A sharp pain shoots through your tooth on a Sunday morning. Your child falls off their bike and lands face-first. You bite into something hard and feel something crack. In moments like these, it’s hard to think clearly. You know something is wrong with your teeth or mouth. But is it serious enough to be a dental emergency? Should you call your dentist or head straight to the emergency room?
At our Skokie dental office, we hear this question a lot. So let’s clear it up.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency
A dental emergency is any problem with your teeth, gums, or mouth that needs immediate attention to save a tooth, stop bleeding, or relieve severe pain. Here are the most common dental emergencies we treat at our Skokie location.
Knocked-Out Tooth
This is a true race against time. If you can get to our office within 30 to 60 minutes, there’s a chance we could save the tooth. Pick it up by the crown (the chewing part), not the root. Rinse it gently if it’s dirty. Try to place it back in the socket. If that’s not possible, put it in a cup of milk or saline solution and call us immediately.
Severe Toothache
Not every toothache is an emergency. But if the pain is constant, throbbing, or keeping you awake at night, something is likely wrong. It could be an infection or an abscess. Don’t just wait it out. Call us.
Chipped or Broken Tooth
A small chip can usually wait a day or two. But a large fracture that exposes the inner part of the tooth, or one that causes sharp pain when you bite, needs prompt attention.
Lost Filling or Crown
This isn’t life-threatening, but it does leave your tooth exposed and vulnerable. Call us to get it fixed within a day or two. In the meantime, you can use temporary dental cement from a pharmacy or even a bit of sugar-free gum to cover the area.
Soft Tissue Injury
If you bite your tongue, cheek, or lip badly enough that bleeding won’t stop after 15 minutes of gentle pressure, give us a call.
When to Go to the ER Instead
Some dental-related problems are better handled at a hospital emergency room. These include:
- Swelling that spreads to your neck or makes it hard to breathe or swallow
- A broken jaw (especially if your teeth don’t line up correctly when you close your mouth)
- Heavy bleeding that won’t stop after 30 minutes of direct pressure
In these situations, go to the ER first. They will stabilize you and then we can step in afterward for follow-up dental care.
Why Call Our Skokie Office First?
For most dental emergencies, your best bet is to call us. We have the right tools and training to fix dental problems. The ER can give you antibiotics or pain medication, but most emergency rooms don’t have a dentist on staff. They can’t replace a knocked-out tooth or permanently repair a chip.
We also know how to make emergency treatment comfortable. Patients tell us we’re “kind, compassionate, and professional” even in stressful situations. We’ll get you out of pain and give you a clear plan.
What to Do Right Now
Save our Skokie office phone number in your phone. When an emergency happens, you won’t have time to search for it.
If you’re in pain or worried about a dental problem, don’t wait until it gets worse. Call us. We’ll ask a few questions, tell you what to do at home, and get you in as soon as possible.