Emergency Dental
Remain Calm.
Because dental trauma or emergency is such a common occurrence in childhood, the speciality of pediatric dentistry has extensive training and experience in this area. Please try to stay calm and contact us as soon as possible so we can help you decide what to do. If necessary, we’ll have you come in, or direct you in how to care for the injury.
In the event of an emergency please call our office at
403-873-1414If after hours, you will be directed as to how to contact Dr. Kari directly via her cell phone. If you are unable to reach Dr. Kari, please go directly to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Emergency Department as they have a pediatric dentist on-call at all times.
In case of a severe or life-threatening injury, call 9-1-1.
Common Dental Emergencies
This means the entire tooth has come out, not just broken.
Please call us immediately. Locate the tooth, it can be re-implanted. Handle the tooth only by its top (crown), not by its bottom (root). If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with a clean gauze or wash cloth. If you cannot put it back into the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva or water (milk is preferred).
Stay calm but act quickly – the faster we see your child, the better our chances of saving the tooth.
This means the entire tooth has come out, not just broken.
Please call us as soon as possible. We do not re-implant these teeth, but we do need to determine if any roots remain or if any other teeth have been injured.
Call 9-1-1 or head to the Alberta Children’s Hospital immediately. Any severe blow to the head or fracture of the jaw should be treated in the Hospital’s emergency room immediately.
Please call us as soon as possible. If your child’s tooth becomes displaced (not completely knocked out of the mouth, but may appear longer, shorter or turned), the sooner we can splint or realign the tooth, the easier it will be and the better the outcome. We will also need to schedule periodic follow-up visit for several months to monitor if a root canal or extraction becomes necessary.
Please call us as soon as possible. Rinse your child’s mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If you see a broken fragment of the tooth, bring it with you to our office.
Please call us as soon as possible. You may give your child ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain.
Think Prevention
Child-proof your home and make sure sharp corners are padded, electrical cords and outlets are out of reach, and infants and toddlers can’t find sharp objects such as pencils and pens to put in their mouth. As your child begins walking, make sure that safety belts in strollers and car seats are always used.
Have your child wear a mouthguard and/or helmet (when appropriate) when participating in sports or recreational activities. Mouthguards can not only protect teeth, but also protect the gums, reduce the intensity and number of head concussions, prevent injury to the joints around the jaw, and reduce pressure when a force is directed to the chin.
We can make custom molded mouthguards to help protect your child’s teeth.