3737 E State Route 36, Decatur, IL, 62521
Here for You When a Dental Emergency Strikes
A cracked tooth, sudden toothache, or lost filling can happen at the worst possible time, and it is never something you should have to manage on your own. At Decatur Dental Care, we do our best to reserve space on our schedule for dental emergencies for our current patients, so if you are already part of our practice, we are here to help when you need us most.
Because our schedule fills quickly, planning ahead makes a real difference. Establishing care with our practice now means we already know your dental history and can respond faster if an emergency comes up down the road.
Call Us at 217-423-2400
What Counts as a Dental Emergency
- Severe or persistent toothache that disrupts sleep or does not respond to over the counter medication
- A knocked out permanent tooth, which is the most time sensitive situation in dentistry
- A cracked, broken or fractured tooth, particularly with sharp edges or exposed inner tooth
- Facial or gum swelling, which often indicates an infection that is spreading
- An abscess, appearing as a painful bump on the gum that may drain a bad taste
- Bleeding that will not stop following an injury or an extraction
- A lost filling or crown leaving the tooth exposed and sensitive
- A loosened or displaced tooth after trauma
- Something lodged between teeth that cannot be removed and is causing pain or pressure
- Trauma to the lips, cheeks or tongue accompanied by significant bleeding
Emergency Care for Established Patients
We understand how stressful a dental emergency can be, which is why we work hard to reserve appointment slots for our current patients when something unexpected comes up. If you are already part of our practice, call our office as soon as symptoms begin so we can do everything possible to get you seen quickly.
What to Do Before You Reach Us
The steps you take in the first minutes matter, and they differ considerably by situation.
01
A Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
Hold it by the crown, never the root. Rinse gently if dirty, then try to place it back in the socket. If that is not possible, keep it moist in milk, saliva, or tooth preservation solution. Do not use tap water. Call immediately, as treatment is most successful within the first 30 to 60 minutes.
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02
A Cracked or Broken Tooth
Rinse with warm water and apply a cold compress to control swelling. Save any fragments. Avoid chewing on that side and cover sharp edges with dental wax or sugarless gum if needed.
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03
A Severe Toothache
Rinse with warm water and gently floss around the tooth to remove debris. Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication as directed. Never place aspirin directly on the gums. A cold compress can also help. Call us rather than waiting for it to improve.
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04
Facial Swelling
This requires prompt attention. Call immediately. If swelling affects breathing or swallowing, or spreads toward the eye or neck, go to an emergency room, as this may indicate a spreading infection.
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05
A Lost Filling or Crown
Keep the crown if you have it and never use household adhesive to reattach it. Avoid chewing on that side and keep the area clean. Temporary dental cement can provide short-term protection until you are seen.
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06
Bleeding After an Extraction
Place clean gauze over the site and bite firmly for 20 minutes without repeatedly checking it. If heavy bleeding continues for several hours, call us.
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How We Handle an Emergency Visit
Urgent appointments are structured to get you comfortable and diagnosed quickly rather than working through a full comprehensive evaluation first.
- Triage over the phone. When you call, we ask specific questions about your symptoms to determine urgency and give you interim guidance before you arrive.
- Focused examination. We concentrate on the problem area, assessing the tooth, surrounding tissue and any swelling or trauma.
- Targeted imaging. A digital X-ray of the affected tooth shows decay, fracture, infection at the root tip and bone involvement immediately. Panorex imaging is used where trauma or a wisdom tooth is involved and a wider view is needed.
- Pain relief first. Where you are in significant discomfort, addressing that takes priority. Local anesthetic makes both examination and treatment possible, and nitrous oxide sedation is available for anxious patients.
- Explaining what we found. Intraoral camera images let you see a fracture or breakdown directly, and we tell you plainly what is happening and what the realistic options are.
- Definitive or stabilizing treatment. Where the problem can be resolved in one visit, we resolve it. Where it needs a longer appointment, we stabilize the tooth, manage the infection and get you comfortable, then schedule the definitive work promptly.
- Follow up planning. You leave knowing exactly what happens next, what to watch for and when to call if something changes.
Toothache Pain and What It Is Telling You
The character of dental pain often points toward its cause, which helps us prioritize when you call.
Sharp pain on biting frequently indicates a cracked tooth or a high spot on a recent restoration. Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold that continues well after the stimulus is removed suggests the pulp is inflamed or dying and often means root canal therapy. Constant throbbing pain, particularly when it worsens lying down, commonly reflects an infection where pressure has built inside the tooth. Dull aching with pressure around a back tooth, especially in a younger patient, may involve a wisdom tooth. Pain accompanied by swelling and a bad taste points toward an abscess.
Pain that stops suddenly after being severe is not reassuring. It frequently means the nerve has died, and the infection continues progressing into the bone without the symptom that was warning you about it.
Insurance and Payment for Urgent Dental Care
Emergency examinations and diagnostic imaging are generally covered by dental plans, and the treatment that follows is covered according to its category, whether that is a filling, root canal, crown or extraction. Because urgent situations arrive without planning, the financial side is often the last thing on your mind when you call, which is why we handle it clearly rather than leaving it vague.
Decatur Dental Care accepts most PPO plans, is a Delta Dental provider, and files claims for our patients. We verify your benefits and give you a written itemized estimate before treatment beyond immediate pain relief proceeds, so you understand the cost before committing to it. CareCredit financing is available when an emergency turns into a larger treatment plan, and we accept cash, check, Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
Become an Established Patient
The best way to make sure you have access to emergency care when you need it most is to establish care with us before an emergency happens. Join our practice today so our team already knows your dental history and can respond quickly if something unexpected comes up.
Become a New Patient