General Dentistry
Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies don't wait. Call us at 403-271-2221 — we keep room in the schedule for same-day emergency appointments and will see you as quickly as we can.
Why it matters
Benefits
- Same-day appointments held for emergencies — call as soon as you can.
- Triage by phone first — we'll tell you what to do in the meantime.
- Full sedation options available for painful or anxiety-inducing visits.
- Direct billing for most insurance plans, even on urgent visits.
- Honest treatment plans — sometimes the urgent fix is simpler than you'd expect.
What to expect
The process
- 01
Call right away
Phone us at 403-271-2221. The front desk will assess what's happening and either fit you in the same day or guide you to immediate care if you need an ER.
- 02
Triage and immediate-care advice
While you head to the clinic, we'll talk you through what to do — ice, rinses, what to avoid, when to take pain medication, and whether a knocked-out tooth needs to be stored in milk.
- 03
Quick assessment in-office
On arrival we get you out of pain first (freezing, drainage, etc.) before discussing a longer-term plan. We won't make you sit through a long consult while you're in pain.
- 04
Treatment that day
Most emergencies can be addressed in the same visit — a filling, an extraction, a root canal, or temporary stabilization. We'll only book you back if something genuinely needs to wait.
- 05
Follow-up plan
Some emergencies (knocked-out teeth, severe infections) need staged treatment. We send you home with a clear plan and the prescriptions you need.
Call us first — 403-271-2221
For any dental emergency during clinic hours (Mon–Thurs 7AM–3PM, Fri 7AM–2PM), call 403-271-2221. We’ll triage by phone and get you in the same day where possible.
Common dental emergencies and what to do
Severe toothache. Rinse with warm salt water. Floss to dislodge anything stuck between teeth. Ibuprofen (if it’s safe for you) helps with pain and inflammation. Don’t put aspirin directly on the gum — it burns the tissue. Call us.
Knocked-out adult tooth. Time-critical. Pick up by the crown (white part), rinse gently with milk or saline, re-insert into the socket if you can, or store in milk. Call us immediately — best results come from re-implantation within 30 minutes.
Knocked-out baby tooth. Don’t re-implant — it can damage the developing adult tooth underneath. Call us so we can check the area.
Cracked or broken tooth. Save any pieces. Rinse your mouth. Use a cold compress on the cheek to control swelling. Avoid chewing on that side. Call us.
Lost crown or filling. If a crown comes off, save it — sometimes it can be re-cemented. Cover the exposed tooth with dental wax (from a pharmacy) to prevent further damage. Call us within a few days; not strictly urgent but don’t wait weeks.
Abscess (bump on the gum with pus or persistent throbbing pain). This is an infection. Don’t wait. Call us same-day — abscesses can spread.
Soft-tissue injury (cut lip, bitten tongue). Rinse with salt water. Apply gentle pressure with gauze. If bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes of firm pressure, go to the ER. For minor injuries, call us for evaluation.
When to go to the ER instead
A dental clinic isn’t the right venue for:
- Spreading facial or neck swelling affecting breathing or swallowing.
- Major trauma from an accident.
- Severe uncontrolled bleeding.
- Signs of systemic infection — fever combined with dental pain, confusion, racing heartbeat.
In any of those cases, go directly to the nearest emergency room. We’re happy to follow up the next business day for ongoing dental care once you’re stable.
For everything else dental: 403-271-2221.
FAQ
Questions we hear most often
- What counts as a dental emergency?
- Severe pain, swelling that's spreading, a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth with sharp edges or exposed nerve, an abscess (a bump on the gum with pus), uncontrolled bleeding after an extraction, or a lost crown/filling that's causing pain. When in doubt, call us — we'd rather you call about a minor issue than try to wait out something serious.
- What should I do if a tooth gets knocked out?
- Time matters — a knocked-out adult tooth has the best chance of being saved if re-implanted within 30 minutes. Pick up the tooth by the crown (not the root), gently rinse with milk or saline, and either re-insert it into the socket or store it in milk on the way to our office. Call us immediately at 403-271-2221.
- Do you take walk-in emergencies?
- Please call before walking in — we'll almost always get you in the same day, but a quick call lets us prep the room and tell you which entrance to use. After hours, the phone message will direct you to next steps.
- What if I have a dental emergency on a weekend?
- We're closed Saturday and Sunday. For weekend emergencies, the after-hours message gives you guidance. For severe swelling that's spreading to your face or neck, difficulty breathing/swallowing, or trauma with major bleeding — go to your nearest emergency room immediately, not the dental clinic.
- I'm in pain but my insurance is uncertain — should I still come in?
- Yes. Pain rarely improves on its own. Come in, we'll fix what's causing the pain, and we'll work out the financial side after. We direct-bill most insurance plans and offer payment plans for larger work.
- Can I just take painkillers and wait it out?
- For mild discomfort that started after eating something hard, maybe overnight. For severe pain, swelling, sensitivity to hot/cold, or a tooth that's discoloured — no. The pain is a symptom; the underlying cause (infection, decay, fracture) won't go away on its own and tends to get worse and more expensive to fix the longer it's ignored.
Ready to talk it through?
Book a consultation.
We'll listen first, then build a plan around your goals and comfort.