Toothache or dental emergency in Vernon? Call first.

Call, and say it's pain

A phone call is the right first step for anything that hurts. Saying "it's pain" at the start of the call tells the person answering to look at the day differently, rather than offering you the next routine opening. We'll ask a few questions (where it hurts, since when, whether there's swelling) so the time we find is the right length for what's going on.

We'll be straight with you. If we can't fit you in, we'll say so on the phone rather than leave you waiting, and point you somewhere that can. The number is (250) 545-2169.

When we're open, and when we're not

The practice is open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 to 5:00, and closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There is no after-hours line, and we'd rather tell you that here than have you find out at nine at night. The callback form on our home page is for booking, not for pain: if it hurts, phone during opening hours rather than waiting for us to call you back. Email isn't the right channel for pain either.

Swelling in the face or neck that is spreading, or that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, is a medical emergency at any hour. Go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 9-1-1.

Common dental emergencies

• Toothache. Constant or throbbing pain, pain that wakes you up, or sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers is worth a call the day you notice it.
• A broken or chipped tooth. Keep any pieces you find, rinse your mouth with warm water, and call. Even a small chip with no pain is worth having looked at.
• A knocked-out adult tooth. Time matters. Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or water without scrubbing, keep it in milk, and call straight away.
• A lost filling or crown. Keep the crown if you have it. If nothing hurts it can often wait for a regular appointment; call and we'll help you decide.
• Swelling, or a bad taste around a tooth. These can be signs of infection. Call, and mention the swelling.

What happens when you come in

An emergency visit starts with a focused exam of the problem, usually with an x-ray of the area, so you know what's causing it. Then, sitting up and at eye level, we go through the options for dealing with it today and what can wait. You see the fee before anything is done, and you decide.

Sometimes the right first step is to deal with the pain now and plan the rest properly later. That's your call, made with the facts in front of you. Anything beyond today comes back as a written plan in plain English, with every fee on it.

What it costs

The practice follows the BC Dental Association Suggested Fee Guide, and the emergency exam fee is published on our fees page. Where your plan allows it, we bill your insurance directly and you cover only your portion.