Emergency Dentist – Merrillville, IN

Quickly Find Relief from Dental Pain

One moment your mouth might feel perfectly fine, and the next there could be a tooth that’s in severe pain. You should always be ready to call United Dental Centers of Merrillville in case a dental emergency occurs. One of our team members will schedule a same-day emergency dental appointment so that you can get out of your pain and have your oral health issues treated as soon as possible. We’re here for you when your smile needs urgent care from an emergency dentist in Merrillville!

Why Choose United Dental Centers of Merrillville for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Dental Appointments for Emergencies
  • Medicaid and Dental Insurance Accepted
  • Kind and Patient Dental Team

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Woman sitting in dental chair and holding her cheek in pain

The process begins as soon as you call our dental office. We’ll give you first-aid advice that has been tailored to your specific situation, and we’ll set up an appointment so that we can see you as soon as possible. A full examination of your mouth will be performed so that a proper diagnosis can be made. Then, we can review your treatment options with you and explain the costs involved. We’ll work quickly to put a stop to any immediate, severe pain, and we’ll schedule follow-up visits as needed depending on the nature of your dental emergency.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

You may not always be completely sure whether your dental problem really counts as an emergency. Below, you’ll find some examples of common issues that call for urgent dental care. Please give us a call if you have doubts about your oral health or if you think that you might have an emergency situation; we’ll gladly listen as you describe your symptoms, and we can help you figure out whether same-day care is needed.

Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Before you decide to take the “wait and see” approach, it’s important to assess your symptoms. If they have persisted for 24+ hours, you feel a sharp, stabbing pain when biting down, or there is a pimple-like bump on your gums, then it does warrant an emergency visit to our Merrillville office.

How You Should Handle a Toothache To protect your tooth from further harm while also alleviating any discomfort you’re experiencing, we recommend rinsing periodically with warm saltwater, avoiding crunchy, sugary, and acidic foods, and using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time. If needed, you can take OTC pain medication as well.

How We Treat Toothaches There are several ways we can treat a toothache, including with a dental filling or crown. Ultimately, the treatment that’s best for you will depend on your unique dental needs, so we will share our recommendations and help you decide the best way to proceed during your visit.

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? That depends largely on how severe the chip is. If it’s substantial or you’re experiencing considerable sensitivity, then we do recommend scheduling an appointment with our emergency dentist in Merrillville.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth Placing some dental wax (or sugar-free gum) over the sharp edge of your tooth will help prevent it from breaking further and protect the soft tissue in your mouth from getting cut. Outside of that, just rinse your mouth periodically with clean, room-temperature water and stick to extremely soft foods, like plain yogurt and applesauce.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth Direct bonding, a veneer, and a metal-free restoration can all be used to restore the missing structure of your tooth. Ultimately, the one that’s best for you will depend on a few factors, including the type of tooth in question. Rest assured, we will share our treatment recommendations and answer any questions you have so you feel confident deciding which one is best for you.

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? A cracked tooth does warrant an immediate call to our office. After all, the more time that passes, the higher the chances are of the tooth breaking further.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth There are a few steps we recommend taking, starting with rinsing your mouth gently with clean, room-temperature water. You should also avoid chewing on that side of your mouth, especially crunchy and sticky foods, like hard pretzels and caramel candies.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth First, we will assess the severity of the break and determine if your tooth can be saved. If it can’t, then we will need to extract it and determine which tooth-replacement solution is best for you (i.e., dental bridges, dentures, dental implants).

Sensitivity to
Hot & Cold

Knocked-Out
Tooth

Lost Filling
or Crown

Broken
Denture

Loose
Tooth

Gums, Lips or
Tongue Injury

Jaw Pain or
Clenching

Something Stuck
Between Teeth

Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies

Man in light blue collared shirt talking to dental team member at front desk

Emergency dental care doesn’t have a set price simply because many different kinds of dental issues could potentially count as an emergency. The kind of treatment you need will determine how much you end up paying. We know that fitting the cost of emergency dentistry into your budget can be stressful, but we aim to make things easier by accepting a variety of dental plans and offering flexible financing.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Young woman smiling while flossing

There’s no way to guarantee that you never have to deal with a dental emergency, but you can certainly protect your teeth and lower the risk of oral health issues occurring by taking the following preventive measures:

  • Schedule a checkup and cleaning at United Dental Centers of Merrillville twice a year.
  • Avoid biting or chewing hard foods, such as peppermints.
  • Wear a mouthguard if you play any kind of sport.
  • Invest in a nightguard to keep your teeth safe from nighttime grinding and clenching.
  • Always brush your teeth two times a day, and don’t forget to floss daily.
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