Dental Emergencies in Quebec: Broken Tooth, Pain, Infection or Trauma
Triage urgent signs, protect a knocked-out tooth and find appropriate care without dangerous home remedies.
Possible infection
Throbbing pain, fever, bad taste, swelling or trouble opening the mouth requires prompt assessment. Antibiotics alone may not correct the source.
Knocked-out permanent tooth
Hold the crown, never the root. If dirty, rinse briefly without scrubbing. Reinsert only when you can do so safely; otherwise use a recommended storage medium and obtain immediate care. Never reinsert a baby tooth.
Broken tooth
Rinse gently, save fragments, apply a cold compress outside and avoid biting on that side.
Bleeding
Apply firm pressure with clean gauze. Heavy bleeding that does not stop, especially with anticoagulants or a bleeding disorder, needs urgent advice.
Pain
Use only a pain medicine appropriate for you according to its label and pharmacist. Never place aspirin, alcohol, essential oil or caustic products on gums.
Crown or appliance
Save the piece and call the clinic. Never use household glue or sleep with a loose piece that could be swallowed.
Find care
Call a dentist, emergency clinic or Info-Santé 811 for direction. Verify coverage and fees but never delay an airway emergency.
Prepare the call
Give the person's age, start time, tooth or area, trauma, swelling, fever, bleeding, medication, allergies, pregnancy and relevant conditions. Ask where to go, what to bring and whether the clinic can treat the problem. A photo may help triage but does not replace an examination or X-ray when needed.
Prevent the next emergency
After treatment, ask which signs require a return, how to eat and clean the area and when sport or work can resume. Use a fitted mouthguard for higher-risk sports and have an appliance or denture adjusted if it causes injury. Keep a clinic's contact information available when travelling and do not postpone care for decay or an unstable crown until pain becomes severe.