The most important thing to do in a dental emergency is call your dentist immediately — then follow the specific first-aid steps for your situation while you head to the office. Time matters in dental emergencies, especially for knocked-out teeth where reimplantation is most successful within 30 minutes. Blakeney Dental Center in Charlotte, NC offers same-day emergency appointments Monday through Thursday. Call Dr. Hima Varna Bezawada at (704) 541-8600 for immediate assistance.
Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out (avulsed) permanent tooth is the most time-sensitive dental emergency. Follow these steps immediately:
1. Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown (the white part you see when you smile) — never touch the root.
2. If dirty, rinse the tooth gently with milk. Do not scrub it, use soap, or wrap it in tissue.
3. Try to place the tooth back in its socket. Gently push it in with your fingers and bite down on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
4. If you cannot reinsert it, keep the tooth moist — place it in a cup of milk, saline solution, or between your cheek and gum. Do not let it dry out.
5. Call (704) 541-8600 and get to Blakeney Dental Center as quickly as possible. Every minute counts — reimplantation success drops significantly after 30 minutes.
Important: These steps apply to permanent (adult) teeth only. Baby teeth that are knocked out should NOT be reimplanted — doing so can damage the developing permanent tooth beneath. Call (704) 541-8600 for guidance.
Severe Toothache
Take ibuprofen (Advil): Follow the dosage instructions on the bottle. Ibuprofen reduces both pain and inflammation. Avoid aspirin — it can thin the blood and worsen bleeding if treatment is needed.
Rinse with warm salt water: Mix half a teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Swish gently for 30 seconds and spit. This helps reduce bacteria and soothes inflamed tissue.
Apply a cold compress: Hold an ice pack or bag of frozen peas against the outside of your cheek — 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. This reduces swelling and numbs the area.
Do NOT place aspirin on the gum: This is a common mistake that causes chemical burns on the gum tissue. Take pain medication by mouth only.
Broken or Chipped Tooth
Save the pieces: If you can find the broken fragment, save it in a cup of milk. In some cases it can be reattached.
Rinse your mouth: Gently rinse with warm water to clean the area.
Stop bleeding: Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze for 10 minutes if bleeding.
Reduce swelling: Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek.
Depending on the severity, Dr. Bezawada may repair the tooth with bonding, a dental crown, or a veneer. If the fracture is severe and reaches the nerve, a root canal referral to Charlotte Root Canal Center may be needed.
Lost Crown or Filling
Save the crown: If your crown fell off, keep it — Dr. Bezawada may be able to recement it.
Temporary fix: If you can, slip the crown back onto the tooth using a small amount of denture adhesive or toothpaste to hold it temporarily. Do NOT use superglue.
For lost fillings: Place a piece of sugar-free gum over the cavity as a temporary seal until you can get to the dentist. Avoid chewing on that side.
Dental Abscess (Swelling)
Do not attempt to drain it: Popping or squeezing an abscess can spread the infection.
Rinse with warm salt water: This draws some of the infection toward the surface and provides temporary relief.
Call immediately: A dental abscess is a serious infection that can spread to your jaw, head, or neck. This requires urgent professional treatment — do not wait.
When to Go to the Emergency Room Instead
Call 911 or go to the nearest ER if you experience:
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing due to swelling
• Uncontrolled bleeding that doesn’t stop after 15 minutes of pressure
• Suspected jaw fracture
• High fever with facial swelling
For all other dental emergencies during office hours, call Blakeney Dental Center at (704) 541-8600 for a same-day appointment.
Dental Emergency Right Now?
Don’t wait. Call Blakeney Dental Center for a same-day emergency appointment.
Call (704) 541-8600
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