You don't need to diagnose it yourself. Call, describe what happened, and we'll tell you what to do next. Smile Center Dentistry reserves same-day capacity specifically for dental emergencies.
Emergencies don't follow a schedule, so our capacity planning doesn't assume they will. We've built our whole daily schedule around the fact that some patients weren't planning to see a dentist today.
A trained staff member answers and asks the right questions to determine if you need to come in immediately. This saves patients an unnecessary trip when a situation can safely wait until morning.
We hold open slots every single day specifically for urgent walk-ins and emergency calls, not as a rare exception. We plan for emergencies every single day, not just when it's convenient for us.
We keep emergency supplies on hand for avulsed teeth, cracked crowns, and abscess drainage. Our team trains specifically on emergency protocols, not just routine procedures.
You'll hear the likely cost range during phone triage, before you even walk in the door. We think pricing transparency matters most exactly when patients are least prepared to negotiate.
If you're not sure whether your situation qualifies, call — that's what triage is for.
Time matters — a tooth re-implanted within 30-60 minutes has a real chance of surviving. We'll walk you through what to do with the tooth while you're still on the way.
A broken tooth left untreated can expose the nerve — we prioritize these cases for rapid assessment. Temporary restoration is often possible the same visit, with a permanent fix scheduled after.
An abscess can spread quickly if untreated — we treat these as priority cases, not routine appointments. We'll tell you clearly if this needs emergency-room-level care instead of a dental visit.
Pain that's sharp, throbbing, or keeps you up at night usually points to something that needs same-day attention, not a wait-and-see approach. Pain management starts the moment you're in the chair.
If the underlying tooth is fine, a lost restoration is usually a quick same-day fix, not a multi-visit ordeal. We schedule the permanent replacement once the emergency is stabilized.
Cuts to the lip, tongue, or cheek alongside dental trauma need assessment to rule out deeper injury. We're honest when a case needs an ER or oral surgeon instead of a dental chair.
Our staff asks a few quick questions to gauge severity before telling you what to do next.
If it's not urgent enough for today, we'll still get you in fast, usually within a day or two.
Digital X-rays and a hands-on exam pinpoint the problem the moment you arrive.
We treat the immediate emergency first, then schedule any follow-up work needed for a permanent fix.
"Called in a panic after my son's tooth got knocked out. They stayed calm and walked us through everything on the phone."
"Sunday night toothache turned into an abscess. They saw me first thing Monday and it wasn't even a fight to get an appointment."
"They stabilized my broken tooth the same afternoon I called, no multi-day wait."
"Lost a crown right before a work trip. They fit me in and had it replaced before I flew out."
"Bit my lip hard alongside a chipped tooth from a fall. They checked for jaw fracture before treating the tooth — appreciated the thoroughness."
We prioritize same-day slots for anything urgent, and phone triage tells you exactly what to expect. Calling early in the day gives you the best shot at same-day treatment.
Don't scrub it. Keep it moist and get to us fast; time affects whether re-implantation works. Every minute counts, so call while you're already on the way if possible.
An abscess can become dangerous if ignored, so we treat swelling with pain as a priority case. Don't wait to see if it goes away on its own — infection rarely resolves without treatment.
Emergency doesn't mean marked up. You'll know the cost range before you arrive. We think charging more for urgency is exactly the wrong time to surprise a patient with cost.
We triage after-hours calls the same way, just with a slightly different response window depending on severity. After-hours doesn't mean unavailable; it just means a different response path depending on urgency.
For facial trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, or difficulty breathing/swallowing, go to the ER first — otherwise, call us and we'll advise. When in doubt, call us first — we can help you decide quickly which direction to go.
Smile Center Dentistry's emergency line covers Glen Alpine and the surrounding Glen Alpine, NC communities, with same-day capacity reserved daily. Response times stay short because we don't overbook our emergency capacity across too wide an area.
Same-day slots are reserved for exactly this. Call and we'll get you in.
Call +1-866-227-2801