Emergency Dentistry – Wheaton, IL
Call Us For Immediate Pain Relief!
No one ever plans on a dental emergency ruining their day, but let us tell you, they occur more often than you might think! If you’re ever in need of urgent dental care because of an accident or severe toothache, know that you can always reach out to Dr. Lam. When you call with an emergency, we’ll do everything we can to see you as quickly as possible so we can relieve your pain and get you back to your regular life in record time.
Why Choose Dr. Kathy Lam for Emergency Dentistry?
- Urgent care available for emergency patients
- Latest technology provides even faster pain relief
- Highly-trained and experienced team
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies tend to pop up because of one of two reasons. Either someone has neglected their oral hygiene for a long time and has developed a painful infection, or they are the victim of an unfortunate accident. The best thing to do in either scenario is call our dental office as soon as possible, as this will enable us to schedule an appointment to see you right away.
In the meantime, however, here is what you can do to manage a few of the most common dental emergencies:
Toothaches
Rinse your mouth with saltwater and floss around the tooth to dislodge anything that might be stuck. If this doesn’t fix things already, you can take an OTC medication or place a cold compress on your face to lessen any pain. For the most extreme cases, we can provide fast relief using a root canal.
Chipped/Broken Tooth
Do your best to find any pieces of the tooth that you can and place them in a safe container until you’re able to reach us. We’ll likely be able to repair the tooth with a dental crown, but if it’s extremely damaged, it may have to be extracted and replaced.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Find the tooth, pick it up by the crown, gently rinse it off, but DO NOT dry it. Try to place it back into its socket, and if this doesn’t work, put it in a container of milk or saltwater. Keeping it moist will help it stay alive until we can see you!
Lost Filling/Crown
If you can find the filling/crown, try to put it back into your mouth after giving it a quick rinse. A little bit of toothpaste can help serve as a temporary adhesive. If you can’t get it to stay in place, put it in a safe container until we can see you.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
- Wear a protective mouthguard every time you play sports—sports-related injuries account for about 40% of all dental emergencies!
- Don’t use your teeth as tools to open packages—scissors can save you from an unexpected trip to the dentist!
- Brush and floss your teeth regularly to keep them strong and healthy.
- Come see us for routine checkups and cleanings so we can catch a small problem before it can turn into an emergency later.
The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
Treating a dental emergency can be as simple as having a patient take antibiotics to eliminate an infection or as complicated as needing to completely remove and replace a tooth. Basically, the cost of handling a dental emergency can vary widely depending on a person’s specific situation. So there are never any unpleasant surprises, we’ll quickly go over your treatment options when you come to see us for emergency care so you’ll have an idea of what you’ll be expected to pay.
Emergency Dentistry FAQs
If a dental emergency happens to you or a loved one, do you know what to do? If you are like many Americans, you do not know how to handle the situation. In fact, you may not even know if the issue you are having needs immediate care. It is normal to have several questions about dental emergencies because they are not widely discussed. Dr. Kathy Lam is always here for her patients, even during times of emergency. She is only a phone call away to answer your questions about dental emergencies while also providing the same-day care you need to save your smile.