Barton Dental - Hamilton

Dental Emergencies in Hamilton

Emergencies happen. That’s why Barton Dental offers emergency dental care. Call us to get first aid advice over the phone and determine your next steps.
Call 866-317-7498

What is a Dental Emergency?

Any dental issue that requires immediate medical attention qualifies as a dental emergency. Emergencies often include excessive bleeding, severe tooth pain, a traumatic mouth injury, and life-threatening infections. However, other unique situations may also qualify as dental emergencies. If you’re uncertain if a dental issue constitutes an emergency visit, we encourage you to call our Hamilton dental office for help determining your next steps.

 

“What do I do if I have a dental emergency?”

During a dental emergency, the first step is to stay calm. While medical emergencies are scary, panicking will only worsen the problem. Depending on the nature of your emergency, perform one of the first aid steps listed below.

Once the situation is under control, call our Hamilton dental office and explain the nature of your emergency to a staff member. Calling ahead helps our doctor prepare for your visit so that they can treat you as quickly as possible.

Toothache

Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the affected area. You can also take a pain reliever like acetaminophen (ex. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (ex. Advil). Try NOT to take Aspirin since it’s an anticoagulant. If you need surgery, it will thin out your blood and worsen bleeding. When taking medication, always follow your doctor’s advice and the instructions on the medication package.

Knocked-Out Teeth

If a whole natural tooth was knocked out, and it is reasonably clean – first make sure you handle it by the crown, not the root, and immediately try to put it back into the socket (This will prevent the reattachment cells from dying). If the tooth is not clean – you can rinse it, but do not scrub it. If you can’t put the tooth back in, place it in a cup of warm milk. A knocked-out tooth is more likely to be saved if treated within the hour, so call us immediately.

Broken Teeth

If a part of your tooth broke off, find and save all the pieces of the tooth. Rinse your mouth with warm water to wash away smaller pieces. If you are bleeding, apply a bit of sterile gauze to the area until the bleeding stops. You can use a cold compress or ice pack to relieve some of the pain and swelling. To restore the tooth and prevent further damage – call us immediately.

Abscess

Rinse your mouth with a mild saltwater solution (half a teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) two to three times a day. Rinsing helps relieve pain and draws the pus toward the surface. If left untreated, an abscess can damage tissue and spread to other parts of your body. To avoid this, contact our office as soon as possible!

Fallen-Out Filling

As a temporary solution, you can apply orthodontic wax to the hole left by the fallen-out filling. Orthodontic wax is soft and can be molded to cover and protect the hole until you see a dentist. You can find it in most drug stores. However, this is only a temporary solution. You should see a dentist as soon as possible to fix the filling permanently.

Jaw Injury

Do not eat solid foods; place an ice pack on your face, then call us to determine your next step. If you think your jaw may be broken, schedule an emergency dental visit immediately.

Do I Need Emergency Dental Care?

While uncommon, dental emergencies happen. In certain instances, getting emergency dental as quickly as possible can save natural teeth and prevent dangerous infections from spreading. While it’s impossible to list every emergency dental issue, we’ve listed a few of the most common issues we see in our office.

You should get emergency dental care if you experience the following:

  • Tooth pain that prevents you from eating or sleeping
  • Knocked-out teeth
  • Broken or loose braces
  • Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
  • Lost dental filling or crown.
  • Abscess on the gum

Contact us today

to schedule an initial consultation & exam.

Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.

Barton Dental - Hamilton

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Dr. Ameen is the winner of the 3 Best Cosmetic Dentists in Hamilton.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are dental first aid tips found above however, the best first step is always to give us a call! We will give you guidance over the phone to help alleviate your pain, save your tooth and get you here as quickly as possible.
Always follow your doctors’ advice and read the directions on the bottle before taking any pain medication. If it is safe for you, you may take a pain reliever like Tylenol, Advil or Aspirin to take the edge off. This is not a permanent or perfect solution. Dental pain is often nerve related and the only substantial relief will come from treatment a doctor can provide. If you do take something, write down what you took, how much you took, and when you took it and let us know when you come in.
Yes. If you need emergency dental care and go to the Emergency Room (ER), the ER will treat you and then bill your health insurance. The ER is not likely to be able to treat a dental problem unless it is a health emergency. They may also use temporary measures to relieve pain until you are able to see a dentist.
If left untreated, a broken tooth can collect bacteria, risking infection or abscess. A broken tooth also risks nerve damage and may lead to needing a root canal.
If the abscess ruptures, the pain may decrease significantly but you still need dental treatment. If the abscess doesn't drain, the infection may spread to your jaw and to other areas of your head and neck. You might even develop sepsis, a life-threatening infection that spreads throughout your body.

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