Urgent dental care
Emergency Dentist in Mount Pleasant, SC
A sudden toothache, a cracked tooth or a mouth injury needs prompt attention. East Cooper Dental provides emergency dental care for adults and children at our Mount Pleasant office.
Call us as soon as the problem starts. Our team will assess your symptoms, offer first-aid guidance and arrange the earliest available appointment.
Since 2002
Serving Mount Pleasant
4.9 / 5.0
Google rating
350+
Google reviews
Dental Emergencies We Treat in Mount Pleasant
If you are not sure whether your problem counts as an emergency, call us and describe what is happening. We see patients for:
- Severe or throbbing toothaches
- Broken, chipped or cracked teeth
- Knocked-out, loose or pushed-out teeth
- Swelling of the gums, face or jaw
- Dental abscesses and infections
- Lost or broken crowns and fillings
- Injuries to the teeth, lips or gums from falls, accidents or sports
- Broken or damaged dentures
The sections below explain what to do for each situation and how we typically treat it.
Severe Toothache Relief
Intense or lingering tooth pain usually means something has reached the inner part of the tooth, such as deep decay, a crack or an infection. Pain that wakes you at night, throbs, or lingers after hot or cold foods should be checked quickly.
Before your visit
Rinse with warm water, gently floss to remove anything trapped between teeth and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label. Do not place aspirin directly on the gums, since it can burn the tissue.
At our office
We examine the tooth, take X-rays and find the source of the pain. Depending on the cause, treatment may be a filling, a root canal or, if the tooth cannot be saved, an extraction. Our first goal is to get you out of pain.
Broken, Chipped or Cracked Teeth
A small chip may only be cosmetic, but a crack can expose the inner tooth and lead to pain or infection. Save any pieces you can find, rinse your mouth with warm water and use a cold compress on your cheek if there is swelling. Avoid chewing on that side.
Small chips can often be restored with cosmetic dental bonding. Larger breaks may need a dental crown to protect what remains. If the crack reaches the nerve, the tooth may need a root canal first.
Knocked-Out Tooth Treatment
A knocked-out adult tooth is one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies. The sooner it is replanted, the better the chance it can be saved, ideally within 30 to 60 minutes.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue.
- If you can, gently push it back into the socket and bite down on clean gauze or a cloth to hold it in place.
- If you cannot replace it, keep it moist in a small container of milk or tucked inside the cheek for adults only. Do not store it in tap water or let it dry out.
- Call (843) 388-9894 and come to our office right away.
Loose Teeth and Dental Injuries
A fall, collision or sports injury can loosen a tooth, push it out of position or cut the lips and gums. Even if a tooth looks fine, an injury can damage the nerve or root in ways that only show up on an exam and X-ray.
Do not try to force a loose or displaced tooth back into place. Bite gently on gauze to control bleeding, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and call us. We will check the tooth and surrounding bone, stabilize the tooth if needed and schedule follow-up to watch how it heals.
Dental Abscess, Infection and Swelling
An abscess is a pocket of infection at the root of a tooth or in the gums. Signs include throbbing pain, swelling, a pimple-like bump on the gums, a bad taste in the mouth, fever or tenderness when you bite. Dental infections do not resolve on their own and can spread, so call us promptly.
Treatment focuses on removing the source of infection. That may include draining the abscess, medication when appropriate, a root canal to save the tooth or an extraction. Swelling that spreads toward the eye or neck, or any trouble breathing or swallowing, needs emergency room care right away.
Emergency Tooth Extractions
We always try to save a natural tooth. When a tooth is too badly broken, decayed or infected to repair, removing it may be the best way to stop pain and protect your health. Once you have healed, we can talk about replacing the tooth with an option such as a dental implant.
Emergency Root Canal Treatment
When decay or a crack reaches the nerve inside a tooth, a root canal removes the infected or inflamed tissue, cleans the inside of the tooth and seals it. It is designed to relieve pain and can let you keep your natural tooth. Most teeth need a crown afterward for protection.
Lost or Broken Crowns and Fillings
Keep the crown if you have it and bring it with you. Avoid chewing on that side, and keep the area clean. We will check the tooth for new decay or damage and either re-cement the original crown, place a new filling or begin a new crown if the old one cannot be reused.
Lost or Broken Fillings
A missing filling exposes softer tooth structure that can decay or break quickly. Rinse with warm water and call us. Most lost fillings can be replaced with a tooth-colored filling in a single visit once we confirm the tooth underneath is healthy.
Emergency Denture Repairs
A cracked or broken partial denture, or a missing tooth on the denture, can make eating and speaking difficult. Keep all the pieces and avoid home repair kits or glue, which can damage the appliance and irritate your gums. Call us to discuss whether the denture can be repaired or needs to be replaced.
Emergency Dental Care for Kids in Mount Pleasant
Children’s dental emergencies can be stressful for the whole family. Our team treats children calmly and gently, whether it is a sports injury, a fall that chips or knocks out a tooth, or a toothache that will not let up.
- Knocked-out baby tooth: do not put it back in. Keep your child calm, control bleeding with gauze and call us.
- Knocked-out adult tooth: follow the steps in the knocked-out tooth section and come in right away.
- Chipped or broken tooth: save any pieces, rinse with warm water and call us the same day.
- Toothache: rinse with warm water, check for anything stuck between the teeth and call us if the pain continues.
How to Reach Us During a Dental Emergency
Call (843) 388-9894 as soon as the problem happens. Our team will ask about your symptoms, give you first-aid advice and arrange the earliest available appointment.
Need help outside a routine appointment? Call our office for the most current availability and instructions. Calling is the fastest way for our team to assess the issue and guide your next step.
Questions about cost should not delay urgent care. We accept Delta Dental, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Aetna and Guardian dental plans, and offer financing through Cherry, subject to approval.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
Severe or sudden tooth pain, a knocked-out or broken tooth, swelling of the gums or face, an abscess or infection, a lost crown or filling, or an injury to the mouth all warrant a call rather than waiting for a routine appointment. If you are unsure, call us and describe your symptoms.
Call our office as soon as the problem starts. We reserve time for urgent problems and work to see emergency patients the same day whenever possible. The sooner we see you, the better the outcome, especially for a knocked-out tooth.
Yes. Call us right away. If it is an adult tooth, try to place it back in the socket or keep it in milk on the way. If it is a baby tooth, do not try to put it back; bring your child in so we can check the area and the developing adult tooth.
Save the crown if you have it, avoid chewing on that side and call us. We will check the tooth and either re-cement the crown, replace the filling or start a new restoration if needed.
Go to the ER or call 911 for swelling that spreads to the eye, neck or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, a possible broken jaw or a serious head injury. Once you are stable, call us to treat the dental cause.
Yes. We treat emergency patients of all ages, from young children to adults, and can often see more than one family member at the same visit when needed.
East Cooper Dental
Get Emergency Dental Care in Mount Pleasant
Dental pain and injuries rarely get better on their own, and waiting can turn a simple repair into a bigger procedure. Call our team now for the earliest available appointment.