Urgent Care Specialist

Dental emergencies can occur at any time of the day or night, which is why urgent care is a critical component of the services offered to patients at Pingree Smile Center. From their office in Pingree Grove, IL, the team at Pingree Smile Center helps patients from Pingree Grove, Hampshire, Huntley, and all other surrounding areas.
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Urgent Care Q & A

What is urgent care dentistry, and what types of services are offered?

In most cases, a patient’s dental care needs can be taken care of within the traditional office setting during normal business hours. There are times, however, where a dental emergency arises that falls outside of those parameters. This is where urgent care dentistry comes into play. When a serious dental issue requires immediate attention, but the situation is not life-threatening, urgent care offers a solution. Many urgent care patients turn to Pingree Smile Center after a traumatic mouth injury, such as a car accident or a sports-related injury. For others, a dental emergency can arise from something as simple as biting down onto a piece of food.

What should patients expect during an urgent care dental appointment?

Urgent care services begin with a phone call to the Pingree Smile Center, during which a highly-trained staff member will assess the patient’s dental condition and determine the proper course of care. In cases where a dental issue is part of an overarching medical emergency, the patient may be directed to proceed directly to the nearest emergency room for medical treatment. If there is no threat to the patient’s life, but substantial damage has occurred within the mouth, the patient may be directed to come to the Pingree Grove office location for urgent care services. At that point, a dentist will conduct a thorough examination to determine the extent of the damage.

What is the best way to prepare for an urgent care visit?

Preparation depends on the type of injury that the patient has sustained. In cases where a tooth has been knocked out or broken, it is important to try and find the missing tooth or its parts. If possible, a tooth that has been knocked out should be replaced in its socket, with the patient gently biting down on gauze or other clean material to stabilize the tooth during transport. If this is not possible, the next best option is to rinse the tooth off and place it in a container of milk, water, or the patient’s own saliva.