Emergency Emergency Pediatric Dental Care
If your child has suffered a blow to the head, loss of consciousness, broken jaw, or any life-threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately or proceed to your nearest emergency room.
If your child is experiencing a dental emergency, please call us immediately. We are always here to assist with your child’s dental needs. Below are some tips on dealing with urgent dental situations:
If a baby tooth is knocked out (avulsed), do NOT try to put the baby tooth back in the mouth. Reimplanting a baby tooth can cause damage to the developing permanent tooth. Rinse your child’s mouth and have them bite on a cold washcloth. Find the tooth and get them excited about the tooth fairy! Call our office to make an appointment if needed.
Unlike baby teeth, adult teeth should be placed back into the socket as soon as possible to increase the potential survival of the tooth. Time is critical in this case. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.
Reimplanting the tooth: Locate the tooth immediately. Pick up the tooth by the crown. Do NOT touch the root. If dirty, you may gently rinse the tooth with water only. Do NOT scrub with soap, clean, or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Immediately reposition the tooth by carefully pushing the tooth into its socket with your fingers. You may have the child gently bite down on gauze to help reposition the tooth. Contact our office immediately.
If unable to reimplant: Keep the tooth moist at all times. Do NOT allow the tooth to dry out. If the tooth cannot be replaced in the socket, put it in one of the following:
- Emergency tooth preservation kit
- Milk or saliva in a cup
- If the child is old enough, the tooth may be carried in their mouth (next to their cheek)
- Regular tap water is not recommended for long-term storage. Only use water if no other options are possible.
Drive your child to the nearest dentist immediately. Contact our office as soon as possible.
If you can find the broken tooth fragment, place it in cold milk or water and bring it with you. Apply cold compresses to the lip or cheek to reduce swelling. Call our office to make an appointment.
If you notice facial swelling or a swollen cheek, please call our office immediately. However, if facial swelling approaches the eye or if your child is having trouble breathing, this is a medical emergency and you need to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
If your child has a toothache, ask them what makes it hurt. If it hurts spontaneously or continuously, please call to make an appointment immediately. We don’t want your child to be in pain. If the pain was an isolated event, make sure there is no food debris caught in or between the gums. Do NOT place aspirin on the sore area. If the pain continues, give your child what you would normally give them for pain, such as Motrin or Tylenol. Call our office immediately.
Sometimes, the cement that holds your space maintainers in place can fail. This is usually due to eating sticky candy or biting on something hard. As soon as it becomes loose, it will need to be removed and recemented if possible. If the space maintainer completely comes out, try to save it and bring it to your appointment. Call our office to schedule an appointment.
If your child falls or has trauma to the lips gums or cheek, apply a cold compress to the sites that are bleeding. Inspect the mouth to see if any teeth are loose. Give your child Motrin (preferred) or Tylenol to reduce inflammation and pain. Call our office.