Emergencies

An abscess is a serious infection in your mouth that may appear as a pimple-like swelling on your gum.It is usually painful. This infection can spread to your entire body so it must not be left untreated.

Please follow GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PROTOCOL and GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PAIN RELIEF instructions.  Please contact us immediately to schedule an appointment.

If you cannot reach us, and you have a fever, swelling and/or difficulty swallowing, contact your medical doctor or go to the nearest medical walk in clinic as you may need antibiotics.

Bleeding gums may be a sign of infection along your gum line. This infection can cause tooth and bone loss as well as affect the general health of your body.

If you notice bleeding when brushing your teeth, please follow GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PROTOCOL.

Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

If a wire breaks or sticks out of a bracket or band and is poking your cheek, tongue, or gum, try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position.

If you can't reposition the wire, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or a piece of gauze until you can get to your orthodontist's office.

Never cut the wire, as you could end up swallowing it or breathing it into your lungs.

Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

Any loose attachments need immediate attention. If not properly repaired they can be inhaled and very dangerous.

See your orthodontist as soon as possible. If the problem is a loose or detached band, save it and call your orthodontist for an appointment to have it properly repaired.

Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

Save all parts of your broken denture, bridge or partial. Put them in a plastic container. Temporary bridges, plates and dentures can keep you comfortable until the permanent one is dealt with.

Please call us as soon as possible for proper repair or replacement and treatment.

If you chip or break your tooth, don’t panic. Please follow GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PROTOCOL and GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PAIN RELIEF instructions.

If possible, save the broken pieces of tooth. Rinse these pieces carefully with warm water as well (make sure there is a cover on your drain) and place in a small sealable container.

If there is bleeding, bite gently on damp cold gauze (apply light pressure for about 10 minutes until the bleeding stops)

Please contact us to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

If the crown falls off, make an appointment to see Dr. Steffens as soon as possible and bring the crown with you. Do not try to reattach the crown on your own. Do not use super glue!

You should always seek professional assistance immediately. Please contact our team at 905-206-0708 to schedule an appointment.

Meantime, if the tooth is causing pain, use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area (clove oil can be purchased at your local drug store or in the spice aisle of your grocery store). Please follow GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PROTOCOL.

Injuries to the soft tissues, which include the tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips, can result in bleeding.

Please follow GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PROTOCOL and GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PAIN RELIEF instructions.

Also, to control the bleeding you may try to use a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag to apply pressure to the bleeding site. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes.

If the bleeding doesn't stop, see our team right away or go to a hospital emergency room.

Continue to apply pressure on the bleeding site with the gauze until you can be seen by our team and be treated.

If you’ve knocked out a tooth contact us immediately. You must be seen.

If our team unavailable, contact our oral surgeons at 905-275-0058.

You can also go to Trillium Hospital Urgent Care Centre: 150 Sherway Drive, Toronto. Open 7 days, 8 am to 10 pm. Trillium’s Queensway or Credit Valley sites are open 24 hours.

This situation is very time sensitive. Retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part you see in the mouth), and rinse off the tooth root carefully and gently with water if it's dirty.

Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it's facing the right way. Never force it into the socket. If it's not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or cup of water that contains a pinch of table salt, if milk is not available)

In all cases, see our team as quickly as possible. Knocked out teeth with the highest chances of being saved are those seen by Dr. Steffens and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked out.

Please follow GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PROTOCOL and GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PAIN RELIEF instructions. If desired, stick a piece of sugar-free gum or soft wax into the cavity until your appointment. Remove it before sleeping to avoid aspirating it.

Please contact our dental team as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

Rinse mouth with warm salt water. If possible, gently use dental floss to carefully remove the object.

Never use a sharp object such as a pin to remove the object as it can cause damage to teeth and gums.

Please follow GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PROTOCOL and contact our team to schedule an appointment.

If you suspect a broken jaw, do not move it.

Secure the jaw to the top of the head with a towel, necktie, or scarf. Apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling.

Immediately contact our team and go to a hospital emergency room.

If you have a toothache there are things you can do to lessen the discomfort.

You may want to make sure that no food has become lodged between the teeth: try to floss your teeth gently.

Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth as it may burn the gum tissue.

Please follow GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PROTOCOL and GENERAL EMERGENCY DENTAL PAIN RELIEF instructions.

Please contact our dental team at 905-206-0708 to schedule an appointment.

Please try to provide us with answers to these questions:

• What symptoms are you having?  (Swelling, fever, pain)
• How long has it hurt?
• What makes it hurt?  
• Does it keep you awake at night?
• How much does it hurt? (Scale of 1-10)
•  Have you been taking anything for the pain?
• What is the location of the tooth or pain
• Do you have any allergies to any medication?