Chicago, Illinois
Emergency Dental Services
Your Post Family Dental care team will do anything to ensure you can get the care you need, when you need it most. If you are experiencing pain or have suffered dental injury, we provide emergency dental care when you need it. Give us a call to set up an appointment.
How Do I Know If I Have a Dental Emergency?
When you have a dental emergency — whether it’s caused by a sudden accident or chronic disease — your teeth need to receive proper care right away.
As with any type of medical emergency, it’s important to be aware, before you’re actually in the situation, of what you can do to ensure the best outcome.
If you have a dental emergency, Dr. Shawn Post and Dr. Brian Post and our staff invite you to call (312) 782-7650 or fill out the request appointment form.
Types of Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies are easy to recognize. Call our emergency dentist immediately if you experience any of the following:
Severe Toothache
Dental pain, swelling, and fever can indicate an infection or abscessed tooth.
The most common cause of dental pain is tooth decay, a bacterial infection that can spread through many parts of the tooth, and even into the gum tissue.
Sometimes, tooth pain indicates that you may need a root canal treatment — a procedure that not only relieves the pain of an infection deep inside the tooth, but also can keep the tooth from having to be removed.
Other times, pain may be caused by a loose filling or sensitive tooth. The only way to know for sure what’s causing your tooth pain is to make an appointment at the dental office right away.
Dental Injury
A displaced or knocked-out tooth (avulsion) caused by dental trauma can only be saved with immediate treatment.
If the tooth has been completely separated from the socket, avoid touching the root and pick it up by its crown. Gently rinse the tooth in water and try your best to reinsert it in the proper position.
If this is not possible, place the tooth in a small container of milk and bring it to our emergency dentist or follow their instructions. Treatments must begin within the hour following the injury to save a knocked-out tooth.
Cracked, Chipped, or Broken Teeth
Dental injuries can also cause teeth to become chipped, cracked, or broken.
When this occurs, the teeth must be examined thoroughly to determine the extent of damage to their inner structure. In these cases, getting dental care fast can make the difference between saving the tooth or needing to have it extracted.
Broken Crown
If your dental crown breaks, you’ll need to see our dentist within one or two days because gum tissue grows fast.
Waiting longer than a couple of days allows the tissue to change your gum line and prevents us from being able to repair the crown without requiring a brand-new impression.
Mild Toothache
While a minor toothache may not rise to the level of an emergency, it’s important to schedule an appointment right away to avoid it from becoming one.
When to Seek Emergency Dental Care
You can’t always predict when you’re going to need dental care. The Post Family Dental Team is here to help when the unexpected happens.