condition requires immediate treatment or if it can wait for a regular dental appointment. Some of the signs, symptoms, and situations that constitute a dental emergency include:

  • Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth
  • Severe pain or swelling in the mouth, jaw, or face
  • Knocked-out (avulsed) tooth
  • Loose or dislodged tooth
  • Lost crown or filling
  • Cracked or broken tooth
  • Signs of an oral infection (fever, swelling, pain, and/or visible pus)

If you are not sure whether your signs, symptoms, or situation is a dental emergency, we encourage you to contact our office. When it comes to dental emergencies and the health of your teeth, it is always better to be safe than sorry. 

What To Do If You Experience a Dental Emergency

If you experience a dental emergency, the first step you take should always be to contact our office. When we speak with you, we can start preparing to treat you when you arrive and also provide you with over-the-phone instructions so that you can take the appropriate initial steps in your care before arriving at our office for professional treatment. 

The specific steps to take in a dental emergency vary slightly depending on the type of emergency you experience. After contacting our office, consider the following advice:

  • Avulsed (Knocked-Out) Tooth – Do not touch the roots and handle the tooth by its crown only. Rinse it under warm water. If you can, place it back in the empty tooth socket or tuck it into the space between your cheek and gums. If you can’t put the tooth back in your (or your child’s) mouth, put it in a cup of saliva, milk, or water (if the other two are unavailable). Bring it with you to our office as soon as you can. 
  • Loose or Dislodged Tooth – If a tooth gets dislodged or knocked loose but remains in the socket, leave it in place and come into our office immediately. 
  • Lost Filling or Dental Crown – Clean the crown and use over-the-counter dental cement to temporarily reattach the crown to the exposed tooth. If the crown or filling is lost, seal the top of the tooth with dental cement to protect it and alleviate sensitivity. Never use any kind of glue or other non-dental adhesives inside your mouth. 
  • Broken or Cracked Tooth – Rinse your mouth and tooth fragment (if you have it) in warm water. If there is any bleeding, apply clean gauze for ten minutes or until the bleeding stops. If you can’t come into the office immediately, use over-the-counter dental cement to seal the tooth. Minimize swelling and pain with a cold compress. 

After-Hours Care for Dental Emergencies

If you experience a dental emergency outside of our regular business hours and are unable to get in touch with our office by phone, email, or our Contact Us page, then it is likely best to seek immediate care with your primary healthcare provider or at a local emergency room. 

Emergency Dental Care in Glen Ellyn, Illinois

At Glen Ellyn Dentistry, we truly care about the health and well-being of each of our patients, and we take pride in being here for you when you need us most. If you experience a dental emergency, please contact our office as soon as you can at 630-942-0727 to begin the process of receiving emergency care.

Get Started Today!

We look forward to welcoming new patients into our office and seeing our existing patients again. To request an appointment, we welcome you to contact our office at 630-942-0727 or complete the appointment request form on our website.

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