Emergency Dentist in Carolina Forest & Myrtle Beach

A severe toothache, broken tooth, lost crown, or dental swelling can happen without warning. When it does, you want to know what’s wrong—and what can be done about it—as quickly as possible.

At Dentistry at Carolina Forest, we provide emergency dental care for patients in Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach, and surrounding communities.

If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, call our office as soon as possible. Our team can help determine how urgently you should be seen and arrange an appointment based on your condition and availability.

Some dental problems need attention sooner than others. Contact us if you’re experiencing:

• Severe or persistent tooth pain
• A broken or cracked tooth
• Facial or gum swelling
• A dental abscess or suspected infection
• A lost or broken crown
• A lost filling
• Pain when biting or chewing
• A chipped tooth
• A loose or damaged restoration
• Dental trauma
• A painful wisdom tooth
• A tooth that has been knocked loose
• A tooth that has been knocked out

Even if you’re unsure whether your situation is an emergency, call us. We can help determine the appropriate next step.

A toothache is your body’s way of telling you that something isn’t right.

Pain may be caused by decay, a cracked tooth, inflammation or infection inside the tooth, gum disease, an abscess, problems with an existing restoration, or other dental conditions.

Pain medication may temporarily reduce discomfort, but it doesn’t correct the underlying problem.

The sooner we identify the cause, the sooner we can discuss the appropriate treatment.

A broken tooth doesn’t necessarily mean the tooth has to be removed.

Depending on the location and severity of the damage, treatment may include:

• Bonding or a filling
• A dental crown
• Root canal treatment followed by a crown
• Another restorative treatment

In some situations, a fracture may extend too deeply for the tooth to be predictably restored.

An examination and X-rays allow your dentist to determine whether the tooth can be saved and what treatment options are available.

If your crown comes off, keep it if you can find it and contact our office.

Avoid chewing on that side until the tooth has been evaluated. The exposed tooth may be sensitive and can be more vulnerable to additional damage.

Depending on the condition of the crown and the tooth underneath it, your dentist will determine whether the crown can be recemented or whether a new restoration is necessary.

Dentistry at Carolina Forest uses digital technology to design and mill custom dental crowns in our office.

For appropriate cases, this allows us to provide a permanent same-day crown without waiting weeks for a dental laboratory.

This can be especially convenient when an existing crown breaks or a damaged tooth unexpectedly needs to be restored.

Swelling around a tooth or in the gums can be a sign of infection and should not be ignored.

Other symptoms may include:

• Throbbing dental pain
• Tender or swollen gums
• Pain when biting
• A bad taste in your mouth
• Drainage around a tooth or gum
• Facial swelling
• Fever or feeling unwell

Dental infections generally require treatment of the underlying source of the infection rather than simply managing the symptoms.

Significant facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling affecting the eye or neck, or other severe symptoms can require immediate medical attention. Call 911 or seek emergency medical care when appropriate.

A small chip may not always require emergency treatment, but it should still be evaluated.

Larger fractures can expose deeper layers of the tooth and may cause sensitivity or pain.

If you have the broken piece, bring it with you. Avoid chewing on the affected tooth until it has been examined.

A missing filling can leave the tooth sensitive and vulnerable to additional damage.

Contact us to have the tooth evaluated rather than waiting for it to become painful.

Depending on how much tooth structure remains, the tooth may need another filling, a crown, or another type of restoration.

A knocked-out permanent tooth is a time-sensitive dental emergency.

Handle the tooth by the crown—the white portion you normally see—and avoid touching the root.

If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it without scrubbing it.

If possible, place the permanent tooth back into its socket without forcing it. If you cannot do that, keep it moist in an appropriate tooth-preservation solution or milk and seek emergency dental care immediately.

Do not attempt to place a knocked-out baby tooth back into the socket.

Not necessarily.

One of the first questions patients often have when a tooth hurts badly is:

“Does this mean you’re going to pull my tooth?”

Our goal is to first determine what is causing the problem and whether the natural tooth can be predictably restored.

Depending on the diagnosis, treatment could involve a filling, crown, root canal treatment, periodontal treatment, or another procedure.

When a tooth cannot be predictably saved, extraction may be recommended. Your dentist will explain the findings and treatment options so you understand why a particular treatment is being recommended.

Severe tooth pain does not automatically mean you need a root canal.

Root canal treatment may be recommended when the pulp—the tissue containing nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth—becomes irreversibly inflamed or infected.

Your dentist will evaluate your symptoms, examine the tooth, perform appropriate testing, and review X-rays before making a diagnosis.

Absolutely.

Dental emergencies can be especially stressful for patients who already feel anxious about dental treatment.

Please tell us if you’re nervous.

Our team will explain what we find, discuss your options, and help you understand what needs to happen immediately versus what can be planned for later.

An emergency visit begins with figuring out what’s wrong—not automatically starting treatment without discussing it with you.

Keep the area as clean as you comfortably can and avoid chewing on the affected side.

Do not place aspirin directly against a painful tooth or gum tissue.

If a restoration or piece of tooth has broken off, save it and bring it to your appointment if possible.

Most importantly, don’t delay contacting a dentist simply because the pain temporarily improves. Dental problems can sometimes become less painful even though the underlying condition remains.

If you are not currently a patient of Dentistry at Carolina Forest, call our office and ask about current emergency appointment availability.

Our team can gather the necessary information and determine the appropriate next step.

Dentistry at Carolina Forest provides comprehensive dental care for patients in Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach, and surrounding Grand Strand communities.

Having restorative technology available within the practice means that when a dental emergency results in a tooth needing significant repair, we can evaluate the problem and discuss restorative options without automatically sending patients elsewhere.

Dental problems are often easier to address when they’re evaluated earlier.

If something doesn’t feel right—a tooth suddenly hurts, you’ve broken a tooth, a crown has come off, or you’re developing swelling—contact us.

Call our office for emergency appointment availability.

When calling, tell our team what happened, where you’re experiencing pain or swelling, when the symptoms began, and whether your condition is getting worse.

We’ll help determine the appropriate next step.