Emergency Dentist – Chicago, IL

Fast Pain Relief, Lasting Results

Dental emergencies are notoriously stressful to handle because they always happen when you least expect them to. That’s why we recommend that all of our patients have our number programmed into their phone. Our team of emergency dentists in Chicago has collective decades of experience addressing dental pain and emergency situations, so you can trust that not only are we good under pressure, but we’re also effective and efficient when it comes to getting you out of pain. If you find yourself in the middle of a dental emergency, call United Dental Centers of Chicago immediately!

Why Choose United Dental Centers of Chicago for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Appointments for Dental Emergencies
  • Team of Dentists with Collective Decades of Experience
  • Family Owned & Operated Dental Practice

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman in dental chair holding side of her face in pain

The first thing you should always do if you’re experiencing a dental emergency is to call our dental office. We’ll provide you with first aid guidance to help minimize your discomfort as well as prevent additional damage from occurring. Upon arriving at our office, we’ll conduct a thorough examination and possibly X-rays, if needed. This will help us make a diagnosis so we can put together a treatment plan to permanently address the problem at-hand. Finally, once we get your consent, we’ll move forward with our plan and repair your grin!

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Over the decades that we’ve been servicing our community, we’ve helped thousands of patients get out of pain and restore their smiles. Some of the most common emergency dental situations that we treat are listed below, but a good rule of thumb we go by is that if you’re experiencing out-of-the-ordinary pain or discomfort, give us a call.

Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Before you take the “wait and see” approach, take a serious look at your symptoms. Have you been dealing with dental discomfort for more than 24 hours? Do your gums bleed when you floss? Are you struggling with persistent sensitivity? If the answer is “yes,” then your toothache may require a same-day visit to our Chicago dental office.

How You Should Handle a Toothache We mentioned above that you should assess your symptoms and, if necessary, schedule a same-day appointment. That’s a great first step. Outside of that, focus on doing what you can to alleviate your discomfort in the short-term, like rinsing periodically with warm saltwater, avoiding hot/cold stimuli, and taking OTC pain medication as directed.

How We Treat Toothaches In order to determine the answer, we need to determine what’s causing your toothache and how severe the damage is. That will determine if a tooth-colored filling, a dental crown, a root canal, or a tooth extraction is needed to restore the look, health, and function of your smile.

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Whether or not you need to come to our Chicago dental office the same day depends largely on how large the chip is and if you’re in pain. If it’s substantial in size and you’re dealing with considerable sensitivity, soreness, and discomfort, then you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to us right away.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth Rinsing your mouth with clean, room-temperature water and covering the tooth with sugar-free gum is important. Outside of that, prioritize coming to our office for the necessary care and avoid chewing on that side of your mouth in the meantime.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth Direct bonding and veneers are two common treatments for chipped teeth. If you’re wondering which one we recommend for you, that depends! If the chip is small, direct bonding may be ideal. If it’s more substantial in size, then we will likely recommend a veneer instead.

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Absolutely! After all, there’s a good chance that the crack will get worse if left untreated. Plus, an infection can develop, making the situation even worse. So, if you see a crack in your enamel or you are experiencing abnormal symptoms, like persistent sensitivity, don’t wait – call us ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth Contacting us to schedule an emergency exam is of the utmost importance. Until your appointment, make sure that you exercise caution by not chewing on that side of your mouth, eating anything acidic, or touching the tooth with your finger.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth Fortunately, we can usually save a cracked tooth with a dental crown. If the damage is so severe that we have no choice but to extract your tooth, then that’s what we will do. We will also review your tooth-replacement options, like dental implants, to ensure you don’t have a noticeable gap and compromised bite for long.

Sensitivity to
Hot & Cold

Knocked-Out
Tooth

Lost Filling
or Crown

Broken
Denture

Loose
Tooth

Gums, Lips or
Tongue Injury

Jaw Pain or
Clenching

Something Stuck
Between Teeth

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Man talking to dental team member at desk

There’s no set price associated with a dental emergency visit because several important cost-impacting factors won’t be determined until we have a better understanding of your situation. Once we conduct an examination, we’ll be able to make a diagnosis and put together a treatment plan. This will allow us to provide you with a detailed estimate so you know exactly what to expect cost-wise. If you have any questions or concerns about pricing or payment, our dental team is always happy to help!

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Young woman flossing her teeth

While there’s no way to completely avoid a dental emergency, there are several steps you could take to minimize your chances of needing to visit your emergency dentist in Chicago. These include:

  • Attend two dental checkups and cleanings a year.
  • Avoid chewing and biting on hard objects, like pencils, or excessively hard foods.
  • Maintain a good at-home oral hygiene routine.
  • Wear a protective mouthguard if you play sports or grind your teeth.
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