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Emergency Dentistry in Ottawa: Fast Care When You Need It Most

Dental Emergencies in Ottawa: What You Should Know

Imagine you are enjoying your day when sudden tooth pain or an unexpected accident strikes. Knowing where to turn in that moment makes all the difference. At Innes Dental Health Group in Ottawa, ON, we provide emergency dentistry to help with urgent problems like severe toothaches, broken teeth or braces, or injuries to the mouth. Emergency dentistry in Ottawa ensures you receive quick and reliable care when you need it most, helping to protect your smile, ease discomfort, and prevent future complications!

Why Emergency Dentistry Matters

Dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time. A chipped tooth while eating, a sudden infection, or a sports injury may leave you in pain and unsure of what to do. The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) and Canadian Dental Association (CDA) highlight that early treatment is often the ideal way to save a tooth or stop infection. Contacting a dentist immediately after a dental emergency can actually improve your chances of saving your tooth and preventing further damage, which is why it matters. 

Ignoring urgent dental issues can lead to: 

  • Severe pain and swelling 
  • Tooth loss 
  • Increased risk of infection spreading 
  • Higher long-term treatment costs

What to Expect at Innes Dental Health Group

When you visit our Ottawa office for emergency dental care, here is what you can expect: 
  • Immediate Attention: We make every effort to see urgent cases as quickly as possible. 
  • Assessment and X-rays: Our dentist examines the problem area and may take X-rays to understand what is happening. 
  • Relief and Stabilization: We provide care to relieve discomfort and stabilize the tooth or gums. 
  • Treatment Plan: After addressing the urgent need, we explain next steps to restore long-term oral health. 
  • Follow-Up Support: Our team schedules additional care if needed and offers guidance for healing at home. 

There are dental first aid tips when faced with an emergency, but the best first step is always to give us a call! We will give you guidance over the phone to help alleviate your pain, save your tooth, and get you here as quickly as possible. 

The Link Between Oral and Overall Health

Dental emergencies are not just about your teeth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions that if a dental injury isn’t managed properly, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria, potentially leading to systemic issues such as heart disease and complications with diabetes. In severe cases, these infections can even cause sepsis, which is life-threatening. While dental infections are often easy to treat when caught early, if they are left to fester, the bacteria can spread to the neck, face, chest, and even the brain, creating a serious risk to a patient’s breathing and overall health.  

By seeking emergency dentistry promptly, you protect both your smile and your overall health. A fast response can prevent more serious and expensive issues from arising.

How Often and Who Needs Emergency Dentistry

Most people do not need emergency dentistry often, but it becomes essential when urgent problems arise. Situations that may require an emergency dental visit include: Pain that prevents you from eating or sleeping.
  • Knocked-out teeth.
  • Broken or loose braces.
  • Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth.
  • Lost filling or crown.
  • Abscess or “pimple” on the gumline.

Even if you are unsure, it is better to contact our team quickly. Regular twice a year checkups also help prevent emergencies by catching problems early.

At-Home Tips Between Visits

While waiting to see the dentist or after emergency care, you can take simple steps to protect your mouth:

  • Toothache: Rinse with warm salt water and take over-the-counter pain relief. Avoid applying heat with a heating pad, a hot water bottle, or other heat sources directly on your jaw, as the heat can exacerbate the pain.
  • Knocked-Out Tooth: Keep the tooth moist in milk or gently in your cheek. Call us immediately at 613-319-0853, as timing is critical.
  • Broken Tooth: Save any pieces and rinse your mouth with warm water. For minor tooth breaks, we might use a filling to fix the tooth. For more serious breaks, a root canal may be needed to restore the tooth, and it could also require a dental crown.
  • Lost Filling or Crown: Use dental cement (available at most pharmacies) as a temporary fix until you see us.
  • Swelling or Abscess: Apply a cold compress outside your cheek and call us right away.


Important: Never put aspirin directly on your gums, as it can cause burns.

Signs You May Need Emergency Dentistry Now

  • Tooth pain that does not go away
  • A broken or cracked tooth with sharp edges
  • Knocked-out permanent tooth
  • Broken or loose braces
  • Abscesses of gums or face
  • Injury to lips, tongue, or mouth
  • A fallen-out filling
  • A jaw injury

Why Choose Innes Dental Health Group for Emergency Dentistry in Ottawa

At Innes Dental Health Group, we know how stressful dental emergencies can be. Our Ottawa team is here to provide calm, supportive, and timely care. From sudden pain to unexpected injuries, we are ready to help you get relief and protect your oral health. Choosing us for emergency dentistry means having a local team you can count on when it matters most!

Deep Dive: Sports-Related Dental Emergencies

Many dental emergencies happen during sports. If a sports-related accident does occur, quick care is essential. Our team provides emergency dentistry in Ottawa to address injuries from chipped teeth or broken or knocked-out teeth, helping athletes get back to play without issue.

According to the Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry, dental trauma in sports is the major link between sports and dentistry. The combined impact of violence, traffic accidents, and sporting activities has made traumatic dental injuries a public dental health problem.

Affordability and Insurance

Emergency dental care should be accessible when you need it. At Innes Dental Health Group in Ottawa, we submit insurance claims on your behalf and provide clear estimates before treatment. You can enjoy direct insurance billing and no surprise paperwork. Our team can also discuss payment options, and we are a proud CDCP office that provides affordable care for all!

Protect Your Smile Today

What to Expect at Innes Dental Health Group

You never know when a dental emergency will happen, but being prepared with a trusted dentist gives you peace of mind. If you or a family member experiences a dental emergency, do not wait. Quick action can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. You deserve care that is close, reliable, and supportive. Our Ottawa dental team is here to provide that care and guide you through what to do next. 

Call Innes Dental Health Group ASAP to book your emergency dentistry appointment and get the urgent help you need – because your smile and health cannot wait! 

Common Questions About Emergency Dentistry

In dentistry, urgent care is the immediate management and treatment of conditions that require prompt attention to relieve pain, address infection, or prevent further harm. Urgent care also addresses dental trauma, such as a fractured or knocked-out tooth, as well as lost or defective restorations and orthodontic issues causing soft tissue irritation. Additionally, it covers surgical post-operative care and any other procedures a dentist deems necessary to minimize harm or relieve a patient’s suffering.

Not every toothache is an emergency, but you should not ignore persistent pain. Severe or throbbing pain, especially if paired with swelling or fever, may point to an infection that requires urgent care. Even mild pain that lasts more than a day should be checked so it does not become worse. 

Think of non-urgent dental care as all the routine care you schedule ahead of time. This includes your regular checkups, cleanings, and X-rays, as well as cosmetic care like teeth whitening. It also covers procedures like getting a tooth pulled if it’s not bothering you and getting cavities filled before they start to hurt.

Children often have dental emergencies from sports or accidents. Knocked-out baby teeth usually should be seen quickly. If there is bleeding, rinse the mouth with water and place gauze in the opening. You can also apply cold compresses to the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling. Keep your little one calm and avoid looking for the tooth baby teeth will not be replanted. Never try to reinsert the tooth into the opening, as you may damage the permanent teeth growing underneath.to make sure no damage was done to the gums or adult teeth developing underneath. Our dentist can also check for hidden injuries and recommend protective steps for the future.

The ideal place to go depends on the type of emergency. For a life-threatening injury, like a broken jaw, difficulty breathing, or bleeding that won’t stop, you should go directly to the nearest hospital emergency room. However, for most dental-specific problems, such as a knocked-out tooth, a lost filling, or a broken tooth, a dentist is the ideal choice. 

Call Innes Dental Health Group about Emergency Dentistry today!

5 Benefits of Emergency Dentistry 

  • Provides fast relief from sudden tooth pain 
  • Helps save injured or knocked-out teeth 
  • Prevents dental issues from becoming worse 
  • Supports comfort and peace of mind in urgent times 
  • Gives you access to trusted care close to home