Dental Emergency in Vaudreuil-Dorion

What to do, situation by situation

• Should be seen quickly

  Severe toothache

  What to do

  1. 1.Rinse with warm salt water and floss gently to dislodge any trapped food.
  2. 2.Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label. Never place aspirin on the gum.
  3. 3.Hold a cold compress against your cheek if it's swollen; avoid heat.
  4. 4.Call us at {phone}: pain that wakes you at night won't go away on its own.
• Should be seen quickly

  Broken or cracked tooth

  What to do

  1. 1.Rinse with warm water. If you have the broken piece, keep it in milk or saliva.
  2. 2.Apply cold to the cheek to limit swelling; if it's bleeding, press a clean gauze on the area.
  3. 3.Cover a sharp edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your tongue and cheek.
  4. 4.Chew on the other side and call us: an untreated crack can get worse.
• Call immediately

  Knocked-out tooth (avulsion)

  What to do

  1. 1.Pick the tooth up by the crown, never the root. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly with water without scrubbing.
  2. 2.If you can, place it back in its socket and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
  3. 3.Otherwise, keep it in milk or in your mouth, against your cheek — never dry and never in water.
  4. 4.Call us immediately: the chances of saving the tooth are best within the first hour. Don't reinsert a baby tooth.
• Call immediately

  Swelling or abscess

  What to do

  1. 1.Rinse with warm salt water several times a day. Don't try to drain the abscess yourself.
  2. 2.Apply cold to the cheek, never heat, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.
  3. 3.Call us as soon as possible: an abscess doesn't heal on its own and needs treatment.
  4. 4.If the swelling spreads toward the eye or neck, or you have a fever or trouble swallowing or breathing, go to the hospital emergency department or call 911.
• Should be seen within days

  Lost crown or filling

  What to do

  1. 1.Retrieve the crown or piece of filling and keep it in a small, clean container.
  2. 2.Keep the tooth clean and avoid chewing on that side; hot, cold and sweet foods may be sensitive.
  3. 3.If needed, a temporary dental cement from the pharmacy can cover the tooth in the meantime. Never use glue.
  4. 4.Call us for an appointment in the next few days: an exposed tooth deteriorates quickly.
• Call immediately

  Bleeding that won't stop after an extraction

  What to do

  1. 1.Fold a clean gauze (or a damp tea bag), place it over the socket and bite down firmly for 30 minutes without checking.
  2. 2.Sit upright with your head raised. Avoid spitting, rinsing, smoking or drinking through a straw.
  3. 3.If heavy bleeding continues after two attempts, call us immediately.
  4. 4.Outside opening hours, heavy bleeding that won't stop warrants a visit to the hospital emergency department.
• Should be seen within days

  Something stuck between teeth or an injured gum

  What to do

  1. 1.Gently work dental floss (tie a small knot in it if needed) to dislodge what's stuck. Never use a needle or anything sharp.
  2. 2.Rinse with warm salt water to clean the injured area.
  3. 3.If the gum, lip or tongue is bleeding, press a clean gauze on it for 10 to 15 minutes and apply cold on the outside.
  4. 4.If the object stays stuck, the pain persists or the cut is deep, call us.