Emergency Dentistry

In pain right now? Call 678-528-0772.  We answer the phone — even after hours. Same-day appointments available.

A dental emergency doesn’t wait for Monday morning. Neither do we.

At Smile Studio of Buford, Dr. Oluyemi Workman and our team see emergency patients the same day, almost every time. Most people get in within a few hours of their first call. Whether you’ve knocked out a tooth, broken one, or you’re up at 2 a.m. with a toothache you can’t ignore, we’ll get you in fast, stop the pain, and start fixing the problem right away. 

What counts as a dental emergency?

If you’re wondering, “Should I go to the ER or call my dentist?” — call us first. The ER can help with pain and infection, but they can’t actually fix a tooth. You’ll almost always save time and money by starting with us. 

Call us right away if you have any of these:

• Bad tooth pain that ibuprofen or Tylenol isn’t touching
• A knocked-out adult tooth — every minute counts. Best chance to save it is within the first hour.
• A broken, cracked, or chipped tooth — especially if it hurts or has a sharp edge
• A loose adult tooth — this is never normal
• Swelling in your face, jaw, gums, or under your tongue
• A painful bump on the gum — likely an abscess (infection)
• A lost filling, crown, or bridge that left a tooth exposed
• Bleeding in the mouth that won’t stop
• A sports injury or fall that hit your teeth or jaw
• Sudden sharp pain when you bite down, drink something cold, or eat something hot

Go to the ER first if you’re having trouble breathing or swallowing, you think your jaw might be broken, swelling has spread to your eye or down your neck, or you have bleeding plus a high fever. Those are medical emergencies. Once you’re stable, come straight to us for the actual tooth repair.

What happens when you call us

Here’s exactly what to expect when you call about a dental emergency:

1. A real person picks up. During office hours, you’ll talk to our team. After hours, you’ll reach Dr. Workman’s emergency line.
2. We ask a few quick questions so we know what’s happening before you arrive.
3. We walk you through first aid right then — what to do with a knocked-out tooth, how to handle a broken one, when to apply ice, what to avoid.
4. We get you in today. We hold appointment slots every day just for emergencies. Most patients are seen within 2 to 4 hours of calling.
5. You leave out of pain with a clear plan. Our first job is to stop the pain and stabilize the tooth. Then we’ll walk you through your options — and the cost — before any work begins.

If you’re in a lot of pain or you’re nervous, IV sedation is available with Dr. Workman. That means you can sleep through the visit and wake up with the problem solved. Most general dentists in Buford don’t offer this — you’d have to go to an oral surgeon. We can do it right here.

Common dental emergencies we treat same-day

Knocked-out tooth. The most urgent emergency we treat. The longer the tooth is out of your mouth, the lower the chance we can save it. In the next 5 minutes: pick the tooth up by the top (chewing surface), not the root. If it’s dirty, rinse gently with milk or saline — don’t scrub. If you can, put it back in the socket and bite down on a clean cloth. If you can’t, drop it in cold milk. Then call us at 678-528-0772 and get to our Hamilton Mill office as fast as you safely can.

Severe toothache. Almost always means one of three things: infection, a cavity reaching the nerve, or a cracked tooth. We’ll find the cause the same day — usually with a single X-ray — and treat it. That might mean a root canal (often done same-day with IV sedation), a filling, or an extraction with a plan for an implant if the tooth can’t be saved.

Broken or cracked tooth. A broken tooth doesn’t always hurt right away, but it almost always needs fast repair. Bacteria can get into the crack within hours. Depending on the break, we may fix it with a same-day filling, a crown, or a veneer.

Dental abscess. That painful, swollen bump on your gum is an abscess — a bacterial infection. Left alone, it can spread to your jaw, sinuses, or bloodstream. We’ll usually drain it, give you antibiotics, and treat the underlying tooth.

Lost crown, filling, or bridge. Bring the restoration with you if you still have it — we can often glue it back in the same day. If it’s lost or broken beyond repair, we’ll place a temporary that day and have a new one ready within a week.

Cuts to lips, gums, tongue, or cheeks. These usually look worse than they are. Rinse with warm salt water, press firmly with clean gauze for 15 minutes, then come in. We’ll close it with stitches if needed and check the teeth underneath.

Broken dentures. Don’t try to glue them yourself — super glue makes the problem worse and usually means a full replacement. Bring them in. We can fix most denture breaks the same day so you’re not stuck without teeth.

Why patients choose Smile Studio of Buford for emergencies

Same-day appointments — every day. We hold open slots every day just for emergencies. We won’t tell you “the next available is Tuesday.” If you call, we’re getting you in today.

IV sedation in-house. Most general dentists in Buford only offer laughing gas or oral sedation pills. We’re one of the few practices in the area offering true IV sedation, given by Dr. Workman herself. That means complex emergencies — surgical extractions, molar root canals, multiple repairs — can all happen in one visit while you sleep comfortably.

One office. All services. You won’t get bounced from us to an oral surgeon across town, then a specialist next week, then somewhere else for the crown. We handle emergency extractions, root canals, surgery, restorations, implants, and same-day crowns under one roof.

A dentist who owns the practice — and answers the phone. Dr. Oluyemi Workman owns Smile Studio of Buford. When you call after hours, you’re not stuck in a corporate phone tree. You’re talking to a dentist who cares about your tooth, your kids, and our community.

Emergency consultation for new patients. If you’re not a patient yet and you’re calling with an emergency, your initial exam and consultation are $39. We’ll find the problem, explain your options in plain English, and get you out of pain — no pressure, no surprise bills.

What will my emergency visit cost?

The honest answer: it depends on what’s wrong. But we’ll always explain the cost before any treatment starts.

Common emergency procedures and typical out-of-pocket costs:

• Emergency exam for new patients: $39
• X-ray (if needed): $35–$75
• Simple extraction: $200–$400
• Surgical extraction: $400–$700
• Root canal (front tooth): $900–$1,200
• Root canal (molar): $1,300–$1,700
• Same-day crown: $1,200–$1,600
• Temporary filling: $150–$250
• Abscess treatment + antibiotics: $150–$400

Your actual cost depends on your insurance, the complexity of your case, and whether IV sedation is used. We accept most major dental insurance plans and offer in-house payment plans for patients without insurance. You’ll always get a written estimate before we start.

Serving Buford and surrounding communities

We’re on Hamilton Mill Road, just off I-85 — easy to reach from anywhere in Gwinnett, Hall, or Barrow counties. We see emergency patients from Buford, Hamilton Mill, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Flowery Branch, Braselton, Hoschton, Auburn, Dacula, and Lawrenceville. Most of our emergency patients are 10 to 15 minutes from the office.

How fast can I be seen for a dental emergency in Buford?

Most emergency patients are seen within 2 to 4 hours of calling us at 678-528-0772. We hold time in the schedule every day just for urgent cases.

Do you take walk-ins?

Yes, for true emergencies. We strongly recommend calling first at 678-528-0772 so we can get ready for you and shorten your wait once you arrive.

Should I go to the ER or call an emergency dentist?

Almost always, the emergency dentist is the right call. The ER can give you pain meds and antibiotics but can’t actually do extractions, root canals, or repairs. You’ll save time and money by starting with us. The only time to go to the ER first is if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, a possible broken jaw, or head trauma along with the dental injury.

Can a knocked-out tooth really be saved?

Yes — but time is everything. Your best chance is within the first hour. Pick the tooth up by the crown, keep it moist in milk or your own saliva (or back in the socket if possible), and call us right away.

Do you offer sedation for emergencies?

Yes. We offer laughing gas, oral sedation, and IV sedation right in the office. IV sedation is great for anxious patients, severe pain, or complex procedures we want to finish in one visit.

Do you take dental insurance?

Yes. We accept most major plans — Delta Dental, Cigna, Aetna, MetLife, United Healthcare, Humana, Guardian, BlueCross BlueShield, and more. We’ll verify your benefits before treatment. If you don’t have insurance, we offer in-house payment plans and CareCredit financing.

What if my emergency is at night or on the weekend?

Call 678-528-0772 anytime. Dr. Workman monitors the after-hours line for true emergencies. For most situations, we can walk you through first aid by phone and schedule you first thing the next morning. For severe pain, swelling, or a knocked-out tooth, we can often meet you at the office.

Do you treat children for dental emergencies?

Yes. We see kids for knocked-out baby teeth, mouth injuries, and severe tooth pain. We have a calm, child-friendly approach and offer laughing gas for nervous kids.

How do I prevent future dental emergencies?

Two things help most: regular six-month checkups (so small problems get caught early) and a custom mouthguard if you play contact sports or grind your teeth at night. We make custom mouthguards in the office.

Don’t wait — pain and damage only get worse

The biggest mistake people make in a dental emergency is waiting to “see if it gets better.” Toothaches, swelling, and small injuries almost never improve on their own. They get worse. A small infection becomes a big abscess. A hairline crack becomes a lost tooth. A manageable problem becomes surgery.

If you’re in pain or you’ve had a dental injury, call us right now. We’ll get you out of pain today.

CALL 678-528-0772

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