Our adult teeth should last us a lifetime if taken care of properly. There are a number of reasons why you would need dental work performed. Certain people just seem to have inherited less than perfect teeth. Perhaps they are unusually sensitive, or they could appear to be less strong than most healthy teeth are. Not caring properly for your teeth can lead to plague buildup and decay of the tooth if not treated early. This could require fillings to repair. While regular dental exams should be part of everyone’s dental care, there are some specific situations that would require seeing an emergency dentist in Chicago.

Teeth can become cracked, loose or they can be knocked out of the mouth due to a significantly hard blow to the area. This is considered a dental emergency, and the person should try to replace the tooth to its original space while someone drives them to the dentist. If the office is farther away or the tooth doesn’t seem to set, put the tooth into a container of milk for transport. Other dental emergencies include severe tooth pain, facial trauma involving the mouth, painful tooth or gum abscess among others. A skilled emergency dentist in the Chicago area can handle a wide multitude of dental and gum emergencies.

Parents can help prevent dental emergencies by using the recommended safety mouth guards for some high-risk-for-injury sports. If you or your child awakens late at night with a tooth ache, rinse the mouth gently with warm salt water. If the swelling is present, apply a cold compress to cheek. Ibuprofen can be given for pain and swelling, and an oral, topical medication with benzocaine can be gently rubbed on the affected area to numb temporarily. Contact Chicago Dental Arts a.s.a.p. for an emergency dentist in Chicago.