Knocked Out Tooth? See Your Calgary Dentist Immediately!

Experiencing a knocked out tooth is most definitely a very traumatic experience for both adults and children alike and this type of dental trauma definitely qualifies as an emergency and, as such, you should see your emergency Calgary dentist as soon as possible after any such incident.  Be aware that prompt action in making an appointment with your emergency Calgary dentist is imperative. 

Althought according to the Canadian Dental Asssociation there is some possibility of successfully reinserting a tooth up two hours after being dislodged, the chances of success are substantally diminished after the first 20-30 minutes.

Immediately after this type of incident, here is what you should do:

1. First, stay calm and, if it is your child who has lost the tooth, try to gently reassure the child that they will be all right.  If the area where the tooth is bleeding, apply some gentle pressure to stop the bleeding and carefully wipe the area clean once the bleeding has stopped. 
   
   
2. If the tooth has not been lost or swallowed, carefully retrieve the tooth, touching only its crown, not its roots, and gently run the knocked-out tooth under warm water to clean any debris or dirt that may be on the tooth.
   
   
3. If you can, or if your child will allow you to, try to place the knocked out tooth back into its socket.  Do so very carefully, paying close attention that the tooth is seated properly in the socket.  While you are waiting to see your Calgary dentist for your emergency dentistry appointment, you can try to hold the tooth in place with clean gauze or a clean cloth or by biting down on the tooth, if possible, very gingerly.  
   
   
4. If you are unable to place the tooth back into its socket, make sure you keep the tooth moist at all times by either placing it in your cheek or putting it into a glass of milk.  Do not submerge the knocked out tooth into water as the chemicals in the water could damage the tooth.  If you have a young child, be sure the child is able to keep the tooth in their cheek without any risk of swallowing the tooth.  If your child is too young or not comfortable enough to do this, then place the tooth in a glass of milk.  You may also use a tooth emergency kit, which are available at most drug stores or from your Calgary dentist.  Do not wrap the tooth in a towel or tissue as this will dry out the tooth and may contaminate it.
   
   
5. Call our emergency Calgary dentist office immediately and let us know that you or your child has suffered a knocked-out tooth and you need an appointment immediately.  Our team members will ensure that you or your child is seen promptly.

If you or your child has suffered a knocked out tooth, call our Calgary dentist without delay.  Saving your tooth is always the best outcome and, although there is no guarantee that the tooth can be saved, your best chances of success come with prompt action.  

When Should I Go To The Hospital For A Dental Emergency?

Generally, most dental emergencies can and should be addressed by your dentist.  There are some dental emergencies, however, that require specialized attention beyond what a general dentist is able to do.  If you suspect that you have a fractured jaw, or if you are experiencing uncontrolled bleeding, severe infection or severe swelling, then we recommend that you call 811 and go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital as these are dental emergencies that are best assessed by a physician. 

If you are unsure as to whether your situation qualifies as a dental emergency, then you may also call Dr. Dirk Thompson at 403.283.4252 during our regular general Calgary dentist business hours for immediate advice as to how to proceed or to make an appointment for our Calgary dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson, to do an emergency dental examination and assessment. 

Most importantly, if you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency, proceed quickly as prompt action may reduce the possibility of more severe outcomes.

Call our Calgary dentist office at 403.283.4252.  We are here to help when you need us for your dental emergency.

I've Made My Appointment For My Dental Emergency.  Now What?

When you come to our Calgary emergency dentist office (we are a general dentist office) for an emergency dental appointment, our first priority will be to completely assess your dental situation and address any immediate concerns such as pain, swelling and infection.  X-rays may be necessary, depending upon the emergency.  Sometimes, due to infection, final treatment may not be possible until the infection subsides so you may be treated with a course of antibiotics. 

If the emergency dentistry requires referral to a specialist, particularly in the case of a broken jaw, we will call the specialist and ensure that timely arrangements for you to be seen by a specialist are made.  Before leaving, you will be provided with Dr. Dirk Thompson's after hours contact phone number so that you will be able to speak with him if you have any concerns whatsoever after your emergency dentistry appointment is completed and the Calgary dental office is closed.

At Advance Your Health Dental, we want to do everything we can to ensure that, after you leave our office for an emergency dentistry appointment, you feel confident that you're in good hands and we're here for you every step of the way in dealing with your dental emergency.    

For your convenience, we are centrally located in central NW Calgary in the Kensington (Sunnyside and Hillhurst) areas to serve patients from all over Calgary, Airdrie, and Cochrane.  Please note that Dr. Dirk Thompson is a general Calgary dentist.  There is no recognized specialty as emergency dentistry in Alberta.

Experiencing a Dental Emergency After Our Regular Business Hours?  Here's What To Do.

If you are experiencing a dental emergency after our regular business hours, please call the emergency dental phone number provided to you by our Calgary dentist's office and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible.

You may also send us an email and we will respond to you to discuss your emergency dentistry issue and, if necessary, make arrangements to see you as an emergency dental patient as soon as possible.

If your dental emergency involves an emergency toothache, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory (NSAID) may help to relieve some of your pain until you can see an emergency dentist in Calgary.   

If your dental emergency involves a blow to the face, a fractured jaw, uncontrolled facial or mouth/gum bleeding, or a severe facial or tooth infection, please call 911 (when appropriate only), 811 or proceed to the emergency department of your nearest hospital as these types of dental emergencies should be attended to by a physician. 

If you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency, we're here to help.   Please call our office at 403.283.4252.  Advance Your Health Dental offers emergency dentistry services in Calgary and is a general Calgary dental office.

Is an Abscessed Tooth a Dental Emergency?

An abscessed tooth is not always a dental emergency.  An abscessed tooth is an infection caused by moderate to severe periodontal disease, tooth decay or even a cracked tooth.  Symptoms of an abscessed tooth can include pain (ranging from moderate to severe), fever, teeth sensitivity, swelling in the areas of the face and gums, redness and inflammation, as well as pain when eating and drinking.

An abscessed tooth may be a dental emergency, depending upon the severity of the infection.  In any event of the severity, however, an abscessed tooth should never be ignored and should be attended to by a dentist as quickly as possible.  As with most dental issues, the sooner a concern is addressed, the better chances of having a more favourable outcome.

Our Calgary dentist may treat your abscessed tooth with a variety of methods, including antibiotics which are used to kill the bacteria causing the infection, draining the infection caused by the abcessed tooth or a root canal.  The treatment selected will depend upon a variety of factors, including the severity of the infection, the patient's comfort level and an overall assessment of all available treatment options.

The best way to signficantly reduce the risk of an abscessed tooth is to ensure that your oral health is maintained, including with regular brushing and flossing and regular dentist and dental hygiene visits and cleanings.