Urgent Daytime Dental Care

MUSC's Urgent Dental Care Clinic is specially equipped to diagnose and treat a broad spectrum of non-life-threatening oral conditions and injuries.

If you are experiencing severe pain, swelling, or any life-threatening situations, please call 911 or go to the nearest medical emergency room.

Common symptoms:

• Toothache or tooth pain
• Pain from broken, chipped, or missing teeth
• Pain from crowns, fillings, or dental implants
• Sensitivity to hot or cold

Common procedures performed:

• Root canals
• Tooth extractions
• Treatment for infected or distressed teeth or gums

A root canal is a dental procedure that aims to relieve dental pain and save your teeth. Patients typically need a root canal when there is inflammation or infection in the roots of a tooth. Root canal treatments are often performed by a specialty dentist, called an endodontist, who will remove the pulp inside the tooth, clean, disinfect, and shape the canal, and place a filling to seal the space.

The Urgent Care Clinic only takes walk-ins. Patients are seen based on order of arrival. When you check in, you will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire.

You will first be screened by a dental student, who works under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist on the College of Dental Medicine's faculty. Screening consists of a health history assessment, vital signs, oral examination, appropriate radiographs, and definitive diagnosis with the expressed goal of ensuring that your pain is addressed and alleviated same day.

Our goal is to evaluate and diagnose your urgent dental concern, then refer you to the appropriate point of care within the College of Dental Medicine. Compared to a private practice, the appointment length is typically longer, and the cost is typically more affordable.

Please schedule and appointment.