Emergency Dentist in Apex, NC
Tooth pain at 2 a.m. is miserable. A cracked tooth during lunch is not much better. Whatever brought you here, Apex Dental Group offers same-day emergency appointments whenever we can fit you in. Call 919-362-1341 and we will help you figure out what to do next.
We are at Apex Medical Park, 1021 W. Williams Street, Suite 101, Apex, NC 27502. On-site parking, ground-level door, no stairs to deal with when you are already having a bad day.
Over 400 Five-Star Reviews
What counts as a dental emergency?
Not everything needs same-day treatment. But some things should not wait. Call our office if you are dealing with:
- A toothache that is severe, persistent, or keeping you up at night
- Swelling in your gums, jaw, or face
- A knocked-out tooth
- A cracked, broken, or chipped tooth
- A lost crown or filling that is causing pain
- Bleeding that will not stop on its own
- Signs of infection like pus, fever, or a foul taste
Not sure if it qualifies? Call us anyway. We would rather talk you through it than have you sit at home wondering.
If you are having difficulty breathing, heavy uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma to the head or neck, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Those situations need a hospital.
What our patients say
Over 400 five-star Google reviews from patients in Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, and the surrounding area. A lot of people mention how quickly they got in and how the team put them at ease during a stressful visit.
Emergency dental services we provide
We treat most urgent dental problems in-office the same day. Below is what we see most often and how we typically handle it.
Severe toothache
Tooth pain that will not go away usually means decay, infection, or a crack somewhere you cannot see. We take X-rays to find the source, then focus on getting you out of pain. Depending on what we find, treatment could be a filling, a root canal, or an extraction.
Broken, cracked, or chipped tooth
This happens more than people expect. Biting down on ice, a fall on the sidewalk, a stray elbow during a pickup game. Small chips can often be fixed with bonding during the same visit. Larger fractures may need a crown. If the tooth qualifies, our CEREC system can mill and place a permanent crown in one appointment.
Knocked-out tooth
Time matters here. Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. Rinse it gently and try to put it back in the socket. If that does not work, drop it in a glass of milk and get to our office as fast as you can. Within 30 to 60 minutes gives the best chance of saving it.
Lost crown or filling
The exposed tooth will likely be sensitive to hot, cold, and pressure. Try not to chew on that side. Call us and we can usually recement or replace the restoration the same day.
Dental abscess or infection
An abscess is a pocket of infection around a tooth root or in the gums. You might notice throbbing pain, swelling, fever, or a bad taste. Do not wait on this one. We use imaging to assess how far the infection has spread, and treatment might include antibiotics, drainage, or a root canal to clear the source.
Soft tissue injuries
Cuts to the lips, cheeks, gums, or tongue can bleed a lot even when they are not serious. Rinse with warm salt water and hold gauze with light pressure. If the bleeding is heavy or does not slow down, head to the ER.
Related services
Your emergency dentist: Dr. John S. Kitzmiller III, DDS
Dr. Kitzmiller has been in Apex since 2002. He went to dental school at UNC Chapel Hill and then spent 12 years as a Dental Officer in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany, Africa, Bosnia, and several posts in the States.
He is board-certified in Comprehensive Dentistry by the Federal Services Board and completed advanced implant training at the Triangle Dental Institute. He has seen just about every type of dental emergency over the past two decades, and that experience shows in how quickly he can identify the problem and get to work on it.
Honors and Affiliations
What to expect during an emergency visit
Emergency visits are focused. We skip the usual new-patient routine and go straight to the problem.
After-hours emergencies
If you are an established patient, call the office after hours and follow the recorded instructions. For anything life-threatening, call 911.
Why patients choose us for emergency dental care
Same-day emergency appointments
We hold time in our schedule for urgent visits. Most days, we can get you in within a few hours of your call.
20+ years in Apex
Dr. Kitzmiller opened this practice in 2002. He has been here long enough that many of our patients are now bringing their kids and grandkids.
Diagnostic tools that save time
Digital X-rays, cone beam 3D imaging, and intraoral cameras mean we find the problem faster and plan treatment with less guesswork.
Same-day crowns in-house
CEREC technology lets us design, mill, and place a permanent crown in one visit. No temporary, no second appointment.
We explain before we start
Nobody likes surprises at the dentist. We walk you through the findings and your options before doing anything.
Easy to reach
Apex Medical Park on West Williams Street. On-site parking, ground-level access. Patients come from Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, and Raleigh.
Paying for emergency dental care
An unexpected dental bill on top of a painful tooth is not anyone’s idea of a good day. We try to make the financial side as simple as the clinical side.
We accept most dental insurance plans and handle the filing. If you have your insurance card, bring it along and we take care of the paperwork.
For patients who need payment flexibility, we offer CareCredit (monthly plans with promotional financing) and Sunbit (quick approval, no hard credit check, affordable monthly payments).
No insurance at all? Our in-house Dental Savings Plan includes one emergency exam per year plus savings on treatment. No copays, no deductibles, no waiting periods. We also accept cash, checks, and credit cards. There is a 5% discount when treatment is paid in full at the time of service, arranged in advance with our office administrator.
If you want to know what to expect cost-wise before coming in, call 919-362-1341 and our treatment coordinator can walk you through it.
Emergency dentistry FAQs
Got questions? We’ve put together answers to some of the most common things our patients ask—so you’re ready for your visit.
Do you offer same-day emergency dental appointments in Apex?
Yes. We hold time in our schedule specifically for urgent visits and can usually see emergency patients the same day. Call 919-362-1341 to check availability.
What should I do if I knock out a tooth?
Pick it up by the crown, not the root. Rinse gently without scrubbing and try to put it back in the socket. If you cannot, keep it in milk or saliva and call us immediately. Getting here within 30 to 60 minutes gives the tooth a better chance.
How do I know if my toothache is an emergency?
If the pain is severe, wakes you up at night, comes with swelling or fever, or does not improve with over-the-counter medication, call us. That is worth a same-day visit.
Can you fix a broken or chipped tooth the same day?
Often, yes. Small chips can be repaired with bonding during the visit. If the tooth needs a crown and qualifies for CEREC, we can fabricate and place it the same day without a temporary.
What happens during an emergency dental visit?
We do a focused exam, take digital X-rays, identify the problem, and go over your options. The priority is getting you out of pain and stabilizing the situation. Some treatments finish the same day; others need a follow-up.
Do you accept walk-ins for emergencies?
Calling ahead helps us prepare and cuts down your wait time. But we understand that emergencies do not always come with a warning. Call 919-362-1341 and we will do our best to fit you in.
What if I do not have dental insurance?
Our in-house Dental Savings Plan covers one emergency exam per year and gives you savings on additional treatment. We also accept CareCredit, Sunbit, cash, checks, and credit cards. We can go over your options before we start.
Do you provide after-hours emergency care?
Established patients can call the office after hours and follow the recorded emergency instructions. For life-threatening situations, call 911.
Should I go to the ER or the dentist for a dental emergency?
A dentist can do more for most dental problems than an ER can. Emergency rooms manage pain and infection, but they typically do not perform root canals, extractions, or restorations. Call us first and we can tell you whether you need us or the hospital.
How much does emergency dental treatment cost?
It depends on what you need. A bonding repair costs less than a root canal or a same-day crown. We go over costs and payment options before starting treatment so there are no surprises.
Call us for same-day emergency dental care in Apex, NC
Tooth pain, a broken tooth, swelling, infection. If something is wrong, do not sit on it. Call our office and we will work to get you in today.
Call 919-362-1341 or request an appointment online. Apex Medical Park, 1021 W. Williams Street, Suite 101, Apex, NC 27502.
We see patients from Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Raleigh, and neighborhoods including downtown Apex, Salem Street, Beaver Creek, Scotts Mill, Haddon Hall, Abbington, Salem Village, the Villages of Apex, and along US-64.