17730 Leslie St. Suite 105, Newmarket, ON L3Y 3E4

Certain signs indicate you need to see your family dentist in Newmarket for emergency oral care. As a dental professional providing services to patients in Newmarket and the surrounding area, I want readers to be aware of these warning signs so they can get treatment promptly if needed. The following are five signs that it’s time to contact our dental office for an emergency visit.   

1. Severe Tooth Pain

If you’re experiencing severe throbbing or shooting tooth pain that won’t subside with over-the-counter pain relievers, it’s a clear sign you need emergency dental attention. Tooth pain this severe usually indicates there is an infection or an exposed nerve inside the tooth that requires a professional evaluation and treatment. Leaving severe tooth pain untreated can lead to complications like an abscess or spread of infection.  

2. Knocked Out Tooth

If you’ve had a tooth knocked out completely as a result of an injury, it’s an oral emergency. The longer a knocked-out tooth remains out of the socket, the lower the chances are of it being replanted successfully. For the best chance of saving a knocked-out tooth, it’s crucial to bring it to our dental office as soon as possible after the injury occurs. We can assess whether replantation is possible and take the necessary steps to do so.  

3. Broken Tooth Fragment

If you fracture or chip a large piece off of a tooth, this also constitutes a dental emergency. Sharp edges left from a broken tooth fragment can cut and irritate the mouth. More importantly, a fracture may extend deep inside the tooth where it isn’t visible, possibly all the way to the dental pulp. Only a dentist’s examination can determine how extensive the damage is and the appropriate treatment.

4. Jaw Injury

Injuries to the jaw, such as from a hard fall, blow, or assault, require prompt dental evaluation as an emergency. Jaw fractures or dislocations can cause issues like inability to chew properly, severe pain, occlusion problems, or nerve damage if not addressed timely. Our dentists in Newmarket are equipped to provide first aid like temporary stabilizing splints and can also properly diagnose any fractures using panoramic X-rays before referring patients to an oral surgeon if necessary.   

5. Abscessed Tooth

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that forms in the jaw bone around the root of an infected tooth. Symptoms include severe throbbing pain at or near the affected tooth that worsens with chewing and is unrelieved by over-the-counter painkillers. Abscessed teeth urgently need treatment as the infection can spread to surrounding tissues and potentially become serious if antibiotics and root canal treatment or extraction are not performed.

Dont Put Off Emergency Care

If you experience any of these warning signs of a potential oral emergency issue, don’t ignore it or wait to be seen during routine business hours. These situations require prompt evaluation and treatment, often on the same day. As your family, Dentistry in Newmarket is dedicated to comprehensive oral healthcare, we strive to see emergency patients as soon as possible, seven days a week. For around-the-clock access, call our emergency line to be triaged and guided on the next steps. With early intervention, many oral health emergencies can be resolved and further complications prevented.