Emergencies
Any medical emergency is scary, and when it comes to dental emergencies, most of us have little frame of reference to figure out how to deal with them. If you are unsure if something is an emergency, contact us. If it is a clear emergency and your child needs immediate treatment, visit the ER. Below are some simple guidelines on how to deal with dental emergencies.
What to do if:
Your child’s baby tooth is knocked out.
Call us immediately and do not attempt to put the tooth back in. When you come see us, we will need to know how the tooth was knocked out so we can render the best treatment after evaluating the injury. In most cases, no further treatment will be needed. Call out after hours number if the accident occurs outside of office hours.
Your child’s permanent tooth is knocked out.
Call us immediately. If you can, locate the tooth and handle it by the white part, not by the root. If the tooth has become dirty, rinse it with cold water for 10 seconds or less and do not use soap or scrub the tooth. If possible, place the tooth back into the socket; if you cannot, put it in a container with a mixture of milk and your child’s saliva. Get to us as soon as possible to increase the chances of saving the tooth.
Your child has a toothache.
With a toothache, chances are it is not a real emergency. That means that in most cases, you can call us during office hours so we can schedule a prompt visit. Ask your child to point out where exactly the pain is and see if there is any food stuck that might be causing the pain. A loose or erupting tooth may also be causing pain. If possible, try to remedy the problem at home. If you cannot, come see us. Also, if you see any swelling, contact us immediately as this may be an abscessed tooth. For a non-emergency toothache, you can help your child feel more comfortable until you come see us by using a salt-water rinse, a cold compress, and/or an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Your child’s tooth is chipped or fractured.
Call us immediately. Quick action can prevent infection and save the tooth as well as allow us to offer treatment that is less extensive. Rinse the mouth with cold water, apply a cold compress, collect tooth fragments if possible, and see us as soon as you can.
Your child receives a severe blow to the head or a jaw fracture.
Call 911 as a severe blow or jaw fracture can cause health problems well beyond the scope of oral healthcare. After your child is treated at the ER, contact us so we can assess issues related to the teeth and jaw.
Give us a call or visit our Post-Op care section if your child is experiencing dental pain that you believe is related to recent dental treatment.