Knocked-out tooth, sudden abscess, or pain that won't quit: our Pinehurst emergency line is staffed for exactly this. Smile Center Dentistry reserves same-day capacity specifically for dental emergencies.

A voicemail doesn't fix a knocked-out tooth. A live person who can triage does. 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. We'd rather triage accurately than tell everyone to rush in regardless of severity.
We hold open slots every single day specifically for urgent walk-ins and emergency calls, not as a rare exception. This means a scheduled patient's appointment doesn't get bumped just because an emergency walked in.
Digital X-rays, re-implantation kits, and temporary restoration materials are stocked and ready, not ordered after you arrive. Our team trains specifically on emergency protocols, not just routine procedures.
No emergency-rate surprise billing — we quote before treatment, the same as any scheduled visit. 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.
Rinse it gently, keep it moist, and get here fast; we'll assess whether re-implantation is viable. 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.
A missing filling or crown exposes the tooth to sensitivity and further damage — we can often place a temporary same day. 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.
We hold emergency capacity open every day, so most Pinehurst calls get a same-day appointment.
We diagnose fast because pain doesn't wait, and neither should the answer.
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."
"Cracked a molar on a popcorn kernel of all things — temporary fix same day, permanent crown a week later."
"Called about a lost filling and they had a temporary in place within two hours."
"Bit my lip hard alongside a chipped tooth from a fall. They checked for jaw fracture before treating the tooth — appreciated the thoroughness."
Most emergencies are seen the same day if you call before mid-afternoon. 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.
Call +1-866-227-2801 anyway — our line is monitored, and we'll advise whether to come in or if it can wait until morning. After-hours doesn't mean unavailable; it just means a different response path depending on urgency.
We're honest on the phone if something is beyond what a dental office should handle. We'd rather redirect you to the right place fast than have you guess.
Whether you're in the heart of Pinehurst or just outside it, our team is close enough to see you fast. 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