Brossard, Quebec

Emergencies

Dental emergencies in Brossard

Pain that keeps you awake, a broken tooth, swelling: call us. We will assess your situation over the phone and tell you what to do next.

Call us first

Most dental emergencies resolve faster after a phone call: we will know whether you need to come in without delay, whether it can wait a few days, or whether you should go to a hospital emergency department instead.

Dial 911 immediately if swelling of the face or neck comes with fever, difficulty swallowing or difficulty breathing, or if you have suffered a significant blow to the head or jaw. These situations are beyond what a dental clinic can handle.

Our availability for emergencies varies from day to day. Call us at 450 678-0894 and we will tell you what we can do today.

What to do while you wait

These steps are meant to limit pain and protect the tooth until your appointment. They do not replace an examination in the office.

A tooth has been knocked out

Time matters: a permanent tooth put back within the first hour has the best chance of being saved.

  • Hold the tooth by the crown, never by the root.
  • If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in water or milk. Do not scrub the root and do not use soap.
  • Gently put it back in its socket if you can, then bite on a clean gauze.
  • Otherwise keep it in milk or in your own saliva — never in tap water and never dry.
  • Call us straight away.

A knocked-out baby tooth is not put back. Call us anyway: we need to check that no fragment has been left behind.

A broken or cracked tooth

Rinse your mouth with warm water and hold a cold compress against your cheek to limit swelling. Keep any fragments in a clean container and bring them to your appointment. Avoid chewing on that side.

Severe pain

Rinse with warm salt water and gently floss to dislodge any debris caught between the teeth, which is sometimes the whole problem. An over-the-counter painkiller may help: follow the dosage on the package.

Never place aspirin or any other tablet directly against the gum: it burns the tissue without relieving the tooth.

Swelling or an abscess

Swelling of the gum or face usually signals an infection. Call us the same day. In the meantime, apply cold to the outside of the cheek and avoid heat, which makes swelling worse.

Fever, difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth, or swelling spreading towards the eye or neck: go to a hospital emergency department or dial 911.

A crown or filling has come loose

Keep the piece and keep the tooth clean. Avoid chewing on that side and avoid very hot, very cold or sugary food, as the exposed tooth is often sensitive. This is not usually an immediate emergency, but the tooth is vulnerable: do not put off making an appointment.

A broken orthodontic appliance

A wire that is poking can be covered with a little orthodontic wax or, if necessary, gently pushed down with the end of a pencil eraser. Never cut a wire yourself. Call us to have the appliance repaired.

The information on this site is general in nature and does not replace a clinical examination. Only an in-office examination can establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan suited to your situation.

450 678-0894 Contact us
450 678-0894 Emergencies