A cracked crown at 9 p.m. or a swollen jaw on a Sunday doesn't wait for office hours — neither do we. 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. A real person answering the phone at the worst moment matters more than most people realize until they need it.
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.
Same-day emergency capacity is built into our daily schedule, not something we scramble to find. We plan for emergencies every single day, not just when it's convenient for us.
Digital X-rays, re-implantation kits, and temporary restoration materials are stocked and ready, not ordered after you arrive. Nothing gets delayed waiting on a supply order when minutes actually matter.
You'll hear the likely cost range during phone triage, before you even walk in the door. Emergencies are stressful enough without a surprise bill on top of it.
Here's what typically brings Cortland patients through our doors on an urgent basis.
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.
From a hairline crack to a tooth broken at the gumline, we assess the damage and stabilize it same-day. 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.
We use digital X-rays to find the source of severe pain fast, rather than guessing at treatment. 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.
We check for jaw fracture signs alongside any tooth trauma, referring out immediately if something looks beyond a dental scope. We're honest when a case needs an ER or oral surgeon instead of a dental chair.
Call +1-866-227-2801 and describe what happened — a knocked-out tooth is handled differently than a lingering ache.
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.
"Knocked out my tooth playing basketball and they got me in within the hour. Saved the tooth."
"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.
Handle it by the crown, not the root, rinse gently if dirty, and try to keep it moist — in milk or your own saliva if possible. We'll walk you through it step by step on the phone while you're en route.
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. Transparent pricing applies whether you booked weeks ago or called us in a panic an hour ago.
We triage after-hours calls the same way, just with a slightly different response window depending on severity. Don't assume nothing can be done until morning — call and let us make that call with you.
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 Cortland and the surrounding Cortland, IL communities, with same-day capacity reserved daily. If you're unsure whether your address falls in our response area, call +1-866-227-2801 and we'll confirm quickly.
Same-day slots are reserved for exactly this. Call and we'll get you in.
Call +1-866-227-2801