Emergency Dentist – Crown Point & Whiting, IN

Relieving Your Pain & Restoring Your Smile

Dental emergencies can be painful and stressful to handle. That’s why we do our best to clear our schedule and provide same-day care to patients who contact our office with urgent problems. Without timely treatment, dental emergencies can put your oral health at risk and cause permanent damage. Some problems we can solve over the phone, while others may require an appointment. When you call our emergency dentist in Crown Point & Whiting, we’ll provide you with first-aid guidance while you’re on your way to our office. We’re more than happy to take dental emergencies for patients of all ages!

How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies always seem to happen at the most inconvenient moments, which can make it hard to react quickly and efficiently to prevent further oral damage from occurring. The shock of the situation can have you stumbling around and not thinking straight, which is why we’ve provided some basic tips for a variety of problems you may run into.

Toothaches

Toothaches can be caused by a minor or serious problem. Before you contact our office, try getting a piece of dental floss and maneuvering it around each tooth to remove a piece of possible lodged debris like a popcorn kernel. If your pain persists, call us right away, because it could be cause by a tooth infection. Be sure not to put aspirin directly on the area, because it can damage your sensitive gums and cause additional discomfort.

Chipped/Broken Tooth

Collect any pieces of your broken tooth that you can find and rinse them under warm water. Depending on the severity of the damage, a broken tooth may not always cause you pain. If it does, you can take over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen to ease your discomfort. If you have any sharp edges of your tooth that’s irritating your oral tissues, you can block them off by placing a piece of sugar-free gum or orthodontic wax over the sharp area.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If you knocked out your tooth, time is of the essence. Be sure to call us immediately and try to get to our office within an hour of the accident so we’ll have a better chance of replanting the tooth. Retrieve the tooth from the ground and rinse it off, being sure to only handle it by the biting surface (don’t touch the root of the tooth). Keep it moist by placing it back in its socket or a container full of milk and bring it to your dentist in Crown Point & Whiting.  

Lost Filling/Crown

If your broken restoration is still intact, you can temporarily protect your tooth be reattaching it to it using denture adhesive or a piece of sugar-free gum. We’ll fit you in for an appointment as soon as possible to either repair or replace your restoration and prevent any further oral damage from occurring.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why it’s important to be prepared for them. You can reduce your chances of experiencing an emergency and protect your smile by following some of the following tips:

• Wear a mouthguard while playing any contact sports or hobbies.
• Protect your teeth from nightly grinding with a sleepguard.
• Keep up with your dental hygiene routine.
• Visit us for your checkups and cleanings every six months.

If you have any questions about how you can protect your mouth, ask us during your next checkup and cleaning! Our team will be more than happy to give you the tools you need to keep your natural smile bright and healthy for years to come.

Learn More About Preventing Dental Emergencies

The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

Every dental emergency is different, which makes it impossible to name a single price. Depending on the situation you find yourself in and what type of treatment you need, the cost of your visit can vary. At Berquist Family Dentistry, we accept a wide range of payment options and will gladly answer any questions you have about your insurance benefits, so don’t hesitate to contact our office!

Emergency Dentistry FAQs

No one ever expects to need services for emergency dentistry in Crown Point, but oral health issues requiring urgent attention occur more often than you might realize. If you or a loved one find yourself in this unfortunate situation, you’re sure to have several questions. You don’t want to waste valuable time searching for an answer. A member of our team is only a phone call away to provide you with tips and advice. Also, here are the answers to a few of the most common questions we’re asked to make a stressful time a bit easier.

Should I go to the emergency room or dentist?

When the unexpected strikes, your first instinct might be to head to the hospital for quick care. Although the emergency department can provide you with antibiotics and pain relievers, they can’t treat the underlying issue, like a knocked-out tooth or an infection. Instead, it’s always best to visit your emergency dentist whenever possible, unless you’re experiencing a medical concern. Your dentist will identify and address the underlying problem to restore a healthy, functional smile.

Can I wait to see my dentist?

No one has the time in their day for an unplanned trip to the dentist. It’s tempting to wait to see your dentist until you have more flexibility in your schedule, but that might cost you your tooth. Instead, it’s best to see your emergency dentist in Whiting right away. We know your time is valuable, which is why our dental practice provides convenient office hours and the latest technologies to streamline your care.

Should I have my tooth extracted?

If a problematic tooth is giving you grief, extracting it might seem like the simple solution. Although it eliminates the issue at the source, it opens the door to a new list of complications associated with tooth loss. Every tooth is invaluable to your dental health. If even one is missing, you’ll have a heightened risk of cavities, gum disease, and additional tooth loss. Not to mention, you’ll need to invest in a prosthetic tooth to fill the empty space.

You can avoid the complications of tooth loss by preserving your smile. We will explain your treatment options to save your tooth. If there isn’t any viable solution to restore its health, such as from a significant break, we may recommend an extraction. Don’t worry, we’ll explain your replacement options, like using a dental implant.

Can I use my dental insurance?

Although every policy differs, most dental insurances offer coverage for emergency situations, like a toothache or lost restoration. A member of our team will work on your behalf with your insurance carrier, so you have one less thing to worry about. They will file the necessary claim forms to reduce the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket by maximizing your annual benefits. If there’s any remaining balance, we will help you find the solutions you need to restore a healthy smile without breaking the bank, like third-party financing.