Caulfeild Dental Centre
Emergency Dental
Emergency Dental Services in West Vancouver
While studies report 5.4% of Canadians spend time in a hospital emergency room due to dental issues, unless the emergency presents an immediate threat to their health, there is little they will be able to do to treat dental concerns.
Emergency room visits for dental pain strain an already overloaded system. Why spend countless hours waiting needlessly? Book a same-day appointment with an emergency dentist for urgent care or dental emergencies.
Dental emergencies requiring an appointment include:
- Toothaches
- Broken orthodontic wires or brackets
- Chipped/broken teeth
- Loose bands or brackets
- Knocked out teeth
- Lost crown or filling
- Pain or bleeding after an extraction
- Abscess
Any dental issue requiring immediate treatment to reduce severe pain, stop bleeding, or save teeth is an emergency. It applies to severe, life-threatening infections as well.
Do I Need an Emergency Dentist?
Caulfeild Dental’s emergency dentistry prevents infections from spreading, saves natural teeth, and reduces severe pain. Sometimes, when accidents occur, we have a small timeframe to respond. For example, if a tooth falls out during an accident. A dentist may be able to place it back in the mouth — but only within a set time.
Placing the tooth back into the gumline helps you to avoid painful procedures and costly implants. You can also receive cheaper, more natural treatments if you respond quickly.
For emergencies, our dental technology can help repair your teeth or deal with the situation. Our experienced staff can correct the problem, minimize the discomfort, and assist you in maintaining a healthy smile.
Call us quickly to book your appointment as time may be a factor. We will ask you when you can arrive so we can plan your treatment. For after-hours, listen to our answering machine for detailed instructions.
Our Dental Emergency Services in West Vancouver
Treating dental emergencies depends on the damage and the situation. Antibiotics can treat the infection for chips, cracks, and severe toothaches. Furthermore, the tooth and surrounding area need treatment to prevent further damage.
Unsure whether you are experiencing an emergency? If you don’t know whether to wait or book an appointment, these circumstances warrant an immediate call.
Broken Tooth
Broken teeth are treated using dental crowns, fillings, inlays or onlays. However, sometimes a dentist may be unable to restore them. In this case, the tooth requires extraction. Root canal therapy may be necessary if there is irreversible pulp damage or exposure.
While anything can cause a broken tooth, many involve accidental blows to the face/head. Therefore, a dental emergency can occur if the broken tooth contains an exposed nerve (papal tissue). However, if there is the possibility of a concussion, it should be treated first prior to going to the dentist.
A cleanly chipped tooth with a sharp edge that irritates the surrounding area is not considered a dental emergency. However, you may want to have it fixed for comfort, aesthetic, or anxiety-related reasons later.
Our team will assess the damage to the tooth, nerve, and surrounding areas. From there, we formulate a plan to restore your smile.
Abscess Tooth
An abscessed tooth involves infection at the root of a tooth. While there are several different types, not all require emergency treatment. Soft tissue abscesses don’t always indicate infection.
Plaque and tartar surrounding the tooth may cause infection of the gingiva or gum. Furthermore, poor oral health, tooth eruption, and periodontal disease can cause this issue.
An abscessed tooth only requires treatment if the pulpal tissue or the end tooth component connecting to a supporting bone is infected. Abscesses left untreated can be life-threatening, resulting in compromised airways. Therefore it is essential to have an abscessed, looked at and treated immediately.
To treat an abscessed tooth, we assess the pain level. A root canal or extraction may be necessary, accompanied by analgesics and antibiotics. Chronic abscesses receive the same treatment. We may also create an incision and drain the soft tissue.
Lost Fillings
Lost fillings result from recurring decay, trauma, or poor retention. A filling loss can result in temperature sensitivity to food or a sharp edge. It is important to the tooth that there is no root canal. Irreversible damage and quick decay to the nerve can happen if the filling isn’t replaced.
We provide several options regarding lost fillings. You can receive a temporary filling for same-day service due to anxiety, social embarrassment, or discomfort. You may need an inlay or crown if part of the tooth structure is lost.
You should note temporary fillings are only good for a few days. After that, you will need to seek permanent restoration.
Knocked Out Teeth
If the entire tooth is missing and clean, ensure you pick it up by the crown instead of the root. Immediately attempt to place it into the socket. It prevents reattachment cells from death. For an unclean tooth, rinse it but avoid scrubbing. If you can’t reinsert the tooth, put it in warm milk. Knocked-out teeth may be saved if treated within an hour.
We splint the tooth to adjacent teeth on both sides at our office for two weeks. It holds it in position. It provides a temporary attachment allowing the tooth remains in place.
Emergency Tooth Extraction
Emergency tooth extractions can be the cause of an abscessed tooth. Odontogenic infection can result in sepsis (blood infection). It can generate life-threatening swelling to the airway and may spread to facial spaces.
Other situations are hemorrhage following an accident wherein there is uncontrollable bleeding from the roots of the teeth.
For emergency tooth extractions, endodontics can salvage an abscessed tooth. Some situations will cause patients to seek a tooth extraction instead of restorative measures. We also provide analgesics to control the discomfort.
Other Dental Emergencies May Include:
- Object/Food Stuck Between Teeth
If food/the object cannot be removed using floss or by brushing, make an appointment. - Broken Crown
Broken crowns expose teeth. They leave them vulnerable to damage and infection.
- Missing Filling/Exposed Nerve
Without reinforcement, teeth can chip or break. Exposed nerves only worsen when you wait, so you need immediate care. - Swollen Mouth/Jaw
If this area swells for an unknown reason, seek immediate care. It can be an infection, irritation to the lymph nodes, or other factors. - Bleeding/Swollen Gums
While a bit of blood is normal, bleeding that won’t stop requires attention. - Unexplained Toothache
It involves sensitive or hurting teeth without explanation.
Visit West Vancouver’s Top Emergency Dental Clinic
At Caulfeild Dental, we work with you to provide the best possible outcome. Our personalized approach to emergency dental services assists you by providing the best restorative options, treatment for your situation, and follow-up care. We care about your teeth and want to help our patients maintain excellent oral health.
Our offices are at 5311 Headland Drive in West Vancouver, British Columbia. Located in the Caulfeild Village Shopping Center, we are between The Valetor and Iris Optometrists and Opticians. There is also a Bank of Montreal close by.
Dental Emergency FAQs
What would be considered a dental emergency?
A dental emergency exists when there is severe bleeding or pain to save missing/broken teeth or to reduce infection.
What to do when your tooth is broken?
Gather the tooth’s broken pieces. Put them in a dry, clean container to take to the dentist. Rinse your remaining tooth using warm water to remove debris. If it was the result of an injury, apply a cold compress to the area to prevent swelling. Contact your dentist for an appointment.
Accepting New Patients