Emergency Care
Accidents and emergencies can happen at any time. In most circumstances, we will be available to help. If our office is closed, you will hear a message about how to reach us or who to contact.
Call our office: 519-885-0930
Is it really an emergency?
Sometimes it's hard to know just how urgent a problem is. Here are some scenarios that require immediate attention:
- Chipped, cracked or broken teeth
- Dislodged tooth (knocked out)
- Sharp pain
- Lost filling
Speed up your care
Fill out this form in advance, to help us provide you with expert care just a little faster.
What you can do right now
Baby tooth is knocked out
Contact us as soon as possible. If there is bleeding, rinse the mouth with water and place gauze in the opening. You can also apply cold compresses on the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling. Keep the child calm instead of looking for the tooth – baby teeth will never be replanted. Never try to reinsert the tooth into the opening – you may damage the permanent teeth growing underneath.
Permanent tooth is knocked out
Act quickly! Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. Do not scrub it or use soap. If possible, gently place the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or wash cloth. Alternatively, place it in a container of milk and bring it with you. If the tooth is put back in place within an hour or two, it may take root again. After two hours, the chances are poor.
Toothache
Give us a call and explain your symptoms. We will get you in as soon as possible. Next, ease the pain with an over-the-counter pain medicine that works for you — just don’t put the pills on your sore tooth. You can also hold an ice pack against your face at the spot of the sore tooth. Do not use heat — it will make it worse, not better.
Tooth is chipped or broken
If you or your child is bleeding or in pain, contact us right away. Fast action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it to us as well. Broken teeth can almost always be saved. If it’s a small break, we may use a white filling to fix the tooth. If the break is serious, a root canal may be needed. Your tooth may also need a crown (also called a cap).
Badly bitten lip or tongue
If you or your child is bleeding, press down on the part of the mouth that is bleeding. Use a clean cloth to do this. If the lip is swollen, use an ice pack to keep the swelling down. If the bleeding does not stop, go to Emergency at a hospital right away.
Lost filling
Put a piece of softened sugarless chewing gum in the spot where the filling was lost. This will protect the area for a short period of time until we can get you into the office.
Something stuck between teeth
First, try to use dental floss very gently and carefully to remove the object. Never poke between your teeth with a pin or similar sharp, pointy object — it can cut your gums or scratch the tooth surface. If you can’t get the object out, come see us.