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.
We assess severity over the phone first — not every situation needs an immediate trip, and we'll tell you honestly. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Facial swelling combined with tooth pain often signals infection that needs same-day drainage and antibiotics. 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.
We hold emergency capacity open every day, so most Lihue calls get a same-day appointment.
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."
"Swelling in my jaw scared me, but they got me in same-day and it turned out to be treatable without an ER trip."
"They stabilized my broken tooth the same afternoon I called, no multi-day wait."
"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. We'll always tell you honestly if today isn't possible and what the next best option is.
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. 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. 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 Lihue and the surrounding Lihue, HI communities, with same-day capacity reserved daily. Response times stay short because we don't overbook our emergency capacity across too wide an area.
Licensed, equipped, and ready — call now and talk to a real person, not a menu.
Call +1-866-227-2801