Dental care

Dental care helps prevent and treat problems with your teeth, gums and mouth. Most routine dental care in Newfoundland and Labrador is provided by dentists in the community. NL Health Services provides some specialized dental services for children, youth and adults who need hospital-based or specialized care. 

Services include pediatric dental care, specialized adult dental care and dental surgery. 

Good oral health is an important part of your overall health and well-being. Regular dental care can help prevent problems and identify and treat them early. 

Most people receive routine dental care from a dentist in the community. NL Health Services provides specialized dental care for people whose health or dental needs require services in a hospital or specialized clinic. 

Care may include assessment, treatment, dental surgery and support for people with complex health or dental needs. 

Dental services may help: 

• prevent and treat problems with your teeth, gums and mouth
• treat tooth decay, infection or damage 
• treat injuries to the teeth, mouth or face 
• provide dental surgery when specialized hospital care is needed 
• provide specialized dental care for children and youth 
• provide specialized dental care for some adults with complex health or dental needs 
• provide dental treatment with sedation or anesthesia when appropriate 

The care you receive will depend on your age, health needs and the type of dental treatment you need.

Contact a dentist or health-care provider if you have concerns about your teeth, gums or mouth. 

Seek care promptly if you have: 

• severe or ongoing tooth or mouth pain
• swelling in your mouth, face or jaw 
• signs of a dental infection, such as swelling, pain or fever 
• an injury to your teeth, mouth or jaw 
• bleeding from your mouth that does not stop 
• difficulty eating because of dental pain 

If you have a serious injury, severe swelling, trouble breathing or another medical emergency, go to the nearest emergency department or call 911.

How you access dental services depends on the type of care you need. 

Most routine dental care is provided by dentists in the community. Specialized dental services provided by NL Health Services may require a referral from a dentist, physician, nurse practitioner or other health-care provider. 

Select a dental care service to learn who can access it, whether you need a referral and where care is available.