New Hanover County · Since 1987
Emergency Dentistry in Kure Beach, NC
Broken tooth, lost crown, swelling, or pain that woke you up. Call us first thing and we will find you a slot the same day wherever we can.
- Three doctors, one location
- Sedation available
- Most major plans accepted
- Written estimates before treatment
Understanding emergency care
Not everything that feels urgent is urgent, and some things that do not hurt are. Swelling that is spreading, a tooth knocked completely out, or pain that no longer responds to over-the-counter medication all need attention today.
Full detail on emergency care ›
Patients from Kure Beach
Kure Beach has the oldest resident profile in New Hanover County. A third of the town is 65 or older, and barely one in ten residents is under 18.
A broken tooth on a long-standing bridge is the emergency we see most from this group, and it needs handling quickly because the abutment underneath is usually decayed.
Fort Fisher and the aquarium bring the visitors; the year-round community is small, settled and largely retired.
Thirty-two minutes each way is the reason we plan Kure Beach treatment in as few appointments as the clinical work allows.
The dental needs here skew heavily toward restorative and prosthetic work rather than preventive care for children.
We see patients from across Kure Beach and the surrounding area, including the Kure Beach Pier, Fort Fisher, the NC Aquarium and the 28449 ZIP code.
New Hanover County is the built-out core of the region, growing around one percent a year, with roughly 21 percent of residents over 65 and the highest concentration of employer dental coverage in southeastern North Carolina.
We will tell you honestly whether this is worth doing now or whether it can be watched for a year, and we will say which of your existing work is likely to fail next.
We plan restorative treatment in as few visits as the work allows, because thirty-two minutes each way adds up fast.
You may be a candidate if
- Severe or throbbing toothache
- A knocked-out or loosened tooth after an impact
- A cracked or broken tooth, with or without pain
- A lost filling or crown
- Facial swelling, or a gum abscess
- Something sharp cutting your tongue or cheek
What the process looks like
- Call usDescribe what happened. We will tell you what to do in the meantime and get you scheduled.
- Triage and imagingA targeted x-ray and exam of the area, not a full workup.
- Relief firstThe immediate goal is out of pain and stable.
- Definitive planOnce the urgency is handled we talk about the permanent fix.
Afterwards
If a tooth is knocked out, hold it by the crown, rinse it gently in milk or saline, and either reseat it in the socket or keep it in milk while you get to us. Time matters enormously for reimplantation. For a broken tooth, rinse with warm salt water and avoid chewing on that side.
If getting to follow-up visits is difficult, tell us. We can often combine checks into fewer, longer appointments.
What it costs
Emergency visits are covered by most plans as a limited exam plus whatever treatment is needed. We will tell you what the visit costs before you sit down, and we will separate what has to happen today from what can be scheduled and budgeted.
If you are on Medicare, note that it does not cover routine dental treatment. Many supplement plans include a limited dental benefit with an annual cap, and we will check yours before quoting anything.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Josh Winneberger
Dr. Winneberger on getting you numb without you noticing, and helping nervous patients get comfortable in the chair.
Questions we get asked
My crown fell off and it does not hurt. Should I still come in?
Yes, reasonably soon. The exposed tooth is vulnerable and the neighboring teeth will start to drift, which can stop the crown from fitting when you do come in.
Do you see emergency patients who are not already patients here?
Yes. You do not need to be an existing patient.
How far is your office from Kure Beach?
About 18 miles, or roughly 32 minutes via US-421 North the length of Pleasure Island. We are at 1301 Physicians Dr in Wilmington, with parking at the door.
Do you see patients from Kure Beach?
Regularly. Kure Beach is part of our core service area in New Hanover County, and we plan restorative treatment in as few visits as the work allows, because thirty-two minutes each way adds up fast.
What are your hours?
Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, and Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm. Outside those hours, leave a message or use the appointment request form and we will come back to you with the first available time.
Emergency Dentistry · Kure Beach, NC
Call. Do not wait it out.
We keep time open each morning for urgent cases. Monday through Thursday, 8:00 to 5:00, and Friday, 8:00 to 12:00.
- Same-day appointments where the schedule allows
- Emergency patients seen whether or not you are established here
- Extractions and oral surgery on site
- Pain relief first, permanent plan second
Not sure it counts as an emergency? Call and describe it. We will tell you.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
