If you face a dental emergency, give us a call immediately. If you need urgent treatment after hours, you can call our emergency number. We are always here to assist when your child’s dental health is at risk. Below are tips on dealing with urgent dental situations.
Bitten Lip or Tongue
If your child has bitten their 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.
Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth
If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of their tooth, try to account for the missing fragment. Call us immediately and be ready to take some photos to send us!
Knocked Out Tooth
If your child’s perment tooth has been knocked out of the mouth, find the tooth, taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it’s in place). Place the tooth back into its socket and either call us immediately 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 might need to be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled. Give us a call so that we an assist you with next steps!
Toothache
If your child complains of a toothache, rinse their mouth with warm water and inspect the teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, you may give Motrin®, Tylenol® or Advil (whatever you normally give) to your child. Call and schedule an appointment with us immediately.
Broken Jaw
If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, 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 Injury
You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house to avoid falls. Don't let your child 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 them 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.