Emergency Dental Care in Leduc
What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is any urgent issue that requires immediate attention to stop bleeding, relieve intense pain, treat an infection, or save a tooth. These situations can result from accidents, trauma, or untreated cavities that have reached the tooth’s nerve. Infections and swelling, especially those spreading or affecting your ability to breathe or swallow, can become life-threatening and require urgent care.
When Should You Seek Emergency Dental Care?
Emergency dentistry can help you avoid long-term damage, costly treatments, and severe pain. Acting quickly increases the chances of saving your natural tooth and preventing the need for future restorative procedures. For example, a knocked-out tooth may be re-implanted if treated within a short time frame.
You should contact an emergency dentist in Leduc if you experience any of the following:
- Severe tooth pain that interferes with eating or sleeping
- Knocked-out (avulsed) teeth
- Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
- Lost or dislodged fillings or crowns
- Abscesses or gum infections (including pimple-like bumps)
- Broken or loose braces or orthodontic appliances
What To Do If You’re Experiencing a Dental Emergency
Toothache
Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the painful area. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can help reduce discomfort.
Avoid aspirin—it’s a blood thinner and may increase bleeding, especially if oral surgery is needed.
✅ Follow your doctor’s dosage recommendations
🕒 Record what medication you took, how much, and when
Knocked-Out Teeth
If a whole tooth has been knocked out:
- Handle it by the crown, not the root.
- If it’s clean, try to place it back in the socket immediately.
- If not clean, rinse gently with water (don’t scrub it).
- Can’t reinsert it? Place it in a cup of warm milk to help preserve it.
🕐 Call our office immediately — time is critical for saving the tooth.
Broken Teeth
If part of your tooth has broken off:
- Save the broken pieces, if possible.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to clear debris.
- Apply sterile gauze to stop bleeding.
- Use a cold compress to reduce pain or swelling.
Abscess
If you suspect an abscess, rinse your mouth with a mild saltwater solution several times a day (½ teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of water). This helps relieve pain and may draw pus toward the surface.
An abscess is a serious infection—it can damage surrounding teeth and spread to other parts of your body if left untreated.
📞 Call us immediately to have the abscess treated before it worsens.
Fallen-out filling
As a temporary fix, use orthodontic wax to cover the hole left by the missing filling. This protects the area until a dentist can properly restore it. Orthodontic wax is soft, moldable, and available in most pharmacies.
⚠️ This is not a permanent solution—schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
Jaw Injury
If you’ve experienced trauma to your jaw:
- Avoid solid foods
- Apply a cold compress or ice pack to reduce swelling
- Call our office to determine the next step
🚨 If your jaw may be fractured, seek care from an emergency dentist or hospital immediately.
Contact us today
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do in an emergency?
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.
What can I take for severe tooth pain?
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.
Can I go to the ER for dental emergencies?
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.
What happens if a broken tooth goes untreated?
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.
What happens if tooth infection spreads to jaw?
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.