Dental emergencies: what to do and when to call

Call Dental at the Bow: (403) 313-3000 for an urgent dental concern. Same-day urgent appointments may be available on weekdays during clinic hours, subject to confirmation by phone.

If you have trouble breathing, rapidly increasing swelling of your mouth, tongue or throat, or severe bleeding that will not stop, call 911. Do not wait for the clinic to open.

TL;DR

• Call a dentist promptly for significant tooth pain, facial or gum swelling, a damaged or knocked-out tooth, or a lost restoration causing problems.

• Call 911 for life-threatening symptoms, including trouble breathing, fast-growing mouth or throat swelling, or severe uncontrolled bleeding. Other serious infection signs may require an emergency department.

• A knocked-out permanent tooth needs immediate care. Hold it by the crown, not the root; if it cannot be put back safely, keep it in milk and take it to a dentist right away. Never reinsert a baby tooth.

• First aid can help while arranging treatment, but temporary relief from pain or swelling does not tell you whether the underlying problem is resolved.

• Dental at the Bow sees urgent patients on weekdays during clinic hours only, subject to availability. For after-hours guidance in Alberta, call 811; for a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Dental emergencies can happen during dinner, overnight or while a child is playing. The difficult part isn't always the pain. It's knowing what needs attention now, what you can do safely while arranging help and whether to call a dentist or seek medical care. This guide explains those decisions and the first steps for common dental problems.

Which dental emergencies need prompt attention?

A dental emergency isn't defined by pain alone. Some problems hurt intensely; others may seem manageable but need quick treatment. With a knocked-out permanent tooth, for example, time matters even if the initial pain has settled.

The Alberta Dental Association advises contacting a dentist promptly for concerns such as toothaches, broken teeth and knocked-out teeth. New or increasing pain, swelling around a tooth or in the face, bleeding after an injury, and a loose or lost filling or crown also deserve a call to explain what happened.

The response depends on the problem. A small, painless chip differs from a tooth that has split or become loose after a fall. A lost filling might not be immediately dangerous, but the exposed area can become sensitive or suffer further damage.

The useful question is whether delaying care could make the problem worse or limit the available treatment. You don't need to diagnose it yourself. Describe your symptoms to a dental professional so the urgency can be assessed.

When do dental emergencies require 911 or emergency care?

Most dental concerns should begin with a dental assessment, but certain symptoms need emergency medical help. Call 911 immediately if you are struggling to breathe, swelling is rapidly increasing in the mouth, tongue or throat, or heavy bleeding cannot be controlled with pressure. These are not situations to manage through a routine clinic call or online appointment request. MyHealth Alberta's mouth-injury guidance identifies severe breathing problems, rapid swelling and uncontrolled bleeding as serious warning signs.

Seek immediate emergency medical assessment for swelling that makes swallowing or opening your mouth difficult, eye pain or swelling, new vision problems, or a major injury to your face or jaw. These may indicate serious complications, as described in the NHS guidance on dental abscesses. If breathing is affected or symptoms become life-threatening, call 911.

Fever together with increasing swelling, worsening pain or pus can also signal an infection that requires prompt assessment. Do not wait several days hoping that the symptoms will settle, particularly when they're getting worse. MyHealth Alberta advises urgent medical care for worsening signs of infection.

A dentist generally treats the source of dental pain; an emergency department assesses serious illness or injury. Understanding that distinction helps you get appropriate care without delay.

First steps for a toothache or swelling

If you have a toothache, gently rinse your mouth with warm water. If you suspect food is caught between the teeth, carefully use dental floss rather than trying to remove it with a sharp object. Do not place aspirin or another pain medication directly against the tooth or gums, because it can damage the soft tissue. These steps are consistent with the American Dental Association's emergency advice.

A cold compress against the outside of the cheek may help with swelling. Ask a pharmacist or clinician which pain medicine is suitable for you, and follow the directions.

Pain relief does not treat its underlying cause, which could be decay, inflammation, injury or infection. Contact a dentist, particularly if pain is increasing, affects sleep or everyday activity, or occurs with swelling. Feeling better temporarily isn't proof that the problem has resolved.

Can a tooth infection wait until tomorrow?

A suspected dental abscess deserves prompt professional attention. Possible symptoms include throbbing pain, swollen or reddened gums, swelling in the face or jaw, fever or an unpleasant taste. An abscess does not reliably go away on its own, and infection can spread if left untreated. MyHealth Alberta's abscess guidance recommends prompt dental treatment.

Antibiotics are not automatically the solution. Many dental infections require treating the affected tooth or draining the infection. The American Dental Association's guideline prioritizes dental treatment for most common causes of pain and localized swelling, with antibiotics when clinically indicated.

If swelling worsens rapidly or you have trouble swallowing or opening your mouth, seek medical care immediately instead of waiting for the clinic to open.

A knocked-out permanent tooth needs immediate action

A knocked-out permanent tooth is one of the clearest examples of why acting quickly matters. According to MyHealth Alberta, the chances of saving the tooth are higher when a dentist can replace it within about 30 minutes. That doesn't mean you should give up if more time has passed. It means you should seek care immediately rather than wait to see whether the area becomes painful.

If a permanent tooth has come completely out of its socket:

1. Pick it up by the crown, the part normally visible above the gums. Avoid touching the root.

2. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with water. Do not scrub it or scrape anything from the root.

3. If it is safe to do so, gently place the permanent tooth back into its socket without forcing it. Keep it in place gently while travelling for care.

4. If you cannot put it back safely, place the tooth in milk to keep it moist. Do not allow it to dry out, and avoid having a young child hold a loose tooth inside the mouth because of the risk of swallowing it.

5. Get immediate dental help, bringing the tooth with you if it has not been reinserted. If you cannot reach a dentist promptly, seek emergency medical care rather than delay.

Never reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth. Doing so can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. A child who has lost a baby tooth because of an injury still needs prompt assessment, even if the bleeding stops or the tooth was already becoming loose. This distinction is explicit in MyHealth Alberta's first-aid guidance.

Preserving the tooth and getting immediate help matter more than trying home remedies.

Is a cracked tooth or lost crown a dental emergency?

A broken or cracked tooth deserves dental assessment. Pain, bleeding, swelling, looseness or a large fracture make prompt attention especially important. A small painless chip may be less urgent, but it still warrants a call for advice.

If a tooth breaks, rinse gently with warm water and save any fragments you can find. A cold compress on the outside of the face may help if there is swelling. Avoid chewing on the affected side until a dentist has advised you. The Alberta Dental Association recommends calling promptly and bringing pieces of the tooth to the appointment when possible.

A crown or filling that comes loose creates a slightly different problem. The area underneath may be sensitive or exposed, and a loose restoration can interfere with eating or biting. Keep a crown that has come off and tell the clinic what happened. Do not use household glue or force it back into place. The team can advise what to do until you're seen.

Treatment could involve smoothing an edge, repairing the tooth or replacing a restoration. The appearance of the damage alone doesn't establish what is needed.

What if your mouth is bleeding after an injury or dental treatment?

An injured lip or tongue can bleed substantially, even when the injury is relatively small. Apply firm pressure using clean gauze or a clean cloth. A cold pack against the outside of the face can help with swelling, and sitting upright with your head slightly forward can help prevent blood from collecting at the back of your throat.

If the bleeding is heavy, does not slow with pressure, or you feel seriously unwell, seek emergency medical help; call 911 for severe uncontrolled bleeding. Persistent bleeding after a dental procedure also needs prompt advice rather than assuming it will eventually stop. MyHealth Alberta distinguishes minor bleeding from bleeding that will not stop or slow with pressure.

Can Dental at the Bow see you the same day?

Dental at the Bow offers weekday urgent appointments during clinic hours, with same-day availability subject to the schedule. Call (403) 313-3000 to explain your symptoms and confirm availability. An online request does not reserve an emergency appointment.

Hours may change on holidays, and the team should confirm availability by phone. The clinic is located inside The Bow, 500 Centre Street South, Suite 105, Calgary. Review the contact and directions page for arrival information.

What happens during an urgent dental assessment?

During an urgent assessment, the dentist may examine the area, take dental images if needed and explain the findings. The next step might be treatment, temporary protection, another appointment or a referral. Same-day assessment does not guarantee completion of a particular procedure. Dental at the Bow's emergency dentistry page explains this approach.

If fees are a concern, mention that when you call. The clinic can explain estimates and its insurance and payment information, but coverage depends on your plan and the treatment recommended.

What should you do when the dental clinic is closed?

An emergency doesn't become less urgent on a weekend. If the clinic is closed, seek another available urgent dental provider for a time-sensitive concern.

If you're unsure where to go, Alberta's Health Link 811 provides free 24-hour health advice and care navigation. It does not replace 911 for life-threatening symptoms.

A knocked-out permanent tooth on Saturday needs immediate help, not storage until Monday. Trouble breathing from swelling means calling 911. Neither situation should be managed through an online appointment form or by leaving a message and waiting.

What should you tell the clinic when you call?

You don't need to diagnose the problem. These details help the team understand what's happening:

• The problem and when it started: pain, an injury, swelling, bleeding or a missing tooth or restoration.

• Whether it is changing: worsening pain, spreading swelling, fever, trouble eating or sleeping, or new symptoms.

• Any recent treatment or relevant health information: medications, allergies, or dental care that could affect the assessment.

• What you have already tried: any pain medicine, first aid or other steps taken since the problem began.

If symptoms sound life-threatening, do not delay medical care to complete this list.

The immediate goal isn't to select a treatment for yourself. It's to recognize when something needs attention and reach the right professional without unnecessary delay.

For an urgent dental concern during weekday clinic hours, call Dental at the Bow at (403) 313-3000 to confirm availability. For severe breathing problems, rapidly increasing mouth or throat swelling, or severe uncontrolled bleeding, call 911 immediately.