Same-Day Emergency Dental Care
If you’re ever caught in a dental emergency, contact our office, and we'll do our best to get you in straight away. Our dental clinic in Calgary is open seven days a week.
Our Extended Emergency Dentist Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Please call ahead and we will provide you with instructions over the phone. Once you arrive at the clinic, we'll do our best to see you right away.
What is a Dental Emergency?
Emergencies can happen at any time, and we are here to help. Unsure if you are experiencing a dental emergency? Below is a list of common dental emergencies.
Don't see your exact problem on this list? If you are experiencing pain or distress of any kind, we still encourage you to call us. We are here for you.
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Knocked Out Tooth, or a Tooth Forced Out of Position or Loosened
This type of dental emergency commonly occurs due to a fall, sports injury or other trauma.
What To Do:
For a knocked out tooth, see your dentist as soon as possible. Retrieve the tooth and while holding it by the crown, gently place it back into the socket (ensuring that it is facing the right direction). Bite down gently to hold it in place. If the tooth is soiled, rinse it off, but DO NOT scrub it or remove any attached tissues.
If you cannot place the tooth back into the socket, do not discard it. Put it in a small container of milk (or cup of water that contains a pinch of table salt).
Whether or not you can replace the tooth in the socket, it is important to get to our office as soon as possible. Knocked out teeth have the best chance of being saved if they are replaced in the socket and seen by a dentist within an hour of being knocked out.
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Fractured, Cracked or Chipped Tooth
You can experience a small, medium or large chip in your tooth due to excessive teeth grinding, trauma, a cavity or if you bite down on something too hard.
What To Do:
See your dentist as soon as possible. If a piece of the tooth has come off, save it if you can. If there is any bleeding, apply a piece of gauze or a soft, clean cloth to the area until the bleeding stops (usually about 10 minutes). Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip in the affected area to keep any swelling down and to relieve pain.
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Dislodged Crown or Loose Fillings
Dental crowns and filling may become dislodged. There are a few reasons this might happen, including trauma, poor maintenance of your dental work, or simply wear and tear over time.
What To Do:
See you dentist as soon as possible. If you have lost a filling, you can temporarily place a piece of sugarless chewing gum, or some over-the-counter dental cement into the cavity. If a crown falls off, bring the crown with you if possible. If you can't get to the dentist immediately, use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of clove oil to the sensitive area (clove oil can be purchased at your local drug store or in the spice aisle of your grocery store).
If possible, place the crown back over the tooth. To keep it in place, coat the exposed surface of the tooth with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, to help hold the crown in place. DO NOT use super glue!
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Broken Braces & Wires
Braces can become damaged or broken for a variety of reasons, most often due to facial trauma, or biting or chewing hard food or objects.
What To Do:
See your dentist as soon as possible. If a wire breaks or sticks out of a bracket and is poking your cheek, tongue, or gum, use the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position. If you're unable to re-position the wire, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or piece of gauze until you can get to our office. Never cut the wire, as you could end up swallowing it or breathing it into your lungs.
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Toothache
A toothache is characterized by a dull or sharp pain. Common causes of toothaches include tooth decay, an abscess, gum disease, damaged fillings or sealants, and sometimes improper oral hygiene.
What To Do:
See your dentist as soon as possible. Rinse your mouth out thoroughly with warm water, and if you can, use dental floss to gently remove any lodged food. If you experience swelling, put a cold compress on the outside of your cheek or mouth in the affected area.
Avoiding Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can happen in spite of our best efforts. Even so, you should do your best to minimize risk of injuries to your teeth, jaws and gums.
The first thing you can do to prevent these injuries is to only use your teeth for chewing food. Many people have the tendency to open or rip packaging with their teeth. Doing this not only exposes your teeth to harm, but you can accidentally cut or injure your lips or gums.
If you participate in sports or any physically-strenuous activities that may result in an impact to the head, face, or neck, you should make it a habit to always wear a mouthguard. A custom mouthguard will serve as protection for your teeth and oral cavity against any injury.
Finally, watch what you eat. Avoid munching on hard kernels or candies, for instance. Hard food can cause damage to your teeth.