Emergency Dental Care in Milton, ON

What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is any problem that causes severe pain, bleeding or swelling, or puts a tooth at risk of being lost. If you're not sure whether it can wait, call us and describe what's happening, and our team will help you decide how soon you need to be seen.

• A severe or throbbing toothache
• A cracked, chipped or broken tooth
• A tooth that has been knocked out or pushed out of place
• Swelling in your gums, face or jaw
• A lost filling or crown, or a broken bridge
• Bleeding that won't stop after an injury or extraction
• Pain or swelling around a wisdom tooth

Same Day Emergency Appointments in Milton

We keep room in our schedule for urgent problems, so call as early in the day as you can. Thompson Square Family Dental is at 9067 Derry Road West, Unit 1, Milton, near Derry Road and Thompson Road. We're open Monday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and closed on Sundays. New patients with dental emergencies are welcome. Bring a list of any medications you take, and let us know if you're nervous so we can talk about sedation options.

What to Do Before You Arrive

• Toothache: rinse with warm water, gently floss to remove trapped food and take an over the counter pain reliever as directed. Don't put aspirin directly on the gum, as it can burn the tissue.
• Knocked out adult tooth: pick it up by the crown, not the root. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly without scrubbing. Try to place it back in the socket, or keep it in a small container of milk, and call us right away. A tooth is most likely to be saved when it's seen within about an hour.
• Knocked out baby tooth: do not put it back in the socket. Call us and we'll check your child.
• Broken tooth: rinse your mouth, keep any pieces and hold a cold compress against your cheek to limit swelling.
• Lost filling or crown: keep the crown if you have it, avoid chewing on that side and call us to book a visit.

When Should You Go to the Hospital Instead?

Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 if swelling is making it hard to breathe or swallow, if swelling is spreading toward your eye or neck, or if you have a serious injury to your face or jaw. These can be signs of a spreading infection or a fracture that needs hospital care first.

How We Treat Common Dental Emergencies

Once we find the cause, the first goal is to get you out of pain. Depending on the problem, that may mean treating an infection, repairing a broken tooth, placing a temporary filling or re-cementing a crown. When a tooth's nerve is infected, a root canal can often save it. Our visiting root canal dentist is in the office twice a month, and if your tooth is sore before then, we'll see you the same day to ease the pain and protect the tooth.

If a tooth can't be saved, we'll talk you through removing it and your options for replacing it, including dental implants planned with a 3D CBCT scan.

Emergency Dental Care and the CDCP

We accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which can help cover emergency pain relief and injury care for eligible patients. We'll explain your coverage and any costs before treatment whenever we can, and interest free payment plans are available for larger treatment. Learn more on our CDCP dentist page.

How to Lower Your Risk of a Dental Emergency

Many emergencies start as small problems that grow over time. Regular checkups and cleanings let us find cracks, deep cavities and worn fillings early. A mouthguard for sports can help protect against breaks, and we're happy to talk through the right option for your family.