Dental emergencies do not always happen during business hours — and knowing how to respond can make the difference between saving and losing a tooth.
What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies include: a knocked-out tooth, a cracked or fractured tooth causing severe pain, a dental abscess or infection (which can spread and become life-threatening), severe toothache, a lost crown or filling causing pain, and soft tissue injuries to the mouth. If you are in severe pain or have signs of infection (facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing), seek care immediately.
What to Do Right Now
If a tooth is knocked out: handle it by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently if dirty, and try to reinsert it into the socket. If you cannot, store it in milk or between the cheek and gum. See a dentist within 30 minutes for the best chance of saving it. For a cracked tooth, rinse with warm water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. For an abscess, call your dentist immediately — do not wait.
Smileworks Dental Emergency Appointments
At Smileworks Dental in SW Calgary, we accommodate emergency appointments as quickly as possible. Call us at (403) 255-7833. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
Many emergencies can be prevented with regular check-ups, wearing a mouthguard during contact sports, and avoiding biting very hard foods (ice, hard candy). Addressing small problems early — before they become severe — is the best strategy. Book a check-up at our Calgary clinic today.