Some dental offices accept walk-ins, but calling ahead is always the smarter move. At Rabbit Creek Dental, we keep same-day emergency slots available. A quick phone call means we're ready for you when you arrive — reducing your wait time and ensuring we have what we need to treat you. Call us at (251) 308-0584 Monday–Thursday, 7:45 AM–5:00 PM.
When you're in pain and something goes wrong with a tooth, you want help now — not in three weeks. The question is: can you just show up at a dental office without an appointment?
The honest answer: it depends on the office. Some dental practices have set aside same-day slots specifically for dental emergencies. Others are fully booked with scheduled patients and may not have the capacity to see you without advance notice. A third category — urgent care dental centers — are specifically set up for walk-in emergency visits but may not have your dental history on file.
Call Ahead vs. Walking In
Even if a dental office accepts walk-ins, calling ahead almost always works out better for you. Here's why:
- We can confirm we have an opening and hold it specifically for you
- We can prepare for your visit — gathering supplies, ensuring the right equipment is ready
- We can gather initial information about your situation to prioritize appropriately
- You avoid sitting in a waiting room for an unknown length of time, possibly in significant pain
At Rabbit Creek Dental, the fastest route to care is almost always a phone call: (251) 308-0584. Our team will fit you in the same day whenever possible.
What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is anything causing significant pain, risk of serious infection, or damage to teeth that needs prompt treatment to prevent the situation from worsening. Common dental emergencies include:
- Severe toothache, especially with swelling or fever
- Knocked-out or partially dislodged tooth
- Cracked or broken tooth exposing the nerve
- Lost or broken crown or filling causing pain or sharp edges
- Dental abscess (a pus-filled infection near the tooth root or gums)
- Soft tissue injuries — cuts or lacerations to the gums, cheeks, or tongue
Not every dental concern requires emergency care. A minor chip with no pain, a crown that fell off painlessly, or mild sensitivity can usually wait a day or two for a scheduled appointment. When in doubt, call us and we'll help you assess the urgency.
What to Expect at an Emergency Dental Visit
When you call with a dental emergency, we'll do our best to see you the same day. Here's what a typical emergency visit at Rabbit Creek Dental looks like:
- Intake and assessment: We gather your information, review your symptoms, and take any necessary X-rays to understand what's happening.
- Pain relief: Our first priority is getting you comfortable. This may involve local anesthetic, temporary measures, or prescribing medication as appropriate.
- Emergency treatment: We address the immediate problem — draining an abscess, stabilizing a knocked-out tooth, removing broken fragments, placing a temporary crown, etc.
- Follow-up plan: We discuss what comes next — whether that's a follow-up appointment for definitive treatment, a referral, or monitoring.
Emergency visits are separate from regular appointments. We won't rush you through a comprehensive exam at this visit — the focus is resolving your immediate pain and preventing the situation from worsening.
You can learn more about our approach on our emergency dentistry page.
Ready to schedule your visit?
FAQ: Emergency Dental Visit Questions
Our hours are Monday–Thursday, 7:45 AM–5:00 PM. If your emergency happens outside those hours and is severe — especially with high fever, significant swelling, difficulty swallowing, or breathing — go to the nearest emergency room. For less severe situations, call us as soon as we open and we'll see you as quickly as possible. You can also book online at any time.
No. We welcome new patients for emergency visits. You don't need to have been here before to get same-day emergency care at Rabbit Creek Dental. We'll gather your information when you call and have you set up before you arrive.
Many dental insurance plans cover at least a portion of emergency dental visits. We accept most major dental insurance plans. If you don't have insurance, ask us about our RCD Dental Savings Plan ($336/year) or patient financing through Cherry. We'll help you understand your options before treatment begins.
Most emergency appointments are 45–90 minutes depending on the complexity of the situation. We focus on relieving your pain and addressing the immediate problem. More complex or definitive treatment may be scheduled at a follow-up appointment once you're comfortable and we have a full picture of what's needed.
Dr. Joseph Gegzna, DMD is the founder and lead dentist at Rabbit Creek Dental in Mobile, Alabama. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and has been a licensed dentist in Alabama since 2014, with more than 12 years of experience in general, restorative, and implant dentistry. After several years practicing as an associate, he founded Rabbit Creek Dental in 2022 to build the kind of patient-first practice he believed in. He has completed advanced implant training through a 92-hour Implant Pathway program with live patient surgery and additional surgical training in impacted third molar extractions through the Koerner Center for Surgical Instruction. He is a member of the American Dental Association and is currently in his third year of the Bulletproof Dental Mastermind program, a continuing education group focused on delivering an exceptional patient experience. Before dentistry, Dr. Gegzna was a licensed pilot, bringing a calm, detail-oriented approach to patient care. Rabbit Creek Dental serves families throughout Mobile.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. For personalized guidance about your dental health, please contact our office at (251) 308-0584.