Emergency Dental Care

What to Look Out For

Some dental emergencies are more obvious than others. Oral trauma, knocked-out (avulsed) teeth, cracks, chips, and other highly visible damage should be treated right away. However, even more subtle and less visible issues are also considered emergencies. Things like missing or damaged dental work, a pulled-out crown or a missing filling, and persistent toothaches are much more common than oral injuries, but they are just as serious.

As a rule, we define a dental emergency as any oral issue that is causing you pain, discomfort, and/or bleeding, that you cannot treat on your own. If you are experiencing one of these issues, contact us right away for an appointment or stop by our office.

Taking the Right Steps - What To Do in A Dental Emergency

• First, you should call the team at North Peace Dental to let us know that you require an emergency appointment.

• Next, recover your tooth if it has been knocked out. Rinse it off with warm water and replace it in the socket or put it in a container of cold milk.

• Recovered dental work should be rinsed and stored in a plastic baggie.

• If you are bleeding, you can use cotton balls or sterile gauze to absorb the blood. Bleeding should slow and stop within 1-2 hours, at most.

• To treat pain and discomfort, you can take an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) like naproxen or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

• Swelling can be addressed by applying an ice pack externally to the cheek.

• Once you have treated bleeding, pain and discomfort, contact North Peace Dental as soon as possible to obtain professional treatment for your dental emergency.

Common Dental Emergency # 1

Severe Toothaches

Toothaches are your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. While a toothache can indicate a small cavity, it can also mean that your tooth is infected. At North Peace Dental, we consider a toothache to be a dental emergency because if left untreated, it will always get worse and lead to more complications. If you notice a toothache or sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, contact us immediately.
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After we examine your tooth, we will suggest necessary treatments to get you out of pain and back to optimal health. The most common reasons behind a toothache or a cavity or infection, which can be treated with a dental filling or root canal therapy.

Common Dental Emergency # 2

Loose Or Missing Teeth

If you notice that a filling or crown has become loose, this is considered a dental emergency. When a filling or crown is loose or missing, this leaves your vulnerable tooth exposed to oral bacteria, which can lead to further decay and infection. When you come to North Peace Dental for your emergency appointment, bring your dental work with you. We may be able to use the same crown or filling to treat your tooth. If not, we will give you a new filling or crown to protect your tooth from further damage.

Common Dental Emergency # 3

Chipped or Cracked Teeth

If your tooth is chipped or cracked in an accident, we offer same-day care to get you back to smiling again. With a dental crown from North Peace Dental, you will be back to your daily routine in no time! A tooth that is left untreated after its outer layers have been damaged can lead to further complications. When the inner pulp of your tooth is exposed to food debris and oral bacteria, this often results in infection and requires root canal therapy. Contact our office once you notice a chipped or damaged tooth to avoid more serious issues!