Call Us at: (613) 854-8007
Urgent Dental Care
Prompt, Thoughtful Care
When It's Needed Most
When a dental concern arises and waiting isn't the right choice, our team is here to help assess, support, and coordinate care wherever your loved one calls home.
Serving seniors in retirement homes, long-term care, and community residences across Eastern Ontario
About This Service
Oral Health Concerns Don't Always Wait
Some dental concerns a sudden pain, a broken tooth, visible swelling, or a lost restoration can interfere with comfort, nutrition, and daily life. For seniors in care settings, travelling to a traditional dental office isn't always possible. Our urgent dental care service brings timely attention directly to your location. We assess what's happening, provide appropriate support, and help determine the right next step calmly and with your wellbeing as the priority.
Timely Assessment
We prioritise reaching seniors with time-sensitive dental concerns, so issues can be evaluated and addressed sooner rather than later.
Care Where You Live
Whether in a long-term care home, retirement residence, or community setting, we come to you no difficult travel required.
Team-Based Communication
We work with families, caregivers, and facility staff to ensure everyone understands the findings and agreed next steps.
Realistic, Honest Guidance
We clearly explain what we found, what can be addressed, what may need follow-up, and how to best support the patient going forward.
Service Overview
What Urgent Dental Care Means in a Senior Setting
Urgent dental care is not the same as a dental emergency requiring hospital-level treatment. It describes dental situations that may benefit from quicker attention concerns that are causing pain, affecting eating or speech, or appear to be worsening and that should not wait for a routine scheduled appointment.
For seniors in care settings, this kind of timely access can make a real difference. Mobility challenges, cognitive changes, and care schedules can make it difficult to manage dental pain or uncertainty about a new symptom. Our team provides a prompt professional assessment, addresses what is clinically appropriate on-site, and coordinates further care where needed.
Every situation is evaluated individually. What we're able to do at the visit will depend on the patient's condition, the nature of the concern, and what is clinically appropriate at the time.
Signs to Watch For
When Urgent Dental Care May Be Needed
The following situations may benefit from a prompt dental assessment. If you are unsure whether a concern qualifies, please don't hesitate to contact us we're happy to help you think it through.
- Dental pain or persistent discomfort toothache, jaw soreness, or oral pain that has not resolved and is affecting comfort or daily activities
- Swelling in the face, jaw, or gums any new or increasing swelling that may indicate an infection or other concern requiring timely review
- Broken tooth or fractured tooth structure a break that is sharp, causing irritation, or affecting the ability to eat or speak comfortably
- Broken or ill-fitting denture particularly when a break or sudden poor fit is making it difficult or painful to eat, or affecting the patient's confidence and nutrition
- Lost filling, crown, or restoration a sudden loss that has left a tooth sensitive, rough, or uncomfortable, or that is affecting the patient's ability to eat
- A new or unusual oral finding a sore, lesion, or visible change inside the mouth that has appeared recently and warrants professional review
- Difficulty eating due to an oral cause when a dental issue is clearly contributing to reduced food intake, weight loss, or nutritional concern
- Urgent review for a senior who cannot travel where a dental concern has been identified but the patient is unable to attend a traditional dental office
Not sure whether it qualifies as urgent? If a senior in your care appears to be in pain, is refusing food due to dental discomfort, or has experienced a sudden oral health change, please reach out. Our team will help determine whether a prompt visit is appropriate and in most cases, it's better to ask than to wait.
Scope of Support
What Urgent Support May Include
The type of care provided will depend on the patient's needs, the nature of the concern, and what is clinically appropriate at the time of the visit. Where full treatment is not possible on-site, our priority is to assess, relieve discomfort where possible, and clearly communicate the next steps.
01
Clinical Assessment
A thorough oral examination to evaluate the concern, understand the extent of the issue, and rule out anything more serious that may need further attention.
02
Symptom Relief
Where clinically appropriate, we will take steps to reduce pain, discomfort, or irritation at the visit including smooth rough surfaces, relieve pressure, or apply protective materials.
03
Dental Triage & Prioritisation
We help determine the relative urgency of the situation and provide guidance on what should be addressed next, and over what timeframe including referral recommendations where needed.
04
On-Site Treatment
Depending on the situation, we may provide definitive treatment on-site, such as a permanent filling, adjustment, or other appropriate dental care adapted to the patient's condition.
05
Communication & Documentation
We document our findings and communicate clearly with the patient, family and facility staff, so everyone has the information they need to keep providing good care.
06
Care Coordination
If a concern requires specialist review or hospital-level assessment, we will advise accordingly and help facilitate the appropriate referral or care pathway.
Please note: Not every urgent concern can be fully resolved in a single visit. Some situations may require follow-up appointments, additional diagnostics, or coordination with other healthcare providers. We will always be transparent about what was addressed, what remains outstanding, and what the recommended path forward looks like.
The Process
How to Request Urgent Dental Care
Getting help is straightforward. Here's what to expect from first contact through to follow-up care.
Contact Us
Call or email us to describe the concern. Include the patient's name, location, and a brief description of the issue and when it started.
We Review & Respond
Our team will review the concern and respond promptly to discuss the situation, confirm availability, and determine urgency.
Visit Is Arranged
We schedule a visit to the patient's location as soon as possible, coordinating with the facility or caregiver to ensure a smooth arrival.
Assessment & Care
We assess the concern, provide appropriate care or relief, and communicate clearly about findings and next steps.
Follow-Up Plan
We outline any recommended follow-up care, share documentation with the care team, and remain available for further questions.
Helpful when contacting us: The patient's location and room number, the nature of the concern (pain, swelling, broken tooth, etc.), whether the concern has changed recently, and any relevant medical or dental history on file at the facility.
For Families & Facilities
Why Families and Care Teams Value This Service
Urgent dental care isn't only about the patient it also provides reassurance and practical support for everyone involved in their care.
For Family Members
Support When It Matters
When you're concerned about a parent or loved one who is in pain or experiencing a dental problem, knowing that a professional will attend promptly without requiring a complex transport provides real relief.
For Facility Staff & Coordinators
Responsive Support for Residents
Facility staff can contact us directly when a resident presents with a dental concern. We work within your setting respectfully, communicate clearly, and keep your team informed at every step.
For Substitute Decision-Makers
Guidance When Decisions Are Complex
If you are helping make decisions for a loved one who cannot advocate for themselves, we take the time to explain findings clearly, discuss options, and respect the care goals that matter most.
For Caregivers
A Team You Can Call on Quickly
PSWs, home caregivers and family members all do important daily work. Having a dental team you can rely on makes that role a little easier.
Common Questions
Questions About Urgent Dental Care
An urgent dental concern is one that is causing current pain, affecting eating or daily comfort, appears to be worsening, or involves a sudden change such as a broken tooth, lost restoration, or new swelling that should not be left until a routine appointment. If you are unsure, please contact us and we will help you assess the situation.
That depends on the nature and complexity of the concern, as well as the patient's overall condition. In many cases, we are able to address the issue or provide meaningful relief at the visit. Where that's not possible, we will clearly explain why, what further steps are recommended, and how to access them.
Any of these. Family members, substitute decision-makers, caregivers, and facility staff are all welcome to contact us on behalf of a senior in their care. We encourage early contact there's no need to wait until the situation becomes more serious before reaching out.
We do not provide hospital-level emergency dental care. However, if during our assessment we identify a concern that requires urgent medical or specialist attention such as a spreading infection we will advise the patient and care team accordingly and help guide the next steps, including referral or direction to the appropriate facility.
Response times depend on our schedule and the nature of the concern. We aim to respond to urgent enquiries promptly and to arrange visits as quickly as our availability allows. The sooner you contact us and the more information you can share about the concern, the better we can prioritise and plan the visit.
It's helpful if the patient's health information or care record is accessible, and that a staff member is available to assist if needed. If the patient's substitute decision-maker should be present or contacted, please arrange this in advance. We will confirm any specific requirements when we book the visit.
Get in Touch
Ready to Request Urgent Care?
If a senior in your care has a dental concern that shouldn't wait, reach out to our team today. We'll help assess the situation and arrange a visit as promptly as possible.