If you need emergency dentistry services, please call Dr. Greg Reece’s Charlotte, NC, dental office at 704-486-8911. Accidents happen, and when it involves your mouth, it can be painful. If your emergency is happening during business hours, call our office to discuss your concerns and schedule an appointment. We will return your message as soon as possible and attempt to schedule your appointment for the next day. If your emergency is after hours you can still call our office number.
We will work with you to contact Dr. Reece or other emergency dentists for emergency dental treatment in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our goal is to get you into our dental office and relieve pain as soon as we can. Dr. Reece will provide a thorough oral exam and determine the best route for treatment.
Call 911 if you are experiencing severe pain or bleeding. Some emergencies require medical care.
Dr. Reece will work with you every step of the way to ensure that we address your dental problems in a timely manner. Our team offers a full range of emergency dental care services.
Dr. Reece may recommend a tooth extraction, dental crowns, tooth bonding, porcelain veneers, dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants. These cosmetic and restorative options address tooth damage or lost teeth and will restore your smile. Addressing your dental issues in a timely manner is important to your total health.
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
At Dentistry of the Queen City, we provide emergency dental services to patients in Charlotte, NC. Learn about what to do in a dental emergency before receiving professional dental care:
Toothache
If you have a severe toothache, contact us as soon as possible. Tooth pain can have many causes, from cavities to dental abscesses.
At home, you may try rinsing your mouth with warm water or flossing to remove any lodged food. If you have swelling, a cold compress applied to the outside of the mouth or cheek may alleviate discomfort and reduce swelling. You can take pain medication as needed. Do not put painkillers directly against the gums or aching tooth, as they may damage the gum tissue.
Knocked-out Tooth
If you have a knocked-out tooth, contact our office immediately. If possible, locate the lost tooth and pick it up by the crown (the part that sits above the gums). Gently rinse the root in water if it is dirty, but do not scrub or remove the attached tissue fragments. You can place the lost tooth in a container of saliva. You can also use a cold compress on the outside of the mouth if there is pain or swelling in your gums.
Knocked out teeth have the highest survival rate if they return to the socket within one hour of the accident. We can try to restore the tooth or use other methods for missing teeth such as dental implants.
Chipped Tooth
If a tooth is chipped or broken, gently rinse it with water. To relieve tooth pain, use over-the-counter pain relievers and cold compresses placed on the outside of the mouth. Do not place anything directly on the damaged area of the tooth. Tooth bonding or porcelain veneers are great treatments that repair chipped teeth for a seamless finish.
Broken Dental Crown, Filling, or Bridge
Contact us immediately and bring the broken crown, bridge, or filling with you. Do not use temporary measures such as glue to replace the filling or crown. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease discomfort. Dr. Reece will help you decide the best treatment plan for replacing the dental restoration.
He may reattach the crown or bridge or recommend a new restoration. Dr. Reece will conduct a thorough exam to determine the best possible treatment options for you.
Tooth Abscess
If you suspect you have an abscess, contact our office immediately. An abscess is a potentially serious condition that can worsen with time. It can spread infection to the rest of your body. To ease discomfort, try rinsing with a mild saltwater solution. Do not attempt to open or drain the abscess.
You shouldn’t try to drain a tooth abscess because it can make things worse. If you try to open it yourself, you could spread the infection to other parts of your body. You also might not get all of the infection out, which means it could come back. It’s safer to let a dentist treat it, as they know how to properly drain it and stop the infection from spreading.
Treating a Dental Emergency
We offer a variety of treatments based on your dental problem. For knocked-out teeth, we recommend dental implants. Implants replace lost teeth at the root and last longer than removable restorations. If you have multiple missing teeth, we can provide implant-supported bridges and dentures.
Dental crowns can cover cracked, worn, and fractured teeth. We use tooth-colored crowns to protect teeth and restore their shape.
If you have a tooth abscess, we gently make a small incision to drain it. This helps reduce pressure and pain. If the infection has reached the tooth’s pulp, our dentist may perform a root canal.
Emergency Dentistry FAQs
Learn more about emergency dentistry services in Charlotte, NC, dental office with answers to these common questions:
Can a dentist pull a tooth broken off at the gum line?
If your tooth breaks off at the gum line, it usually can’t be pulled out like a regular tooth. Instead, an oral surgeon must remove it because the tooth is likely stuck below the gum.
The surgeon may numb the area or even sedate you so you’re comfortable and don’t feel pain during the removal. While the procedure may be a little uncomfortable afterward, you will stay calm and pain-free.
What helps unbearable tooth pain?
If you are experiencing extreme tooth pain and cannot reach your dentist, the first thing to do is rinse your mouth with saltwater. This soothes irritation. Taking an OTC pain medication will also help to relieve pain.
These medications work to reduce swelling and discomfort. However, these are only temporary solutions. You should still contact our dentist as soon as possible to address the cause of the pain.
What is the most common dental emergency?
A toothache is the most common dental emergency. Many causes of toothache include a cavity or even teeth grinding. If you have a toothache, rinse your mouth out with warm water. Then, floss the area around the tooth to see if any food is stuck and causing irritation.
Contact our Dentist in Charlotte, NC
Do you have a dental emergency? Call Dr. Reece’s Mallard Creek dental office at 704-486-8911 or schedule an appointment for comprehensive care today. Dr. Reece and the professionals at Dentistry of the Queen City in Charlotte, NC, provide high-quality care and can solve complex dental cases.