EMERGENCY DENTAL SERVICES
If your child was injured and lost consciousness, has blurred vision or seems disoriented, please take him/her to the emergency room as soon as possible to be evaluated by a physician. If you believe your child needs urgent dental care either during or after office hours, our staff and dentists are ready to assist you.
Please call as soon as possible so that we may best know how to treat your particular case. Also, READ BELOW for steps you may need to take in certain dental emergencies.
Toothache
You may apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not put heat or aspirin on the affected area. Give the appropriate dose of pain relief medication.
Broken Braces and Appliances
If straight/sharp wire ends are present, cover them with cotton balls, chewing gum, or folded gauze. Broken pieces may be removed if they come out easily. If a wire is painful to remove or caught directly in the gums, cheek or tongue, call the office immediately.
Broken Tooth
If a tooth is broken, chipped, or fractured, quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection, and reduce the need for future dental treatment. Immediately rinse the injured area with warm water and place a cold compress over the face in the area of the injury to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, place it in a container with milk or saliva. Bring it with you to the office.
Swelling
If the face is swollen due to a tooth infection, it could be a life-threatening situation and you may need to go to a hospital emergency room immediately. Place a cold compress on the face and call our office. We will evaluate where the infection is and how it should be treated.
Canker and Cold Sores
Children may experience cold sores around the lips and canker sores inside the mouth. Products are available at your local pharmacy that will help reduce the pain and discomfort. The sores often take 1 – 2 weeks to heal. If the sores are occurring frequently or lasting longer than expected, please call. Some diseases can begin as simple sores and may require prescription medications.
Tongue, Lip or Cheek
If bleeding persists for more than fifteen minutes, your child may need to be taken to the emergency room. Depending on the extent of the injury, an appointment can be made to assess any injury to tissues around the mouth, the bones, or to the teeth.
Knocked Out Baby Tooth
If one of your child’s baby teeth is unexpectedly knocked out, DO NOT TRY TO REIMPLANT IT. Doing so may damage the growing permanent tooth. You should contact our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to evaluate the impact to any other teeth, the jawbone, or other tissues around the mouth.
Bleeding After a Baby Tooth Falls Out
If a loose baby tooth falls out and bleeds, have your child bite on a clean folded gauze or cloth for ten minutes while sitting and remaining calm. If bleeding persists, repeat this process.
Baby Tooth is Turning Dark
If a baby tooth is losing its white color and turning dark, it is most often an indication of previous trauma. If there is any swelling, tenderness, or loss of white color, make an appointment as soon as possible.
Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
Time is the critical factor in saving a permanent tooth. Contact the office immediately. Find the tooth and if obvious debris or dirt is present on the tooth, GENTLY rinse with minimal room temperature water. Be sure to hold the tooth by the crown, not the root, and DO NOT scrub the tooth. If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or cloth. If the tooth cannot be placed in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk or saliva and bring it to the dentist immediately. The faster you act, the better the chances are for saving the tooth.
Permanent Tooth is Turning Dark
If a permanent tooth appears to be losing its white color and turning dark, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible. This is most often evidence of previous trauma and signals the death of the tooth. The tooth needs to be examined and action will need to be taken.
