Emergency Dentist Ottawa: What Should I Do Right Now If I Have a Dental Emergency?
A cracked tooth at dinner. A sudden throb that will not let you sleep. A child's fall that knocks a tooth loose. Dental emergencies rarely pick a good time, and what you do in the first few minutes can decide whether a tooth is saved. At Tooth & Co. Dentistry, Dr. Amanda Campbell has spent over a decade treating exactly these moments, and our team built this guide so that anyone searching for an emergency dentist in Ottawa has clear, trustworthy steps to follow before help arrives. Keep reading for what to do for the most common emergencies, and when to call us versus when to head straight to the hospital.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency
Not every ache needs a same day visit, but some situations do. A true dental emergency includes a knocked out or badly loosened tooth, uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth, a broken tooth with visible pulp or sharp pain, facial swelling that is spreading, or an abscess with fever. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, call us at 613-714-4646 during office hours and describe your symptoms. If it happens outside our hours, call Health811 at 811 to speak with a registered nurse about your symptoms, follow the steps below, and head to the emergency room if things are severe.
A Knocked Out Tooth: Every Minute Matters
If a permanent tooth is knocked out completely, time is the most important factor. Pick the tooth up by the crown, never the root, and rinse it gently with water if it is dirty, without scrubbing. If possible, try to place it back in its socket. If that is not possible, store it in a small container of milk or in saliva, and get to a dentist within the hour. Baby teeth should never be reinserted, since this can damage the adult tooth developing underneath.
Broken, Chipped, or Loose Teeth
Rinse your mouth gently with warm water and apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to control swelling. If you can find the broken piece, bring it with you. Avoid chewing on that side, and skip anything very hot, cold, or hard until you are seen. Many chips and breaks can be repaired with a simple filling if you are seen quickly, so please do not wait days hoping the discomfort passes on its own.
Severe Toothache or Swelling
A toothache that will not respond to over the counter pain medication is your body telling you something needs attention. Rinse with warm salt water, gently floss around the area in case food is trapped, and use a cold compress if there is swelling. Do not place a hot water bottle or heating pad against your jaw, as heat tends to make swelling and pain worse. If swelling is spreading toward your eye or your neck, or if you are developing a fever, this is no longer something to manage at home.
When to Go to the Emergency Room Instead
Our clinic can handle the vast majority of dental emergencies, but certain situations belong at a hospital. If you have a suspected broken jaw, facial trauma affecting your breathing, or bleeding that will not stop after firm pressure for fifteen to twenty minutes, go to the nearest emergency room right away. Hospital emergency rooms are equipped to manage trauma and infection risk, though they are generally not set up to complete restorative dental work like fillings or root canals, so plan to follow up with us once you are stable.
How Tooth & Co Supports Patients as an Emergency Dentist in Ottawa
Tooth & Co. Dentistry was built to be a calm, welcoming alternative to the cold, corporate clinics that so many people dread, and that matters even more in a moment of panic. Our Centretown West location at 815 Gladstone Avenue is easy to reach from Little Italy, Preston Street, and Dow's Lake, with acoustic tiles and air purifiers that keep the space quiet and comfortable even on a stressful day. We accept all insurance plans, including the Canadian Dental Care Plan, so cost does not have to be a barrier to getting seen. Nitrous oxide sedation is available for anyone whose anxiety spikes in these moments, and Mushroom, our certified therapy dog, is often around to offer a calming presence to patients who want one.
We are open Monday from 12 to 8, and Tuesday through Thursday from 9 to 5. If you are dealing with a dental emergency during those hours, call us directly at 613-714-4646 so we can get you in as quickly as possible. Outside of our hours, call Health811 at 811 to talk through your symptoms with a registered nurse, and go to the nearest emergency room right away if your symptoms are severe.
815 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1R 6Y1
Telephone: 613-714-4646 | Corner of Gladstone and Rochester
Written by Dr. Amanda Campbell, principal dentist and founder of Tooth & Co Dental Clinic in Ottawa.
