Dental Emergencies

What to do when you have a dental emergency?

In Victoria, BC, like any other city in Canada, a dentist is always available somewhere to see you on short notice for a dental emergency. These may include:

(1) a broken tooth with pain
(2) a broken jaw
(3) swelling due to infection
(4) very loose or missing teeth

It is very important to deal with infection quickly, as some dental infections can quickly become life threatening without intervention.  Teeth knocked out through sports injuries can often be reimplanted

Dental Emergencies for Children

Active children may also be susceptible to mouth injuries. One way for kids to reduce the chances of damage to their teeth, lips, cheek and tongue is to wear a mouth guard when participating in sports or recreational activities that may pose a risk. Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, which can crack a tooth. Most dental injuries occur between the ages of 1 1/2 and 3. Here are some tips on how to treat the most common dental injuries:

Broken Tooth – Rinse out your child’s mouth with warm water and use cold compresses to minimize swelling. See your dentist.
Cracked Tooth – Contact Dr. Pite
Jaw-Possibly Broken – Go to the emergency room
Knocked Out Tooth – Clean the tooth by holding it by the crown (not the root) and rinsing gently. If possible, re-insert tooth into socket and hold in place until you reach your dentist’s office. If that’s not possible, place the tooth in a glass of milk and bring it with you to the dentist.  It must be reimplanted within approximately 30-45 minutes.

If you have a dental emergency in Victoria, contact Dr. Adam Pite at (250) 661-0710.  He can be reached after hours via the clinic answering service.