Pediatric Dental Emergencies
If you experience a dental emergency, give us a call immediately. If you need urgent treatment after hours, you can call our emergency number. A pediatric dentist is always available, 24 hours a day, to assist when your child’s dental health is at risk.
Below are tips on dealing with urgent dental situations. You may want to display this list on your refrigerator or store it near your emergency phone numbers for easy reference.
Bitten Lip
or Tongue
If your child has bitten a lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (a cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is.
Object Caught
in Teeth
If your child has something caught between his or her teeth, use dental floss to remove it gently. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to extract a stuck object. If you are unable to remove the item with dental floss, give us a call.
Knocked Out Tooth
If your child’s permanent tooth has been knocked out of the mouth, find it and rinse it with water (no soap), taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it’s in place). Place the tooth in a clean container with milk. Call us immediately and/or head to the hospital. If you act quickly, it’s possible to save the tooth.
Loose Tooth
If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.
Toothache
If your youngster complains of a toothache, rinse the mouth with warm water and inspect the teeth to make sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, because this can cause damage to the gums. Children’s pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately. When possible, please call us early in the day.
Broken Jaw
If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our emergency number and/or head to the hospital immediately. In many cases, a broken jaw is the result of a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
Avoiding Injuries
You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house to avoid falls. Don't let your little one chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods.
Always use car seats for young children and require seat belts for older children. And if your child plays contact sports, have him or her wear a mouthguard. Ask us about creating a custom-fitted mouthguard for your child.
Finally, prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office.