Emergency Dental Services

Crowns are built to last, but from time to time these durable restorations may fall off or even get broken. If this happens to you, don't panic. Call our office right away for an appointment.

Ideally, you should receive dental care the day your crown falls off. Your crown is used to cover a large hole in the tooth so if the crown is no longer attached, the nerves and pulp within the tooth may be exposed, resulting in sensitivity. If your uncovered tooth is causing you discomfort, you can cover it with a temporary dental cement or wax from a pharmacy to alleviate some of the discomfort and sensitivity you might be feeling.

In the meantime, find your crown, rinse it with warm water, and place it in a container to bring to your appointment. We may be able to reattach your existing crown and save you the time and money required to have a new one created.

If you find that a filling has fallen out of your tooth, call us to make an appointment as soon as possible. Don't delay getting a replacement filling. This dental restoration was used to cover a hole created by a cavity, so if that hole is no longer covered, food and debris can become trapped. As a result, your tooth will become susceptible to tooth decay.

If you can't get to our Calgary dental office for a walk-in appointment same-day, make sure to keep the area clean and avoid chewing on the affected side until the filling can be replaced.

If you have a broken or chipped tooth, try to find the missing piece. Once located, put it in a clean container, and bring it with you to our office. Your dentist may be able to reattach it.

Whether the piece is found or not, call our office right away to have it repaired with a dental restoration option that best suits your needs.

If your tooth gets knocked out, call our office as soon as possible. The sooner you can be treated after a tooth has been knocked out, the better the chance are that your dentist will be able to reattach it.

If you can find your knocked-out tooth, rinse it off but make sure to hold it by the crown – never by the roots – and re-insert it into your tooth socket. Gently bite down once it is in its place. If you are unable to reinsert the tooth, try to keep it moist by putting it in a glass of milk or holding it in your mouth until you arrive at your office.

If you are in a lot of pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication to help reduce any discomfort. If you are bleeding, do not take aspirin, as this can thin your blood and increase bleeding. Apply a cold compress against your cheek where your tooth has been fractured. This will help reduce your pain and swelling.

If your tooth cannot be saved, we offer restorative treatment options, such as bridges, that can be used to replace your missing tooth.

A toothache can become quite debilitating quickly. If you are experiencing moderate to severe swelling, pain, or discomfort in your mouth or jaw call us as soon as possible or drop by our office during regular business hours for a walk-in emergency appointment. We make every effort to see emergency cases on the same day and do what we can to alleviate your pain.

To alleviate pain in the meantime:

• Apply a cold compress to your cheek, on the area where you are feeling pain. 
• Take an over-the-counter pain medication.
• If the pain is coming from inside your mouth, use salt water to flush the area that is in pain.

Please note that if the swelling is impacting your ability to breathe, you should seek emergency medical care at a hospital as soon as possible. 

Injuries to the soft tissues of your mouth, including your tongue, cheeks, gums and lips, can result in a lot of bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t slow down or stop, see your dentist immediately or go to the nearest emergency room. Apply gauze pressure on the bleeding site until your dentist or doctor can see you.

You may want to try applying pressure to the wound with a moistened gauze or caffeinated tea bag. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes. Tea contains tannic acid, which helps shrink blood vessels and slow bleeding.

If the bleeding does slow down or stop on its own, you can alleviate some pain you might be feeling by trying the following:

• Hold a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek in the affected area for up to 10 minutes to control bleeding and relieve pain.
• Rinse your mouth with a mild salt-water solution.