Know Your Options: Should I Go to the ER or Find an Emergency Dentist in Columbia SC?

There are two types of trips to the dentist — the routine visit and the emergency visit. 

The routine visit is the one you schedule in advance every six months so your local dentist in Columbia, SC can perform a dental cleaning and full examination of the teeth and gums to check for dental issues. 

‍The routine visit is purely preventative — and 100% necessary. 

Without it, small problems like cavities, tartar or plaque buildup, enamel erosion, early gum disease and signs of tooth decay can go undetected and turn into painful, expensive emergencies down the road. 

But even with preventative care, accidents can happen. 

And when that emergency happens, time is of the essence. 

Maybe you just cracked a tooth while playing your favorite sport or woke up with a severe toothache after a long night of grinding your teeth — either way, waiting six months to treat it will only make it worse.

At that point, you might be asking yourself: 

Should I go to the ER or call an emergency dentist in Columbia, SC? 

Believe it or not, most dental emergencies don’t require a trip to the emergency room — and in many cases, receiving emergency dental care in Columbia, SC from Soda City Dentistry is the better option. 

Dental Emergency: What qualifies as an emergency? 

Not every dental issue requires you to drop everything and rush out the door — but some might.

According to the ADA, a dental emergency is a collection of potentially life-threatening diagnoses that require immediate treatment to stop bleeding, remedy an infection and/or alleviate severe dental pain.

A chipped tooth with no immediate pain? Probably not a dental emergency. 

Dull, occasional tooth sensitivity that goes away quickly? No need to panic. 

A little blood while brushing your teeth? Not a good sign, but still not an emergency.

While these things certainly warrant a trip to your dentist (sooner rather than later), they generally don’t fit the criteria for emergency dental care in Columbia, SC — so long as you address it at your next visit. 

But there are a few instances that call for immediate attention: 

• A cracked or fractured tooth, coupled with crippling pain.
• A tooth that has been displaced (luxation) or completely dislodged (avulsion) from its socket
• Infectious dental emergencies, such as a dental abscess, pericoronitis or cellulitis
• Excessive bleeding that occurs after a tooth has been extracted
• Alveolar osteitis, also known as dry socket

In these cases, your health and safety are top priority — especially since the pain can result in a loss of quality of life and harmful bacteria from an infection can enter the bloodstream and spread in the body.

ER vs. Emergency Dentist: Who should you call?

So you've determined you have a real dental emergency on your hands, but what now? . 

Do you rush to the emergency room and hope they’ve dealt with something like this before? Should you schedule an appointment with your dentist? Or, better yet, show up at your dentist’s office unannounced?

Before you make a decision, ask yourself: 

Does this emergency threaten my overall health and safety? 

If so, then an emergency room is where you want to be. 

While the emergency room doesn’t always have the necessary tools or experience to offer dental-specific treatment, it can help patients handle life-threatening situations that dentists aren’t prepared to treat. 

For example, you should visit the ER in the event of: 

• Uncontrolled bleeding that won't stop after 15-20 minutes of steady pressure
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing — potential signs that an infection is spreading to your airway
• Severe facial swelling that's rapidly getting worse or affecting the eyes or neck
• Trauma to your jaw or face that may have caused broken bones or a concussion
• A high fever (above 101°F) combined with facial swelling — a sign of a serious infection
• Signs of a systemic infection like extreme weakness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, or difficulty staying conscious

On the other hand, if your emergency is confined to the mouth and doesn't pose an immediate threat to your overall health, an emergency dentist in Columbia, SC will almost always be the smarter option.

And if you’re ever unsure what to do, don’t hesitate to contact us first. 

Our specialists at Soda City Dentistry can give you guidance on what to do next and can help schedule a same-day appointment if the situation calls for it — whatever it takes to get you back into tip-top shape. 

At-Home Treatment: How to buy yourself some time

Let's be real: Dental emergencies hurt. Bad.

And while Soda City Dentistry does everything we can to get you in our Columbia, SC office as quickly as possible, sometimes you need relief right now — not in an hour, not later today, but this very second.

The good news? At-home remedies can help take the edge off while you wait for your appointment.

The bad news? They're only temporary fixes.

These tricks won't solve the underlying problem, and they definitely shouldn't replace professional treatment — but they can help you manage the pain and buy yourself a little time until we can see you.

Here's what you can try:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help dull the pain and reduce inflammation. Just follow the dosage instructions on the bottle.
• Topical numbing gel, such as Orajel, contains benzocaine — which provides temporary numbing relief when applied directly to the affected tooth or gums.
• Wrap an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and hold it against the outside of your cheek near the painful spot for 15-20 minutes at a time.
• Mix half a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and swish it around your mouth for about 30 seconds. This can help reduce swelling and kill bacteria.
• Clove oil has natural numbing properties. Dab a small amount on a cotton ball and apply it gently to the painful area.
• Mix equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and water, swish it around for 30 seconds, then spit it out. This can help disinfect the area and reduce bacteria.

If you're dealing with a dental emergency, don't rely on home remedies alone. Contact your emergency dentist in Columbia, SC as soon as possible to address the real problem and get you out of pain for good.

Do You Need an Emergency Dentist in Columbia, SC? 

Are you in a crippling amount of pain due to a cracked or fractured tooth? Did you wake up with the worst toothache imaginable? Are your gums bleeding uncontrollably? Has your tooth been knocked out? 

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Welcome to Soda City Dentistry — your one-stop shop for emergency dental care in Columbia, SC. 

At Soda City Dentistry, we know that dental emergencies don't wait for business hours — and neither do we. When you're in pain, the last thing you want to hear is "we can squeeze you in next Tuesday."

That's why we prioritize these emergencies and do everything in our power to see you the same day.

Because your teeth — and your peace of mind — matter.

So the next time a dental emergency strikes, don't suffer in silence. Don't spend hours in an emergency room waiting area. And definitely don't rely on at-home remedies in hopes of getting through the week.

Instead, contact us at (803) 794-5430 or fill out our emergency contact form online today!