Emergency dental care
If you have a dental emergency, call us at 613-836-5969 as early in the day as you can. We make room for urgent problems whenever we can, whether or not you're a patient of ours.
What counts as a dental emergency
- Severe or throbbing toothache
- Swelling in the face or gums
- A broken or knocked-out tooth
- A lost filling or crown that's causing pain
- Bleeding that won't stop after an extraction
Go to a hospital emergency department or call 911 if swelling is spreading toward your eye or down your neck, you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or you have a high fever with facial swelling.
What to do right now
- Knocked-out adult tooth
- Pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or water without scrubbing. If you can, gently push it back into its socket and bite on a clean cloth. If not, keep it in a cup of milk and call us immediately. Time matters: try to be seen within 30 to 60 minutes.
- Knocked-out baby tooth
- Don't put it back in. Call us so we can check the area.
- Broken or chipped tooth
- Rinse with warm water, save any pieces, and hold a cold compress on your cheek if there's swelling.
- Toothache
- Rinse with warm water and floss gently to remove any trapped food. Over-the-counter pain relief can help until you're seen. Don't put aspirin directly on the gum.
- Lost crown or filling
- Keep the crown and bring it with you. Don't use household glue to stick it back on.
- Swelling
- Hold a cold compress on the outside of your cheek and call us. Don't put heat on the area.
Common questions
What if it happens when you're closed?
Leave a message with your name and phone number. For spreading swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, or bleeding that won't stop, go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Do you see people who aren't patients for emergencies?
Yes. Call us and we'll do our best to fit you in.
Should I go to a hospital for a toothache?
Most toothaches should be seen by a dentist. Go to a hospital if you have spreading swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a high fever.
Dr. Anahita Azadi Boroujeni, DDS, Dr. Cynthia Simon, DMD, and Dr. Kyra de Gouw, DMD, are general dentists registered with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. This page is general information. Your treatment is planned after an examination.