Many patients ask us, “Will the hospital pull a tooth in Canada?”
This question often comes up when someone has sudden dental pain.
So, if your tooth is badly infected, broken, or causing severe pain, and you can't reach your dentist, you may wonder if you can go to a hospital emergency room for help.
The answer is yes, but only in certain situations.
Generally, hospitals in Canada do not do routine tooth extractions.
Let's look at when they might help, what your choices are, and how to prepare to avoid emergencies in the future.
If you're wondering what a normal extraction healing looks like, check out our post: What Should a Tooth Extraction Look Like When Healing?
In Canada, hospitals usually only remove teeth in urgent situations. These include:
If you have trouble breathing, a high fever, or swelling that spreads to your eye or neck, go to the emergency room right away.
In these cases, a hospital oral surgeon may remove the tooth or drain the infection.
Afterward, your wound will start to heal and the bleeding will stop, but you will need to follow diet restrictions and visit our clinic to see a dentist for evaluation.
Then we’ll decide if you’ll need a dental implant with a specific type of crown or other replacement.
Want to learn more about how dental infections can lead to serious problems?
Check out our article on Root Canal vs. Extraction: What’s the Better Choice?
Tooth extractions are dental procedures, not medical ones.
Most hospitals do not have dentists on staff and are not equipped for routine dental care. Hospitals focus on managing symptoms, not solving dental problems.
If you go to the hospital for tooth pain, they may give you painkillers or antibiotics, but they will likely refer you to a dentist for treatment.
If the hospital can’t pull your tooth, here are your options:
You can go to an emergency dental clinic in Ontario for tooth extractions, infections, and trauma, often without needing a referral.
Some dental clinics, such as Junction Family Dental Care, accept walk-in patients for extractions, especially for wisdom teeth or badly damaged molars.
Want to know the costs? Take a look at our full breakdown: How Much Is Wisdom Teeth Removal in Ontario (Updated 2025)
Many Canadians are concerned about the cost of emergency dental care.
So, here are some average costs for common extraction procedures in Canada:
These prices can vary based on factors like anesthesia, the surgeon’s experience, and where you live.
Dental insurance may cover some costs, but provincial healthcare usually does not pay for dental procedures in hospitals unless it's a medical emergency.
If you want to know the costs for other dental procedures, check out these blogs:
Most of our patients have similar doubts when it comes to "Will the hospital pull a tooth in Canada?"
So here are our answers:
Most provinces do not cover non-emergency dental procedures like tooth extractions under provincial health insurance, even if done in a hospital.
However, if your extraction is medically necessary and you are admitted to the hospital (for example, due to a serious infection or injury), some or all of the costs may be covered.
Reach out to an emergency dental clinic.
Many clinics provide after-hours services or hotlines to help you.
If you have severe pain, facial swelling, or think you have a serious infection, go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Some large hospitals, especially teaching hospitals in big cities, have dental departments or oral surgeons.
Smaller or rural hospitals usually do not and may send you to a private clinic or specialist instead.
Will the hospital pull a tooth in Canada?
In short: Yes, but only in serious emergencies where your health or life is at risk.
For most tooth pain, infections, or damage, you should see a licensed dentist or oral surgeon.
At The Junction Family Dental Care, we provide same-day appointments, tooth extractions, root canals, and more.
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