If a tooth has been knocked out, read this before anything else.
Pick it up by the crown.
The white part. Never touch the root.
Do not scrub it.
If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline — not water, and never with soap or disinfectant.
Put it back, or keep it in milk.
Only reinsert a permanent adult tooth, and only if it goes back easily. Otherwise keep it in milk. Never reinsert a baby tooth. If unsure, keep it in milk and get urgent advice.
Call us now.
The first hour matters more than anything else on this page. 604-801-6669
What to do, by problem.
- ToothacheCall us. Over-the-counter painkillers as directed on the packet, a cold compress outside the cheek. Do not hold an aspirin against the gum — it burns the tissue.
- SwellingCall us the same day. Facial swelling can indicate an infection or another problem that needs assessment. Breathing or swallowing difficulty requires emergency help.
- Broken toothKeep any pieces. Rinse with warm water. Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or dental wax until you are seen.
- Lost crown or fillingKeep the crown. Avoid chewing on that side. Not usually same-day urgent unless it hurts.
- Bleeding after an extractionBite firmly on clean gauze for 20 minutes without checking it. If it soaks through repeatedly, call.
- Something in the gumRinse with warm salt water and try floss. Do not use anything sharp.
It is 9 pm and it hurts.
- Severe or spreadingSwelling that affects breathing or swallowing, or is moving towards the eye or neck: emergency department or 911. Do not wait for us to open.
- Not sure how seriousHealthLink BC — dial 8-1-1, any hour, to speak to a registered nurse.
- Painful but stablePainkillers as directed on the packet, a cold compress on the cheek, and call when the practice opens. Check our contact page for opening hours.
- Knocked-out toothFollow the four steps at the top of this page now, and go to an emergency department if you cannot reach a dentist within the hour.
When it is beyond a dentist.
Go to an emergency department, or call 911, if there is swelling affecting your breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading towards the eye or down the neck, a fever alongside facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or an injury involving more than the teeth.
Questions.
What does an emergency visit cost?
We provide an itemised written estimate before treatment begins and bill insurance directly. The cost depends on the assessment and treatment needed.
Do you see emergencies the same day?
We hold time in the schedule every day for urgent problems. Call 604-801-6669 first rather than booking online, so we know what is coming and can tell you when to arrive.
My tooth has been knocked out. What do I do right now?
For a permanent adult tooth, hold the crown and gently rinse any dirt with milk or saline. Do not scrub the root. If it goes back easily, reinsert it; otherwise keep it in milk and seek a dentist immediately. Never reinsert a baby tooth. If unsure which it is, keep it in milk and get urgent advice.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Pain that stops you sleeping or working, facial swelling, a knocked-out or broken tooth, bleeding that will not stop, or a lost crown or filling on a tooth that now hurts.
When should I go to hospital instead?
Go to an emergency department if you have swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading towards your eye or down your neck, a fever with facial swelling, or an injury involving more than the teeth.
I am not a patient here. Will you still see me?
Yes. You do not need to be an existing patient, and you go back to your own dentist afterwards.