Dental emergency in Vaudreuil: what to do evenings and weekends

A tooth that cracks on an olive pit at Saturday lunch. An abscess that flares up at ten at night. A crown that comes off the day before a long weekend. Dental emergencies have a way of showing up when clinics are closed. Here's how to recognize a real emergency, what to do right away, and where to go if it can't wait until opening.

Is it really an emergency?

Not every toothache needs to be seen the same evening, but some situations shouldn't wait more than a few hours:

• A permanent tooth knocked completely out of its socket: the odds of saving it drop after an hour.
• Swelling of the face, cheek or neck, especially with fever.
• Bleeding that won't stop after twenty minutes of pressure.
• Severe pain that over-the-counter pain relievers don't touch.
• A broken tooth with the nerve exposed (a red spot, or sharp sensitivity to air).
• A blow to the jaw, with difficulty opening or closing the mouth.

Other problems are unpleasant but can wait until opening: a filling or crown that falls out without pain, a chipped tooth with no sensitivity, a poking orthodontic wire, new sensitivity to cold. In those cases, protect the area and call first thing the next morning.

First aid that actually helps

Knocked-out tooth: hold it by the crown, never by the root. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly in water or milk without scrubbing. If you can, place it back in its socket and bite gently on gauze. Otherwise keep it in milk, or in your mouth against the cheek, and get seen right away. This doesn't apply to baby teeth — they aren't re-implanted.

Broken tooth: rinse with warm water, keep the piece if it's large, and put cold on the cheek. A bit of orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum can cover a sharp edge temporarily.

Abscess or swelling: rinse with warm salt water, take a pain reliever as directed on the label, avoid heat on the cheek and sleep with your head raised. Never drain an abscess yourself, and don't take leftover antibiotics from an old prescription.

Lost crown: clean it, keep it, and if the tooth is sensitive, a temporary dental cement from the pharmacy can hold it in place until your appointment. Never use household glue.

Bleeding after an extraction: bite firmly on clean gauze or a damp tea bag for twenty to thirty minutes, without checking every two minutes.

Where to go when the clinic is closed

Start by calling your dental clinic, even after hours: the voicemail often explains what patients should do, and at opening, many clinics keep slots for same-day emergencies or refer you to a partner clinic. If you're in Saint-Lazare, Hudson, Pincourt or L'Île-Perrot, Vaudreuil-Dorion clinics are only a few kilometres away.

To speak with a nurse at any hour, call 811 (Info-Santé). They can help you assess the situation and find a resource that's open.

Go to the nearest hospital emergency department, or call 911, if swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, if a facial injury comes with loss of consciousness, vomiting or confusion, or if bleeding won't stop. Hospital emergency departments don't repair teeth, but they treat infection, pain and fractures, and refer you to a dentist afterwards.

Either way, note what happened and when, and keep any pieces of tooth. A dentist who has those details on Monday morning can often fix in one visit what kept you up all weekend.