Emergency Dental Services in Burnaby

This type of dental emergency commonly occurs due to a fall, sports injury or other trauma.

What To Do:

• Knocked-Out Tooth: Retrieve the tooth, and try to place it back into the socket. If the tooth is soiled, rinse it off, but DO NOT scrub it, or remove any attached tissues. Hold it by the crown, and gently place it back into the socket (ensuring that it is facing the right direction). Bite down gently to hold it in place. 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's 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.
• Tooth Forced Out of Position / Loosened: See your dentist right away. If there is any bleeding, apply a piece of gauze or a soft, clean cloth to the area until the bleeding stops. To relieve any pain, apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area.

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.

A toothache is characterized by 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.

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 your 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. 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.

Don't see your exact problem in this list? If you are experiencing pain or distress of any kind, we still encourage you to call us at (604) 421-8809. We are here for you.