Swelling rarely waits for office hours. If a tooth infection seems to be puffing up your face, phone us as soon as you can, and know your backup. Struggling to breathe or swallow, eye symptoms, or swelling on the move means hospital emergency care.
That's when many people notice it: dinner was uncomfortable, and now one side of the face is visibly bigger. Infection from a tooth is a common reason, but a glance can't confirm it, and the timing doesn't change how seriously it should be taken. The real question is how severe things are and whether you need a dentist, a hospital, or both. Report anything affecting breathing, swallowing, vision or your general health first.
Our regular hours run Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Friday to Sunday by appointment only, so call (905) 876-4488 and explain where the swelling began, how it's changing, and any tooth pain or recent treatment. Trouble breathing or swallowing, a swollen or sore eye, altered vision, or swelling that keeps spreading needs a hospital emergency department immediately. Call 911 for emergency help.
When we answer your call from Burlington, we'll go over availability and what makes sense next. A form or email sent late at night won't be read in time, so don't count on one. If dental care can't wait and you can't reach us, find another emergency dental provider instead of sitting tight until we reopen.
Include symptoms that go beyond your mouth and any health conditions you have. Working out whether it's an abscess is the clinician's job, and the swollen spot shouldn't be pushed on or punctured in the meantime.
Name the area that changed first and whether your cheek, jaw, neck or eye region is now involved. Jot down roughly when each change happened, in hours or days. If the pattern is shifting quickly, say so, even if the tooth hurts less than earlier.
Fever, feeling poorly, limited mouth opening, or trouble with food and fluids all count. Breathing or swallowing difficulty must be mentioned straight away. Don't save these details for a routine appointment days from now.
Think back over the past few weeks: any toothache, a tooth that cracked, an extraction, a filling or other work? List medicines prescribed and when you started them. Bring records if they're easy to find, but don't delay urgent help while looking.
A suspected abscess needs urgent dental treatment. Significant spread, or effects on the airway or eye, may need hospital care, and an online description can never confirm that it's safe to wait for the weekend to end.
The assessment is there to establish where the swelling comes from and how quickly it must be managed. Ask the clinician to share the findings and explain why a certain setting is recommended. A referral to hospital or a specialist means reaching the assessment or treatment the situation actually needs.
The plan should also say what will deal with the source of a confirmed dental infection. Short-term pain relief or a dip in swelling isn't the same as that treatment being complete. Ask which steps happened today and which still need arranging, especially if the first visit was an urgent one at another provider.
Patient information: American Dental Association — definitive treatment and antibiotic decisions
The clinician reviews teeth, gums, affected tissue, and any tests or images that are indicated. You're entitled to know what points to a tooth as the culprit. Since other conditions sometimes need a different approach, the plan shouldn't rest only on which tooth you suspect.
Antibiotics may be appropriate for spreading or systemic infection or other clinical situations, but they don't substitute for treating the dental source. Ask what the medicine should accomplish and what treatment or review is still required.
Find out who to call if things worsen, including when the treating office is closed. Ask when your response should be checked. A good plan anticipates that something might change, instead of assuming the first advice will always fit.
Each case runs according to severity and findings. If emergency medical care is indicated, don't postpone it to complete a dental check or to wait for our next available slot.
Describe where it is, when it began, how fast it's changing and how you feel generally. Mention breathing, swallowing, eye or mouth-opening problems immediately. The opening decision is where you should be assessed, not which procedure to book.
Share medicines, allergies, health conditions and any recent treatment. Say whether symptoms changed after a medication or an earlier visit, including one at an after-hours clinic. That helps the clinician interpret what's happening now.
Once you're in the chair, the likely source is checked and its severity judged, with X-rays or other tests if they'd help. You'll hear what can sensibly be treated at that visit and whether someone else should see you too. It's fair to ask what is still unknown.
Confirm whether drainage, root canal treatment, extraction, tissue care or another step is planned. If several providers are involved, check who arranges each stage. Keep review instructions and warning signs where you can find them on a weekend.
Instructions depend on what was done and whether another provider is continuing your care. Ask for guidance on the procedure, any prescribed medicine and the next assessment, and who to call outside regular hours.
Attend or book the check-up the treating clinician recommended, even if the swelling eases over the weekend. Explain what changed and what didn't. Early improvement helps guide what comes next, but it isn't the same as finishing necessary dental treatment.
Read the dosing directions carefully. Many pharmacies stay open into the evening, and a pharmacist can answer questions about interactions or side effects. Antibiotics are never for sharing, and an old leftover supply isn't a substitute for a new prescription. If a side effect stops you taking the medicine, let whoever prescribed it know, since the plan may need to change.
Don't poke, squeeze or try to drain the area. Follow the cleaning and eating advice for any procedure you had. Report new symptoms to the treating provider rather than experimenting with home remedies.
Phone about urgent concerns and use emergency services for warning signs. These answers explain the usual pathway; they can't decide the severity of your swelling from here.
Phone our Bronte Street practice about a suspected dental infection and current assessment times. If you need care now and we can't be reached, use another emergency provider. Medical warning signs need a hospital emergency department, not a booking request.
Online forms aren't checked for emergencies, especially overnight. Diagnosis, treatment setting, medicines, referrals, fees and availability depend on assessment; don't wait for a reply about urgent swelling.
