Dental emergencies: what to do

Call us right away for

• A knocked-out adult tooth. This is one of the few real emergencies in dentistry.² See step-by-step first aid.
• A loose adult tooth (not a baby tooth getting ready to fall out), or any tooth pushed out of position.^1,10
• Severe or constant tooth pain.¹
• Swelling or signs of an abscess, such as intense pain, a swollen face or jaw, or a fever. An abscess needs treatment by a dentist and won't go away on its own.³
• A chipped or broken tooth that is bleeding or painful.¹
• A lost or loose filling or crown.⁵

When you call, tell us what happened and when. We aim to see patients with dental emergencies within a day or two. When we can't fit you in, we'll send you to Dental Emergency Service at Yonge and St. Clair (1650 Yonge St.), (416) 485-7121.

What to do while you wait

Toothache

Rinse your mouth with warm water, and gently remove any food caught between your teeth.⁸ An over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it's right for you, and follow the label.^5,7 Don't give aspirin to anyone under 16.⁴ Don't put a pill directly on the sore tooth or gum, because it can burn the tissue.^1,6 Don't put heat on your jaw.¹

Swelling

Hold ice or a cold pack on the outside of your cheek for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, with a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.⁷ If swelling spreads toward your eye or neck, or makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to the hospital.⁴

Knocked-out tooth

First check that it's an adult tooth: baby teeth should not be put back.² Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root. If it's dirty, rinse it gently in milk, saline or saliva, then put it back in its socket if you can. If you can't, keep it in milk and call us right away.² If we can't see you right away, call Dental Emergency Service at Yonge and St. Clair (1650 Yonge St.), (416) 485-7121. Our knocked-out tooth guide has every step.

Chipped or broken tooth

Rinse your mouth with water and use a cold compress to keep swelling down. Keep any broken piece in cold milk and bring it with you.¹

Lost filling

Put a softened piece of sugar-free gum in the spot where the filling was, and see a dentist as soon as you can.¹

Lost or loose crown

Call for a dental appointment. If you're in pain while you wait, a pharmacist can advise you on pain relief.⁵

Bitten lip or tongue

Press firmly on the area with a clean cloth or gauze for at least 10 minutes, and use an ice pack if the lip is swollen.^1,6 If the bleeding doesn't stop, go to the hospital right away.¹ Get medical care too if the cut goes all the way through the lip or onto the skin of the face.¹⁰

If we're closed

Our hours are listed in the Visit section of our home page. Outside those hours:

• For anything in the "Go to the hospital or call 911" list at the top of this page, go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 911.
• For a knocked-out adult tooth or another urgent dental problem, call Dental Emergency Service at Yonge and St. Clair (1650 Yonge St.), (416) 485-7121. Give first aid first: for a knocked-out tooth, put it back or keep it in milk.²
• For advice, Ontario's Health811 line connects you with a registered nurse for free, 24 hours a day. Call 811 (TTY: 711).⁹