If you are having a dental emergency, we are open evenings and weekends and will do our best to fit you in on the same day.

What is a Dental Emergency
1. Tooth pain
Delaying intervention can cause serious side effects such as infection and loss of the tooth. It is very important to have your teeth evaluated by a professional to ensure that proper care is being received. Do not apply pain killers directly to the affected area as this can burn the gum tissue.

2. Tooth/Gum infection
Signs and symptoms of tooth or gum infection include pain, red and swollen gums, sensitivity to hot or cold, fever and swollen painful lymph nodes in the neck. Because tooth infections can spread, we recommend that you be seen by a dentist immediately for a proper evaluation. It is important to be evaluated even if the pain subsides because pain can go away when the tooth nerve dies. However, the pain will return if the infection is left untreated. While waiting to see the dentist, you can try rinsing your mouth with warm salt water but this is not a substitute for proper medical care.

3. Broken or cracked tooth
Broken teeth most commonly occur when someone bites on something hard, grinds their teeth, or is hit in the jaw or chin. There are three options for dealing with a broken tooth:

1) Placement of a temporary filling
2) Placement of a permanent filling if time allows
3) For large cracks, placement of a crown created using CEREC technology in one appointment. Save any broken tooth pieces in saline (contact lens solution), saliva or cold milk.

4. Tooth trauma
A tooth and its root can be injured without evidence of a break or crack. This may be associated with jaw pain because the jaw may be fractured as well. Teeth that are pushed to one side must be stabilized immediately by a dentist.

• If the nerve in the tooth becomes irreversibly inflamed, it will be necessary to perform root canal therapy.
• If a tooth is not restorable, it may need to be extracted either at your initial appointment or closely thereafter while you are being kept comfortable with pain medication.
• If symptoms progress rapidly, be sure to seek medical attention promptly by visiting your dentist, doctor or local hospital emergency department.

For more information about dental emergencies, or to book an appointment, please call our Scarborough Centenary Dental office today at 416-281-4746.