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Emergency Dentist — Buffalo Grove, IL

Don’t Wait: Call Us for Urgent Treatment

woman with glasses wincing

Whether it comes in the form of dental pain, a lost crown, or a traumatized tooth, dental emergencies are inconvenient and sometimes scary. We understand this at Countryside Dental, and please know that Dr. Nagornaya and her team are here to support you. We offer convenient office hours and keep time in our schedule to accommodate our emergency patients with same-day dentistry if it’s needed. Don’t hesitate to call our office right away if you or a loved one are experiencing a dental emergency in Buffalo Grove. We’ll do everything possible to get you feeling comfortable again in no time!

Why Choose Countryside Dental for Emergency Dental Care?

  • In-Network with Most PPO Dental Plans
  • Focused On Getting You Out of Pain Fast
  • Dentist Works Hard to Get You Seen Asap

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

woman eating apple in pain

  • Call our office. As soon as you notice something amiss, give us a call to make an emergency appointment. If you are unsure that your situation is an emergency, we are always happy to give you guidance over the phone. We would much rather our patients contact us right away if there is any question about their teeth or oral health.
  • See Dr. Nagornaya for an emergency exam. When you get to our office, Dr. Nagornaya will carefully evaluate your condition and take X-rays to identify the root cause of the problem. Our team will work quickly to create a custom treatment plan for your smile.
  • Get the care you need. During your appointment, we’ll temporarily relieve your pain using anesthesia or sedation. However, you may have to return for additional treatments to address the underlying issue. Some common solutions include fillings, dental crowns, root canal therapy, and extractions.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

While dental emergencies may not happen often, it’s important to be prepared in the event that one occurs. Whether you don’t know why you have tooth pain, you have a broken or cracked tooth, or you fear an infection may be present in your mouth, there are steps you can take before you visit our office. Here are a few helpful tips for handling common dental emergencies while you wait for your appointment.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies 

patient calculating cost of emergency dentistry in Buffalo Grove

Every dental emergency is unique, which is why it’s impossible to know how much your care will cost until you come into our office for an exam. At Countryside Dental, we’ll perform a thorough oral examination to find out which treatment method is needed to address your specific situation. Some patients may simply need fillings or antibiotics, while others require more extensive dental restorations. During your appointment, we’ll explain the financing options we offer at our practice.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

man smiling while brushing teeth in bathroom mirror

Some dental emergencies are outside your control; however, if you take certain precautions, you can reduce the odds of experiencing a dental emergency altogether. Here are the things you can do to avoid a dental emergency:

  • Brush twice and floss once every day.
  • Visit Dr. Nagornaya twice every year for a checkup and cleaning.
  • Wear a sports mouthguard, especially in sports or activities where contact is likely.
  • Avoid chewing on ice, pens, or other hard objects.
  • Get the appropriate tool to open packaging instead of using your teeth.

Tooth Extractions

extracted tooth inside tool

While we do not consider extraction of teeth to be our first treatment option (in fact, we consider it our last), there are some instances where tooth removal is the best choice moving forward. For example, if a tooth has become so damaged that no amount of restorative dentistry can resolve it, we’ll explain why to you directly, go over the procedure step-by-step, then make sure that you are comfortable and ready to begin your care.

Root Canal Therapy

red teeth on x-ray

Every second of every day, your tooth enamel is subjected to an onslaught of acid-causing bacteria. The plaque they form on your teeth and along your gum line is capable of eroding the enamel, eventually leading to cavities. When decay is allowed to advance without treatment, bacteria ultimately infiltrate the inner chambers of your teeth, compromising the health of the vital nerves within. Infection takes hold, often leading to persistent sensitivity and pain.

Fortunately, Dr. Nagornaya can help both alleviate your pain and restore your oral health with root canal therapy. The canal of the affected tooth is cleared of all infected tissue and filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. A custom crown is then placed over the treated tooth, completing your procedure. With the most advanced technology available and a gentle touch, we'll ensure that you feel calm and comfortable throughout the duration of your treatment.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Dental Emergency FAQs 

woman icing cheek

After reading all of the information above, are you still scared about the thought of experiencing a dental emergency and not knowing what you should do? If you have an urgent issue on your hands, contact our office immediately so we can provide you with first-aid advice over the phone and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. For your convenience, we’ve answered some common questions we get from our emergency patients below as well.

When Should I Call an Emergency Dentist for Help?

Some patients are hesitant to contact us for emergency dental care because they’re not sure if their problem will just end up going away on its own. The only problem with this is that leaving an issue untreated for too long could cause permanent oral damage and even pain. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions listed below, be sure to contact our office immediately:

  • Do you have a loose permanent tooth?
  • Are your gums tender or bleeding?
  • Do you have facial swelling?
  • Have you noticed an oral wound or bump that won’t go away?
  • Do you have a painful toothache that won’t go away?
  • Is your tooth numb?
  • Do you have a metal taste in your mouth?
  • Is your tooth damaged?

A good rule of thumb to go by is that if you feel something is out-of-the-ordinary, it likely is. Usually, your gut feeling is right, and you should contact us if you ever feel like anything is wrong with your mouth. With timely care, we’ll be able to stop problems from becoming even more serious.

What Supplies Should I Include in My Dental Emergency Kit?

Being prepared for a dental emergency could mean the difference between losing and saving a tooth, which is why our team recommends having dental emergency kits in areas like your kitchen, car, and at work. Even if you’re on your way to an emergency dentist, having a kit handy can help ease your discomfort in the meantime. Here are some supplies you’ll want to include in your kit:

  • Latex-free gloves
  • Orajel
  • A sealable container that can fit a tooth
  • Individually wrapped gauze pads
  • Ibuprofen
  • Dental floss
  • A dental mirror
  • Denture adhesive
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Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? For many patients, the assumption is “no.” However, there are several cases where the answer is “yes!” If the tooth that the pain is stemming from is discolored or you feel a sharp pain when biting down, then you should call our Buffalo Grove emergency dentist right away. You should do the same if the pain lasts more than 24 hours, there is a bump on your gums near the tooth, or you simply aren’t sure if you should schedule a same-day appointment.

How You Should Handle a Toothache It’s no secret that toothaches can be quite painful, which can make chewing difficult and resting nearly impossible. Fortunately, there are a few short-term measures you can take until you arrive at our office, including taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. If you have a few hours until your appointment, then do your best not to chew on that side of your mouth, avoid crunchy foods, and avoid unhealthy dental habits, like smoking or chewing on ice.

How We Treat Toothaches The process will start with an oral exam and X-rays, which will allow us to pinpoint the root of the problem. If it’s a decayed or cracked tooth, then a tooth-colored filling or dental crown may be the best option for restoring your tooth. If, however, the damage is more severe, then we may recommend a root canal or tooth extraction. As always, we will review all of the available treatment options in-depth and answer any questions you have before we get started.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL THERAPY

Chipped Tooth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? If the chip is minor, then you can wait a day or two for an appointment as long as you keep an eye on it. If the chip is substantial, then it’s considered a dental emergency and you should visit our Buffalo Grove dental team right away.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth Step one is rinsing your mouth with room-temperature water (this will keep the area clean and rinse away any lingering shards of your tooth). Step two is placing a piece of dental wax or sugarless gum over the tooth to prevent sensitivity and avoid further damage. Step three, if necessary, take an over-the-counter pain reliever to keep you comfortable until you arrive at our office.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth Naturally, the treatment we recommend will depend on the severity of the chip. If it’s small, then direct bonding may be the best option. In addition to the material coming in a wide range of lifelike shades, the process is quick and painless. If it’s more substantial or on one of the teeth that show when you smile, then we may suggest veneers, which is an extremely popular and long-lasting cosmetic dental treatment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIRECT BONDING

LEARN MORE ABOUT VENEERS

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Even if the crack in your tooth is small, you should call our office right away. Remember: even minor cracks can leave your tooth vulnerable to infection and further damage. So, don’t wait to get in touch with us.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth First, take proactive measures to keep the area clean. Gently rinsing with room-temperature water can help. Next, if you are in any pain, you can apply a cold compress against the outside of your cheek or take an OTC pain reliever. Last, but not least, do not chew on that side of your mouth or eat anything that’s crunchy, acidic, or sugary.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth In many cases, dental crowns are an effective solution to cracked teeth. In addition to being long-lasting, these restorations are extremely lifelike and are durable enough to protect weak teeth. Of course, if the crack is more substantial, then we will need to discuss an alternative, like extracting the tooth and replacing it with a dental bridge or dental implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Very Sensitive Teeth  

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Typically, no. With that said, we do recommend calling our Buffalo Grove dental team if you’ve been experiencing dental sensitivity for more than 24 hours. At this point, it could be a warning sign of gum disease or another untreated oral health issue.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth If you have some time between now and your appointment, then the best thing to do is try to avoid things that will exacerbate your discomfort, such as drinking hot coffee. If you’re in pain, you can also take an OTC pain reliever.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth We’ll know the answer once we determine the root of the problem! For example, we can fix a decayed tooth with a dental filling or crown. Or, if an infection is the source, we can intervene with gum disease treatment.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

Knocked-Out Tooth  

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, it is! So, if you are in the Buffalo Grove area, you should contact us ASAP. Remember, in order to save your tooth, we need to intervene with the necessary care within the hour.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth Handling a knocked-out tooth can feel overwhelming, which is why many patients find it helpful to break down the process into simple steps. First, locate the tooth. Second, pick up the tooth by the crown (this will help preserve the root). Third, place the tooth back in its socket or in a container of milk.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth If your tooth is in good condition, then we will first determine if saving it is feasible. Although it can be discouraging if it isn’t, we have several lifelike tooth-replacement options, including dental bridges and dental implants.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL BRIDGES

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown  

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Yes, so contact our Buffalo Grove emergency dentist as soon as you notice it’s missing! From there, we can determine the earliest time you can come in for treatment as well as guide you through how to protect your tooth and preserve your restoration in the meantime.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown If you have your restoration with you, then place it in a clean container for safekeeping. After that, your next priority is protecting your tooth from harm. So, don’t chew on that side of your mouth, especially hard, crunchy, and sticky foods!

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns In some cases, we don’t need to order a new restoration – we can use your previous one! Of course, that’s not always possible, especially if your dental crown is damaged. Luckily, we can provide you with a new one relatively quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH-COLORED FILLINGS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL CROWNS

Broken Denture

Loose Permanent Tooth

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Jaw Pain

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

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