Same-day appointments for dental emergencies.
Dental pain does not wait for a convenient time. If you have a broken tooth, a toothache that has kept you up, swelling in your face or jaw, or a crown that came off over the weekend, you need to be seen quickly — not booked three weeks out.
Dentist Windsor keeps time open in the daily schedule for emergency dental care. Get in touch as early in the day as you can and we will do everything possible to see you the same day.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
If you are unsure whether your situation is urgent, get in touch and describe it. We would far rather talk you through it than have you sit in pain wondering.
Come in immediately:
- Facial or gum swelling — particularly if it is spreading, affecting your eye, or making it difficult to swallow or breathe. Swelling can indicate an infection that needs treatment urgently.
- A knocked-out permanent tooth — there is a real window here. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root, keep it moist in milk or saliva, and get to us as fast as you can.
- Uncontrolled bleeding after an extraction or injury.
- Severe pain that will not respond to over-the-counter painkillers.
If you have significant facial swelling with difficulty breathing or swallowing, a high fever, or serious facial trauma, go to the nearest hospital emergency department rather than waiting for a dental appointment.
Contact us the same day:
- A cracked, chipped or broken tooth — even without pain, exposed inner tooth structure is vulnerable.
- A lost filling or crown — the underlying tooth is unprotected and can deteriorate quickly.
- Persistent toothache — pain that lingers, wakes you at night, or reacts sharply to hot and cold.
- An abscess or a pimple-like bump on the gum — this usually signals infection.
- A broken denture, or a bracket or wire causing injury.
How We Handle a Dental Emergency
1. Tell us what is happening
Our team will triage your situation, give you guidance for managing symptoms until you arrive, and find you the earliest available time.
2. Assessment and diagnosis
When you arrive we assess the affected area, take any necessary X-rays, and identify the cause. Emergency visits are focused on the problem in front of us — we are not going to use the appointment to sell you a treatment plan.
3. Relieve the pain
Getting you comfortable is the priority. Depending on the situation this may mean local anaesthetic, draining an infection, or temporary stabilisation.
4. Treat, or stabilise and schedule
Some emergencies resolve in a single visit. Others need definitive treatment afterwards — a root canal, a dental crown, a filling, or in some cases a tooth extraction. We will explain what needs to happen and what it will cost before we begin.
Common Dental Emergencies and What We Do
Severe toothache
Persistent, throbbing pain usually means the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed or infected. If the pulp is involved, root canal treatment can often save the tooth. Left alone, the infection spreads and the options narrow.
Broken or chipped tooth
Treatment depends on the extent of the damage. A small chip may only need smoothing or bonding. A larger fracture typically needs a crown. If the break extends below the gumline, extraction may be the only realistic option.
Lost filling or crown
Keep the crown if you still have it and bring it with you — it can sometimes be recemented. Avoid chewing on that side until you are seen.
Dental abscess
An abscess is a pocket of infection and it does not resolve on its own. Treatment involves draining the infection and addressing the source, usually through root canal treatment or extraction. Antibiotics alone are not a cure.
Knocked-out tooth
Time matters more here than with any other dental emergency. Pick the tooth up by the crown, rinse it gently if dirty without scrubbing, and either place it back in the socket or keep it in milk. Let us know you are on your way.
Emergency Dental Costs
We will tell you what treatment costs before we start it. No surprises added at checkout.
An emergency visit begins with an examination and any X-rays needed to find the cause. What happens after that depends entirely on what we find, and the cost varies accordingly — a recemented crown and a root canal are very different appointments. You will get the number before we pick up an instrument. See our fee ranges for the most common procedures.
Cost should not be the reason you sit in pain. We accept CDCP coverage and most private insurance plans, with direct billing wherever your plan allows it.
Nervous About Coming In?
Plenty of people put off emergency dental care because of anxiety, and the delay usually makes the problem worse and the eventual treatment bigger. If dental anxiety is what is stopping you, tell us when you book — we offer sedation options and we will take the visit at your pace.
Getting to Our Office
We are located in Windsor and see emergency patients from across Windsor-Essex, including Tecumseh, LaSalle and Belle River. See directions, hours and parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be seen today?
In most cases, yes. We hold time in the daily schedule for emergencies. Reach out as early in the day as you can, since same-day slots fill from the morning.
Do I need to be an existing patient?
No. We see emergency patients whether or not you have been here before. If it is your first visit, you can review our new patient information, though we will not hold up urgent treatment over paperwork.
How much will it cost?
We give you a cost before treatment begins. The emergency exam and X-rays are a fixed starting point; treatment is quoted once we know what is wrong. See our fees page.
Will antibiotics fix my toothache?
Antibiotics can reduce infection and swelling, but they do not treat the underlying cause. The tooth still needs treatment. Relying on repeat antibiotic courses lets the problem worsen out of sight.
Should I go to the hospital instead?
Hospital emergency departments can manage pain and infection but do not generally perform dental treatment. For most dental emergencies a dentist is the right call. Go to the hospital for significant facial trauma, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or uncontrolled bleeding.
What should I do while I wait for my appointment?
Rinse with warm salt water, use a cold compress on the outside of your face for swelling, and take over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the package. Do not place aspirin directly against the gum — it burns the tissue. Avoid chewing on the affected side.
Get Seen Today
If you are in pain, do not wait it out. Book an appointment and we will get you in as soon as we can.