Common Dental Emergencies Ottawa
BluSky Dental Richardson
A dental injury or sudden pain needs a clear next step. Call (613) 829-5921 to describe the problem to BluSky Dental Richardson. Use the guidance below while arranging assessment, not as a substitute for it.
Breathing or swallowing difficulty, rapidly spreading swelling, severe facial trauma or uncontrolled heavy bleeding requires emergency medical care.
A Knocked-Out Adult Tooth
Seek emergency dental care immediately. Handle the tooth by the white crown, avoiding the root. If dirty, rinse it gently without scrubbing. If you can safely place it back in the socket, do so without forcing it; otherwise keep it moist in milk or a tooth-preservation solution and take it with you.
Do not let the tooth dry out. Do not put it in a young child's mouth because it could be swallowed or inhaled. A baby tooth should not be replanted; contact a dentist for assessment instead.
Tell the clinic when the injury happened. Time matters, even if the tooth looks intact.
A Broken or Displaced Tooth
Avoid biting with the injured tooth. Save any fragment and bring it to the appointment. A cold compress on the outside of the face can help with swelling after an injury.
Do not file a sharp edge or push a displaced tooth repeatedly to test it. A tooth can have damage beyond the part you can see. Read about a broken tooth for the assessment questions.
Toothache or Swelling
Persistent or severe pain, swelling, fever or a bad taste needs prompt dental advice. A suspected abscess will not be resolved by covering the taste or waiting for it to drain.
Use pain medicines only as directed and suitable for you. Avoid putting aspirin or other chemicals against the gum. Antibiotics are not a replacement for treating the source of a dental infection.
A Lost Filling or Crown
Keep the crown or loose piece in a container. Avoid chewing on the affected tooth and contact the clinic to arrange a check. Do not use household adhesives or force a restoration back into position.
If the piece is missing and you have choking, coughing or breathing difficulty, seek urgent medical help. Otherwise describe the circumstances when you call, including any pain or swelling.
Something Caught Between Teeth
Gentle flossing may remove trapped food. Do not use a pin, knife or another sharp object. If the object remains, or the area is painful or bleeding, seek dental help.
Repeated food trapping can signal a gap or restoration problem, so mention it even if the immediate discomfort settles.
An Injury to a Lip or Cheek
Clean the area gently and apply light pressure with clean gauze for bleeding. Seek urgent advice for a deep cut, an embedded fragment or bleeding that does not settle. Significant facial trauma requires medical assessment as well as checking the teeth.
After a blow to the mouth, tell the clinician if the bite feels different or a tooth is loose. A soft-tissue wound and a tooth injury can happen together, even when one is much more noticeable than the other.
Getting Help for Dental Emergencies in Ottawa
Explain what happened, the time of onset and whether symptoms are changing. Tell the team about relevant health conditions, medications and any care already received.
If Richardson cannot be reached, contact an available urgent dental provider. For severe medical warning signs, use emergency services. Our emergency dentistry page explains what an urgent dental assessment can involve.
Talk with the Richardson team
Tell us what you would like help with and ask about your next visit.
Call: (613) 829-5921
Address: 510 Richardson Ave, Ottawa, ON K2B 5H1