Prompt Emergency Dental Care in Mt. Pleasant, SC

Accidents can happen in a split second. When an accident happens that results in physical harm, it can be scary as getting treatment immediately can greatly affect your health. When patients suffer from an injury that affects their smile, the time it takes to receive the proper treatment can make or break your oral health. At Smiling Oak Dentistry, we offer our patients in Mt. Pleasant emergency dentistry that you can rely on.

What is “Emergency Dentistry”?

Emergency dentistry simply refers to any treatment that restores and repairs your oral health after you’ve suffered trauma to your mouth. Most of the time, these injuries require immediate treatment. When you suffer a dental emergency and do not seek treatment in a timely manner, it can result in long-lasting, detrimental effects on your overall health and well-being.

What Are Some Dental Emergencies?

Some patients go through trauma that is considered a dental emergency and yet because they do not recognize the injury as an “emergency”, they do not seek treatment until it is too late. This can result in missing teeth, damage to surrounding teeth, changes in the appearance of your face and smile, or even oral disease. Here is a list of some of the most common dental emergencies:

Knocked-Out Tooth

This is one of the most common dental emergencies. The AAE (American Association of Endodontics) reports that there are more than 5 million knocked out teeth in children and adults every year. The unfortunate assumption, however, is that a tooth that has been knocked out cannot itself be restored. However, if the proper precautions are taken and if you seek treatment from your dentist immediately, there is a high chance that they will be able to salvage the natural tooth.

What to do if your tooth is knocked out:

• Pick up the tooth by the crown, not the root
• Rinse the tooth gently, with lukewarm water (DO NOT use soap and do not attempt to scrub or dry the tooth)
• If possible, place the tooth back into its empty socket and hold it in place until you see your dentist
• If it is not possible to place it back into the socket, keep the tooth in milk or in your own saliva while waiting to see the dentist

When a patient suffers from a knocked-out tooth that cannot be salvaged, we offer an ideal, permanent tooth replacement option with implant dentistry.

Chipped Tooth

Chipped teeth are also a very common occurrence. If you suffer from a tooth that has been chipped (a portion of the tooth has broken off), visit your dentist as soon as possible. We can repair chipped teeth by reattaching the broken part with dental cement, or if the natural tooth is irreparable, we apply bonding to restore the appearance of the tooth. Additionally, we offer veneers, an excellent way to repair the appearance of your chipped tooth.

Severe Cuts in the Cheek, Tongue, or Lips

It is easy to receive lacerations on the cheek, tongue, or lips during sports or other traumatic injuries. When this happens, be sure to rinse the area with warm water and attempt to stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the wound. Contact your dentist in Mt. Pleasant, SC immediately if the bleeding will not stop.

Lost Crown

Dental crowns, if placed properly, can last for many years. However, with time, wear and tear, and in the event of trauma, a crown can become dislodged. Sometimes, this creates sensitivity and pain to the underlying tooth. If you suffer from a lost crown, schedule an emergency appt. with your dentist as soon as possible. If possible, try to temporarily reattach the crown using a denture adhesive (can be purchased from a drug store). If it is not possible to reattach the crown, avoid chewing with this tooth and avoid using the tooth in general until your dental appointment.

Choosing a Dentist vs. Emergency Room

Many times, a patient will choose to immediately visit the emergency room in the event of a dental emergency. While this is a valid option if the need for treatment is immediate and there is no dentist available, treatment at an emergency room can be costly and less effective. The professionals available at the emergency room will not be trained in the specifics of dentistry and, thus, the treatment won’t compare to the quality and specialized treatment that you will receive with our Mt. Pleasant emergency dentist.

Fortunately for our patients, we offer Mount Pleasant emergency dental services from a dentist who has extensive training in treating dental emergencies. We also set aside time each day to account for any unforeseen dental emergencies that our patients may undergo. Trust the team at Smiling Oak Dentistry for all of your emergency dental treatment in the following areas:

• Mt. Pleasant, SC
• Downtown Charleston, SC

For more information on our dental services or to schedule your appointment, call us today at (843) 884-0335.