Emergency Dentist Charleston

Preventing Panic with Immediate Dental Solutions

Before you start to panic over a cracked or fractured tooth, know that Elevate Dentistry Charleston offers same-day emergency appointments so patients can receive prompt dental care when a crisis occurs. By simply calling our Charleston dental office, we can ease your anxiety and get you in without delay.

Why Choose Elevate Dentistry Charleston for Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Dental Emergency Appointments Available
  • Two Forms of Sedation Dentistry – Nitrous Oxide & Oral Conscious
  • Low-Cost In-House Dental Membership Plan

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Emergency dentist in Charleston preparing to treat a patient

Treating a dental emergency first requires that you call our office as soon as you can. The faster you alert our team, the quicker we can get you in to see Dr. David for immediate care. Dr. David reserves special time for emergency calls every day.

Once in our office, we will address your pain and identify the affected area using enhanced digital imaging and a visual examination. After collecting our findings and crafting a plan, we will go over the details with you before administering the appropriate treatment and relieving your pain.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Although you may not know whether you are dealing with a dental emergency, trust that it’s always best to call and speak to a member of our team here at Elevate Dentistry Charleston. If you want to learn more about the types of dental injuries we can treat in our Charleston dental office, click on the icons below.

Toothache

Is my toothache a dental emergency? A toothache is not a dental problem — rather, it is a symptom of one! There are many issues that can cause tooth pain, and some of them require urgent care. You should call our Charleston office right away if:

  • You have throbbing tooth pain
  • The pain is severe enough to interfere with daily activities
  • A tooth is darker than the ones around it
  • There is visible damage to a tooth
  • You have a pimple-like bump on your gums

How you should handle a toothache: Rinsing your mouth with warm water may clear away any debris or food particles. You can take OTC pain relievers to reduce your discomfort, but do not apply aspirin directly to the tooth or gums due to the potential for chemical irritation. Avoid chewing with the affected tooth. If you have a bump on your gums, do not attempt to pop it.

How we treat toothaches: Dr. David and our team will need to examine your tooth before we can determine the most appropriate treatment. Some toothaches can be addressed with a small filling or gum disease treatment. In cases where the tooth is severely damaged, we might determine that extraction is the best course of action.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? A small chip is not a particularly urgent emergency. However, the damage could easily worsen over time, and the tooth’s jagged edges may irritate sensitive tissues in your mouth. Therefore, you should seek professional care as soon as you are able to.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Do not use the tooth to chew. If the tooth’s sharp edges are bothering you, try using some orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum to create a protective barrier around it.

How we treat chipped teeth: We can repair most chips with tooth-colored resin. This reshapes the tooth and covers any sharp edges. However, bonding might last for just a few years. A veneer is a more durable option that may last for 15 – 20 years or longer.

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Minor damage to a tooth is not particularly urgent, but major damage should be assessed right away. Keep in mind that not all cracks are visible; they can occur beneath the gumline or between teeth. You should give us a call if you even suspect that a tooth is cracked.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: Avoid doing anything that might worsen the damage. For example, you should not use the tooth to chew. You can keep the area clean by gently rinsing with warm water. You should also be gentle when brushing and flossing.

How we treat cracked teeth: For minimal damage, we might use a tooth-colored resin (the same material we use to fill cavities) to repair the crack. If the damage is more extensive, you might need a crown to preserve the tooth’s structural integrity. In certain cases, we might recommend that a cracked tooth be extracted.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Sensitivity to
Hot & Cold

  • Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency?
    • In most situations, tooth sensitivity isn’t a dental emergency itself. However, it can be uncomfortable as is often a sign of a more serious issue that needs to be addressed. If you have a new or worsening sensitivity, or you feel sharp pain, you should have this addressed at your earliest convenience.
  • How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth:
    • To reduce discomfort, you may benefit from avoiding foods that are particularly hot, cold, spicy, acidic, or sugary. It is also important to maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine and drink plenty of water. If necessary, over-the-counter pain relievers can also help.
  • How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth:
    • Before we can treat sensitivity, we need to figure out the reason why your teeth are sensitive. We will start by examining your smile. Then, we may recommend specialized dental products, prescription toothpaste, a dental filling, or another treatment.

Knocked-Out Tooth

  • Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency?
    • A knocked-out tooth is an urgent dental emergency, and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. To save your tooth, it is crucial that you see an emergency dentist immediately.
  • How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth:
    • It is extremely important that you find a dentist ASAP. The tooth needs to be placed back into the socket within 30-60 minutes to have the best chance at your body taking it back in. If you can, you should try to find your tooth. Rinse it off with milk or saliva and try to put it back into the socket (if you cannot be to a dentist within 30 minutes). It’s important that your tooth remains moist. If you are unable to put it back in place, put it in a container of milk or saliva instead. Alternatively, you can keep it in your cheek. Give us a call to let us know that you are on your way.
  • How We Treat Knocked-Out Tooth:
    • If you can see us right away, we will do everything in our power to reimplant your tooth. This is done by carefully repositioning it in the socket and splinting it to the neighboring teeth. This way, it will remain stationary as it heals back in place. If we are unable to save your tooth, we can discuss tooth replacement options, like dental bridges and dental implants.

Lost Filling or Crown

  • Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency?
    • While a lost filling or crown may not always require immediate treatment, it's important to have it repaired as soon as possible. Give us a call so we can assess the situation and schedule an appointment. Even if you're not experiencing pain, your exposed tooth is more susceptible to damage and decay.
  • How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown:
    • If possible, temporarily secure your restoration using dental wax, which is available at most pharmacies. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth until you can have the restoration professionally repaired or replaced.
  • How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns:
    • If your restoration is still in good condition, we may be able to reattach it. We'll also examine the tooth and restoration to determine why it came loose so we can help reduce the risk of the problem happening again.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Woman brushing her teeth to prevent a dental emergency in Charleston

Elevate Dentistry provides timely emergency care for patients who sustain dental injuries. However, we want each person to understand how they can avoid these problems from the start. Not all situations are avoidable, but there are steps you can take to lower your risk of needing emergency assistance in the future.

See Your Dentist Every Six Months

Woman receiving a dental cleaning

Biannual visits to our dental office are essential to prevent dental emergencies in Charleston. Our team of experts will not only thoroughly examine your teeth and gums for signs of infection or damage, but we’ll also clear any plaque and tartar, leaving your smile healthier and happier. By addressing problems early, we can minimize the need for more extensive treatment in the future and help ensure a damage-free smile in the year ahead.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Man flossing his teeth

It’s easy for bacteria and food debris to become trapped in the pits and crevices of your smile. Brushing twice a day, cleaning between your teeth daily (with string floss or water flosser), and maintaining regular wellness visits can help lower your risk of toothaches, infections, and other urgent dental problems. Our team can also recommend homecare products that align with your health needs and personal preferences.

Be Mindful of What You Eat

Man and woman sharing a healthy lunch

Sugar and starch are known to cause cavities and gum disease, but even hard, crunchy foods can lead to dental damage that requires repair. By ensuring a nutritious diet full of leafy greens, lean protein, low-fat dairy, and fresh fruits and vegetables, you improve your oral and overall health. Also, by limiting your consumption of hard foods, you avoid potentially chipping or cracking a tooth and an unexpected visit to the emergency dentist’s office.

Wear a Mouthguard to Protect Your Teeth

Woman inserting a protective nightguard

Engaging in sports or athletic activities is a great way to stay in shape, but you need proper mouth protection to avoid dental injuries. This is why you are encouraged to ask about a custom mouthguard you can wear during the game. If it’s not sports you’re concerned about, but teeth grinding and clenching, a custom nightguard can also be provided to protect your smile from enamel erosion and jaw pain.

Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth

Person opening a container with their finger and fork

Your teeth are strong, but they can still suffer from breaks, cracks, and chips. This is why you should take the few extra minutes to locate the proper tool to open a container or package. Teeth are not meant to be used as tools. When they fracture or break, they require extensive restorative care to repair. However, when using scissors, pliers, or other similar tools, your smile stays safe – a win-win situation.

Emergency Dentistry FAQs

Will my toothache go away on its own?

Teeth, unlike the rest of your body, can’t repair cavities or more severe damage on their own. When you get a cavity, a chip, or a crack in your tooth, the only way to fix the damage is to see a dentist. Toothaches are the same way. In most cases, these are caused by underlying infections moving into the root or pulp, where all the nerve endings are.

Once pain begins, the only way to make it disappear for good is to get treatment. That said, tooth pain may eventually stop temporarily, but this is often a bad sign that points to a growing infection killing the nerves inside the tooth.

How should I sleep with tooth pain?

Tooth pain can be incredibly distracting at night, especially when there are fewer things to take your mind off of it. To rest easier until you can see our emergency dentist in Charleston, there are a few strategies you can try.

First, rinse gently with warm saltwater to clean the area and soothe irritated tissues. Next, elevate your head with extra pillows to reduce blood flow to the area and potentially lessen throbbing. You can also use a cold compress on your cheek and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed.

Can superglue be used to repair broken dentures?

No. Superglue should never be used to repair broken dentures. It isn’t designed for use in your mouth and can release toxic chemicals, irritate your gums, and affect your ability to taste. It also hardens in a way that can distort the fit of your denture, creating sore spots or even worsening the damage.

Instead of trying to fix things yourself, call our Charleston dental team. We can check the denture, make proper repairs, or discuss replacement options if necessary.

What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?

A small, well-stocked emergency dentistry kit can make stressful situations much easier to manage until you reach our Charleston office. We recommend including:

  • Gauze pads to control bleeding
  • A small, lidded container for a knocked-out tooth
  • Saline solution or milk for tooth preservation
  • A pocket mirror for checking damage
  • Dental wax or sugar-free gum for sharp edges
  • A cold compress for swelling
  • Over-the-counter pain relievers

Keeping these items on hand helps you stay calm and prepared during a dental emergency.

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