Dental Emergencies

When you have children, you can expect to have dental emergencies. Whether it is a toothache from an infected tooth that you were unaware of or an accident during a sporting event, when that emergency arises, your child needs attention right away. Some dental emergencies may not be as urgent as others. When it comes to pain and discomfort, the faster the issue can be addressed, the better.

The Pediatric Dental Team provides dental care for children for all types of dental emergencies. There are certain actions you can take to help relieve some discomfort until your child can be seen in the office. Here are some tips to help you handle some common children’s dental emergencies and orthodontic emergencies:

Toothache:

First, make sure to clean the area around the sore tooth. Use warm saltwater and rinse, making sure to displace any food that might be trapped. DO NOT use aspirin on the aching tooth or the gums around the tooth. If there is facial swelling, apply a cold compress to the area, and contact our office immediately.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek:

Ice can be applied to the bruised areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm, but gentle pressure with a sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes of applying pressure, go to the nearest emergency room.

Broken Tooth:

Rinse the area with warm water. Recover any broken fragments of the tooth, and place them in a cup filled halfway to the top with milk. Get immediate dental attention.

Knocked out Permanent Tooth:

Try to find the tooth. Only hold the tooth by the “crown,” and not the “root.” The crown is the top part of the tooth (the part you can see when you smile). The root is the part of the tooth that is held in the bone. DO NOT clean the tooth with soap or scrub the tooth. Drop it in a cup filled halfway to the top with milk. Time is essential – come see us immediately!

Possible Broken Jaw:

Keep the jaw from moving and take your child to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Physical Injury to the Head:

Take your child to the emergency room immediately.

Cold or Canker Sores:

Over-the-counter medications usually provide temporary relief. If the sore persists, visit our office.

Poking Wire:

Please call our office to make an emergency appointment as soon as possible. Make sure to let us know that “nothing is broken, but something is poking.”

Broken Bracket:

Please call our office to make an emergency appointment as soon as possible.

Dental emergencies are generally best handled in the dental office because we have the expertise and equipment to address most problems. The Pediatric Dental Team offers emergency dental care. Our team is here to help, so give us a call or send us a message online, and we will see your child as soon as possible. There are emergencies such as a possible broken jaw that should be handled in a hospital setting. Also, if your child has an emergency that appears life-threatening, call 911.