Emergency Dentistry – Wilmington, IL
Fast Emergency Dentistry When You Need it the Most
Are you experiencing severe dental pain that is preventing you from going about your daily life? Serious oral health problems require urgent treatment, which is exactly what our team at Grand Dental - Wilmington provides. When you contact our dental office, we will work to schedule an appointment as soon as possible, usually the same day. For after hours emergencies, our patients have the reassurance that they can reach our dentist on call. Often the Doctor can temporize a painful situation over-the-phone with first-aid guidance before you visit us for emergency dentistry in Wilmington, IL.
Why Choose Grand Dental - Wilmington for Emergency Dentistry?
- Dentist On Call for Emergencies
- Dental Sedation Available
- Saturday Appointments Available
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies always happen at the most unexpected moments. Because of their shocking and stressful nature, it is hard to know exactly what to do to avoid risking further damage. That’s why you should always contact our dental office immediately. Our helpful team will schedule an emergency appointment as soon as possible, often the same day. After hours, the doctor on call can give you personalized advice and help reassure you through a difficult situation.
Toothaches
Toothaches are often signs of infections hidden beneath the surface of your tooth. To help relieve your pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen, put a cold compress on your face, and swish with a salt water rinse. These will help make you more comfortable until you reach us.
Chipped/Broken Teeth
Retrieve any broken-off pieces of your tooth, gently rinse them under cool water and place them in a sealable bag. If the broken portion of your tooth has created a jagged edge, you can place a piece of sugar-free gum or orthodontic wax on the area to keep it from scraping your oral tissue.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Time is of the essence, so 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 avoid touching the root. Rinse out your mouth and rinse the tooth in warm water. Then put the tooth back into the socket. Alternatively, you can store the tooth in a sealable container of milk or salt water and bring it to your appointment.
Lost Filling / Crown
It’s important to replace or repair your restoration in a timely manner in order to prevent an infection from developing. If you’re able to retrieve the crown, rinse it under water and temporarily reattach it using a piece of sugar-free gum or a dab of denture adhesive. Contact our dental office and request an urgent appointment, often a crown can easily be recemented if there in no underlying decay or damage to the tooth surface.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Although you can’t completely avoid dental emergencies, there are some steps you can take to prevent them. Some of these include:
- Protecting your mouth with a mouthguard while playing sports.
- Getting a bruxism nightguard if you grind your teeth.
- Visit our dental office every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
- Avoid chewing or biting on hard items, like pens, fingernails and ice.
- Stop bad oral habits like tobacco use.
- Maintain a good oral hygiene routine.
The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
The only way we can give you the cost of your emergency appointment is to first examine your mouth and determine the underlying problem. Then, we can develop a treatment plan to ease your pain and provide you with a lasting and effective solution to the issue. If you have any questions during your examination, don’t hesitate to ask our staff. We’ll be more than happy to walk you through financing options, or if you have dental insurance, we can help you navigate your benefits.
Dental Emergency FAQs
An emergency dentist in Wilmington is here to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about emergency dentistry. Many patients are unaware of the possibilities that surround most dental injuries, which is why our team at Grand Dental – Wilmington wants to provide clarity and transparency so that individuals can better understand what to do, when to call, and how to handle various types of emergencies. Review the information below and feel free to call us to schedule an appointment.
Can I pop a dental abscess on my own?
Having an abscess is a serious problem. It can lead to immense pain and worsening symptoms if left untreated. Not only can it affect a person’s mouth, but it can also lead to issues throughout the head, neck, and throat. This is why popping a dental abscess without the help of a trusted professional is never a good idea.
Instead, patients should plan to call our office and alert us to the situation. We will work quickly to schedule an appointment for the same day so that our dentists can review the problem and identify the appropriate method of treatment. This will prevent the spread of infection that can harm more than just a person’s mouth.
What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?
When a dental emergency in Wilmington occurs, it is important that individuals are equipped with the right tools to handle the problem until it is possible to see a dentist. Some of the most effective items to keep in a dental emergency kit include:
- Sterile gloves
- Gauze
- Cotton balls
- Dentist’s office phone number
- Ice pack
- Floss
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Small container for a tooth or restoration
- Denture adhesive
- Dental cement
- Topical anesthetic
Will my toothache go away on its own?
It is unlikely that a toothache will suddenly dissipate on its own. If something is stuck between teeth, it is possible that dislodging it will ease any discomfort. However, if the pain continues and nothing is lodged inside the mouth, there is a good chance it might be an infection, dental decay, gum disease, or facial trauma.
Calling our dental office to schedule an emergency appointment is the best thing a patient can do to ensure the health of their smile. This allows us to examine the problem area and determine if there is an underlying issue that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Using diagnostic imaging, we can pinpoint the area in question and recommend the appropriate treatment.
Should I visit the ER instead of an emergency dentist?
The only times a person should visit the ER for a dental injury is if the jaw is broken or fractured, swelling increases and makes it difficult to breathe, or bleeding intensifies. Otherwise, an emergency dentist is equipped to address the problem and provide a solution. At the ER, only antibiotics and pain medication can be delivered, but a treatment plan cannot be provided. It is always best to seek the help of a trusted dental professional when suffering from a chipped, cracked, or knocked-out tooth, a soft tissue injury, or lost restoration.