What constitutes a dental emergency?

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario has recommended that all non-emergency dental services be postponed to help to prevent the spread of the virus.

So, what’s an emergency?

In dentistry, an emergency is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment, including:

• oral-facial trauma
• significant infection, especially if it compromises the airway
• prolonged bleeding
• pain that cannot be managed by over-the-counter medications

What is urgent care?

In dentistry, urgent care is the management and treatment of conditions that require immediate attention to relieve pain and/or risk of infection.

What is non-essential care?

In dentistry, non-essential care is the provision of routine or non-urgent procedures, including:

• recall examinations and routine radiographs
• routine dental cleanings and preventative therapies
• orthodontic procedures
• extraction of asymptomatic teeth
• restorative dentistry
• cosmetic dentistry

These case definitions are current as of May 22, 2020.

If you feel that you are in need of emergency dental services, please phone our office.  We can be reached directly at, 905-892-0800