Care at Crystal Dental
Emergency Dentistry
Call us now when dental pain, swelling, or an injury disrupts your day. Our team will do its best to accommodate you and help guide your next step.
Need urgent dental care?
Call the office that works for you.
Tell our reception team what happened, where you feel pain or swelling, and when it started. Call us now and our team will do its best to accommodate you and help guide your next step.
Please call rather than email.
Appointment availability is confirmed by our team. Please note that our clinic is not a 24-hour emergency service.
Prompt, thoughtful assessment
What is a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is a problem that needs prompt dental attention to relieve pain, manage infection or give an injured tooth the best chance of being saved. Examples include a severe or persistent toothache, new swelling, a broken tooth or a permanent tooth that has been knocked out. A lost filling or crown also needs attention, especially if the exposed tooth is painful or has a sharp edge.
The right treatment depends on the cause, so an urgent visit focuses on identifying the problem and explaining how it can be treated. Care may involve repairing a tooth, treating an infection or protecting the area until further treatment can be completed.
Start by calling us! Even if you’re unsure what has happened, our team can help guide your next step and will do its best to accommodate you promptly.
When to seek medical emergency care immediately
Call 9-1-1 for difficulty breathing, severe or rapidly increasing swelling of the mouth or throat, serious facial or jaw injury, loss of consciousness, or heavy bleeding that will not stop.
Your urgent visit
What to expect, step by step.
01
A focused conversation
Tell us what happened, when it began, what makes it better or worse, and whether you have swelling, fever, bleeding, or an injury.
02
Diagnosis and proposed plan
Your dentist will assess the concern, explain the likely cause, and discuss the care that is appropriate for the findings.
03
Next steps towards relief
Depending on the diagnosis and appointment availability, care may focus on relieving symptoms, stabilizing the problem, or arranging follow-up treatment.
New to Crystal Dental?
Your first urgent visit.
New patients are welcome to call either office. If available, bring photo identification, current insurance or CDCP information, a list of medications, and relevant dental records. Do not delay an urgent call simply because you do not have every item.
Emergency dentistry FAQs
Answers before you call.
What concerns should I call about?
Call about significant or persistent tooth pain, swelling, a broken or knocked-out tooth, a dental injury, uncontrolled dental bleeding, or a lost or damaged filling, crown, or bridge. If you are unsure, call and describe what is happening.
Should I call, text, or email about an urgent concern?
Please call us if something is urgent. You may still text or email for non-urgent questions, but calling is the best way to reach our team promptly about a dental emergency.
What should I do with a knocked-out permanent tooth?
Call us immediately. Handle the tooth by the crown rather than the root, rinse it gently without scrubbing, and keep it moist. Place it back in the socket when safe or transport it in milk. If neither is possible, an adult or older child who can safely avoid swallowing it may hold it between the cheek and gums. Do not do this for a young child, and do not reinsert a baby tooth. Read HealthLink BC’s knocked-out-tooth recommendations.
What should I do with a broken tooth, filling, or crown?
If possible, save any pieces you can find and call us. Avoid using household glue or attempting a permanent repair yourself. Tell reception if there is pain, bleeding, swelling, or a sharp edge.
When should I go to a hospital or call 9-1-1?
Call 9-1-1 for difficulty breathing, severe or rapidly increasing swelling of the mouth or throat, serious facial or jaw injury, loss of consciousness, or heavy bleeding that will not stop.
What will emergency treatment involve?
That depends on the diagnosis. The visit may involve an examination, diagnostic images, treatment to relieve or stabilize the problem, or a plan for follow-up care. Your dentist will explain the proposed plan before proceeding.
Can I ask about fees and insurance?
Yes. Ask for an estimate and bring your current insurance or CDCP details. Coverage varies, and our team can discuss expected costs based on the proposed care.
For general health advice in British Columbia, call 8-1-1. For a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. Read HealthLink BC guidance about mouth and dental injuries and knocked-out tooth first aid.
Need urgent dental care?
Call us now. Let us help guide your next step.
Choose the office that works for you. Our team will do its best to accommodate you as promptly as possible.