Emergency Dentistry

Call us. We hold time every day for this.

You don't need an appointment slot and you don't need to be an existing patient. Call and tell us what's happening, and we'll get you in.

Open right now?

(919) 676-4242

Mon–Tue 9am–5pm · Wed–Thu 7am–3pm · Fri 8am–2pm

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While you wait

What to do right now.

A knocked-out adult tooth

The most time-sensitive thing on this list. Pick it up by the crown, never the root. Rinse it gently in water without scrubbing, then put it back in the socket if you can and bite softly on a cloth. If you can't, keep it in milk. Call us immediately, because the first hour matters more than anything you do after it.

Swelling in your face or gum

Usually infection, and it doesn't clear up on its own. Call us the same day, or if you experience difficulty swallowing or breathing, go immediately to the emergency room.

A broken or cracked tooth

Rinse with warm water and keep any pieces you find. Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek for the swelling. Avoid chewing on that side until we've seen it.

A toothache that won't stop

Rinse with warm salt water and floss gently around the tooth, in case something is caught. Over-the-counter pain relievers are fine. Don't hold aspirin against the gum. It burns the tissue and doesn't help the tooth.

A lost filling or crown

Rarely an emergency, usually uncomfortable. Keep the crown if you have it, since it can often be re-cemented. Temporary dental cement from a pharmacy will cover an exposed tooth until we can see you.

A cut lip, tongue, or cheek

Clean it gently and press with gauze to slow the bleeding, with a cold compress outside. Bleeding that won't slow down after fifteen minutes of steady pressure needs urgent care, not a dental appointment.

Evenings and weekends

If we're closed.

We're not a 24-hour practice, and we'd rather tell you that than leave you calling a phone nobody answers. Call as soon as we open and say it's an emergency. Same-day time is held for exactly this.

Don't wait for us if it's more than a tooth. Swelling spreading toward your eye or down your neck, or any trouble breathing or swallowing, means an emergency room tonight rather than the morning. That's rare, but it's the one situation where waiting is the wrong call.

When you get here

Getting you out of pain comes first.

We deal with the pain today. The full treatment plan can wait until you're comfortable enough to think about it.

You'll hear what it costs before we start, even on a day you didn't plan for.

Nobody is going to ask why you waited, or how long it's been since your last visit.

Quick answers.

Do I have to be an existing patient?

No. We see emergencies for people who've never been here before, and it doesn't change how quickly you're seen.

Will I really be seen today?

If you call during opening hours, that's what the held time is for. Call early in the day if you can, since it gives us more room to work with.

What will it cost?

It depends on what's wrong, and you'll hear the number before we start. Most plans cover emergency exams, and we check your coverage while you're here rather than sending a surprise afterward.

What if I'm nervous about coming in?

Say so when you call. Being in pain and being anxious at the same time is common, and we'll walk you through what can help. There's more on our Nervous Patients page.

If it hurts, call. Don't wait it out.

Same-day time is held every day we're open. A member of our team answers, and you can describe what's wrong in your own words.

Call Request Appointment