Emergencies

What to do if …

A baby tooth is knocked out

Rinse your child’s mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Spend time comforting your youngster rather than looking for the tooth. Remember, baby teeth should not be replanted because of potential damage to developing permanent teeth.

Contact our office as soon as possible. Quick action can lessen your child’s discomfort and prevent infection. It is critical to examine your youngster to make sure no fragments of tooth are embedded in the gums, lip, or tongue, as well as to determine the extent of trauma to other teeth in the area.

A permanent tooth is knocked out

Find the tooth, rinse it gently in cold water, always holding it by the crown. Do NOT scrub it or use soap.

If comfortable, REPLACE the tooth in its socket and hold it there with a clean gauze or a washcloth. If you cannot put the tooth back in the socket, place it in a clean container, preferably with cold milk. If milk is not available, put it in a container with your child’s saliva, but NOT WATER.

Bring your child and the tooth preferably to our office immediately, or to the emergency room if after hours and we cannot be reached immediately.

A tooth is chipped or broken 

Rinse debris from the injured area with warm water. Put a cold compress to reduce swelling. If possible, locate and save any tooth fragments in milk, and try to avoid handling fragments as much as possible. Contact our office to determine how soon to bring your child to the office.

A cut or bitten tongue cheek or Lip

Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, contact our office or seek emergency care.

If your child is experiencing a toothache 

Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth with warm salt water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris. For temporary pain relief, ibuprofen is recommended. In the event of facial swelling, you can apply a cold compress to the area and contact our office as soon as possible.

 

We understand that kids are kids! They are prone to falls and bumps. The need for urgent dental care is sometimes necessary and can be a stressful experience for both parents and children. We strive to handle dental emergencies promptly and with compassion.

For after-hour dental emergencies, please call our office and follow the instructions on how to reach the doctor on call.

 

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