Emergency Dentistry
We Perform Emergency Dentistry Services in Mokena, IL
When you’re experiencing dental pain, you don’t want to search endlessly for a dentist who can fit you into their schedule. You need a reliable team that can provide a fast solution. Elite Smiles of Mokena provides comprehensive emergency dentistry services in Mokena, IL, to relieve our patients’ pain as quickly as possible. We’ll prioritize urgent cases for both long-time patients and those new to our office, so you can count on us for emergency dental treatment.
What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?
It can sometimes be challenging to determine whether to head to the ER, wait for an appointment, or seek emergency dental care. We generally recommend immediate attention for the following issues:
- Knocked-Out Tooth – Time is critical after a permanent tooth is knocked out. There’s only a small window during which you can save the tooth.
- Severe Toothache – Mild sensitivity is annoying, but severe, throbbing pain that keeps you awake or prevents you from eating indicates a serious problem.
- Loose Tooth – Adults should not have loose teeth. They could signify a jaw injury or gum disease.
- Abscess or Swelling – A pimple-like bump on your gums or swelling in your jaw usually signals an infection. This can be dangerous if it spreads.
- Lost Filling or Crown – While not always painful immediately, leaving a tooth exposed can lead to damage and pain very quickly.
If you’re unsure, it’s always better to call the experts at Elite Smiles of Mokena. Describe your symptoms to us, and we’ll tell you if you need to come in right away.
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
Knowing what to do before you arrive at our office can make a significant difference. First, try to stay calm, as panicking can make the situation feel worse.
If your tooth has been knocked out, pick it up by the crown instead of the root. Rinse it gently with water if it’s dirty, but do not scrub it. Try to put it back in the socket. If that isn’t possible, keep it moist by holding it in your cheek or placing it in a container of milk.
For a toothache, rinse your mouth with warm water. You can gently floss to see if food is stuck between your teeth, which may be causing the pressure. However, do not put aspirin on your gums, as this can irritate and burn your tissue. Applying a cold compress to the outside of your cheek can help reduce swelling and pain.
Regardless of the injury, your next step should be to call Elite Smiles of Mokena.
Why Immediate Care Matters
Ignoring dental pain rarely makes it go away. Instead, it usually makes the problem much more expensive and painful to fix. An untreated infection in your tooth can spread to your jaw, neck, or other parts of your body. A knocked-out tooth that isn’t treated within an hour has a much lower chance of reattaching. By seeking emergency dentistry help immediately, you increase the likelihood of a simple solution.
Our Emergency Dentistry Services
We treat patients of all ages and backgrounds, with services that cover nearly any crisis your mouth may encounter.
We specialize in emergency pediatric dentistry. Furthermore, our team knows how to keep children calm during stressful situations. If your child chips a tooth or hurts their gums, you can trust our emergency dentistry for kids to be gentle and effective. We take extra care to ensure your little one doesn’t develop a fear of the dentist.
For many people, the only thing worse than the pain is the fear of the dental chair. If anxiety is keeping you from getting help, ask us about emergency sedation dentistry. We’ll help you relax so that we can fix the problem while you remain stress-free.
Some emergencies are just as much about appearance as they are about pain. If you chip a front tooth right before a big event, you need emergency cosmetic dentistry to restore your smile fast. We also handle emergency implant dentistry for individuals experiencing issues with an existing implant or who need an immediate solution for a missing tooth.
Why You Should Choose Elite Smiles of Mokena
When you’re hurting, you want a team you can trust. Elite Smiles of Mokena combines advanced technology with a warm, friendly atmosphere. Our team is trained to handle high-stress situations. We’ll explain what’s happening and outline your options. Trust us to deliver relief, not confusion. If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, contact us immediately.
FAQ About Emergency Dentistry
Many of our patients have questions about emergency dentistry, so we’ve compiled answers to a few that we hear most frequently.
For most tooth problems, you should see a dentist. Hospital ERs usually cannot fix teeth, so they’ll simply give you pain relievers or antibiotics. However, if you have a broken jaw, trouble breathing, or severe bleeding that won’t stop, go to the ER immediately.
We have protocols in place for after-hours care. Please call our office number. If we’re closed, our voicemail will provide instructions on how to reach us or what to do next.
The cost depends on the type of treatment you need. However, waiting often makes the treatment more expensive later. We’ll discuss the costs and your insurance options before we start.