If you suffer a dental emergency, you can expect doctors and staff at Dental Choice to help you as soon as possible. We are equipped to provide treatment for most general dental emergencies including loose and fractured teeth, toothaches, abscesses and infections among many other conditions. Our dentists are also available to be contacted for follow up care. Please note, Dental Choice offices have a wide range of operating hours and availability but we are not a 24/7 service provider. When you experience a true dental emergency, please contact us immediately. If your emergency cannot wait until normal operating hours, please contact your local hospital.
Dental emergencies can occur at any time, such as participating in contact sports like hockey or football. If you’ve suffered a broken tooth or have had a tooth knocked out, it’s important to contact a dentist immediately. If your tooth has been knocked out, try to gently insert it into the socket and hold it there until you reach the dentist’s office. If you are unable to do so, place the tooth in a glass of milk or water and bring it with you to a dentist as quickly as possible.
Types of Dental Emergencies
Common dental emergencies include:
- chipped front teeth
- acute sensitivity
- broken fillings
- local swelling
- facial swelling
- pain at night
- painful wisdom teeth
Dental injuries can also occur at times when and places where they’re least expected. Sometimes an individual may suddenly feel severe pain and have no idea why. In many of these cases, the individual has suffered a cracked tooth. This condition can be caused by many factors such as teeth grinding, wear and tear, and uneven chewing pressure.
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
Many things can constitute a dental emergency. Even if you’re not sure what happened, but you feel severe pain in your gum or tooth, it’s important to get in touch with an emergency dentist right away.
Whether you’re in Calgary or Edmonton, an emergency dental practice can quickly evaluate the problem and decide on the best course of action. If there’s no time to treat the tooth fully, the dentist will offer you a quick temporary solution to stop the pain as you wait for a longer dental appointment.
Should I Wait Until Normal Hours to Contact My Dentist?
In case of a dental emergency, you should contact the dentist as soon as possible. The faster you react to the emergency, the higher your chances of saving your tooth. Specific examples of dental emergencies that require immediate medical or dental help include broken teeth, a fractured jaw, teeth that have been knocked out, and any other type of severe pain in your gums or teeth.
When you call the dentist to report an emergency, do your best to accurately describe how you’re feeling. This will help the dentist prepare for your arrival. Never hesitate to contact a dentist if you’re having a dental emergency.
How Do I Know If I Should Wait or Call?
Even if you think the dental office is closed, go ahead and make a call. You can either use our emergency number or follow the instructions on the answering machine. Most of our dentists leave slots in their schedules to handle such emergency cases. If none of these options work, visit a local emergency room as soon as you can.
What Kind of Treatment Will I Receive for a Dental Emergency?
The kind of treatment performed following a dental emergency depends on the complexity of the situation. Some issues may be addressed with simple interventions. Others, such as tooth loss or fractured jaws, may require oral surgery. Our staff will determine whether the emergency can wait for the dentist to arrive and provide pain medication to help reduce symptoms while you wait.
If you think you’re having a dental emergency, contact Dental Choice at our offices in Calgary or Edmonton as soon as possible. If you call while we’re closed and reach our voicemail, you may need to call the provided after-hours number. Depending on the severity of your dental emergency, the dentist may be able to meet you at the office.
The first priority of a dentist is to alleviate pain. Later, treatments such as dental bonding, dental crowns, dental bridges, or dental implants may be necessary to fully repair the damaged or lost tooth.
A dentist at one of our offices in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta is ready to assist if you have suffered a dental injury. Contact a Dental Choice office whenever a dental emergency occurs.