Dental Emergencies

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. You may want to display this list on your refrigerator or store it near your emergency phone numbers for easy reference.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

If your child has bitten a 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.

Object Caught In Teeth

If your little one has something caught between his or her teeth, use dental floss to remove it gently. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you are unable to extricate the item with dental floss, give us a call.

Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth

If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of a tooth, have him or her rinse the mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off, and place it in water or milk. Then call us immediately.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If your child’s tooth has been knocked out of the mouth, find the tooth and rinse it with water (no soap), but take care to touch only the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it’s in place). Place the tooth in a clean container with milk. Call us immediately and/or head to the hospital.

Loose Tooth

If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid getting swallowed or inhaled.

Toothache

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his or her mouth with warm water and inspect the teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain.

Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, because this can cause damage to the gums. Children’s pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately.

Lost Stainless Steel Crown

If your child is eating sticky or chewy candy and pops off a crown, you will need to call and schedule a time to come get it re-cemented. This usually does not cause pain, unless infection is present. 

Avoiding Injury

You can help your son or daughter avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house to avoid falls. Don't let your little one chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods.

Always use car seats for young children and require seat belts for older ones. If your child plays contact sports, have him or her wear a mouthguard. Ask us about creating a custom-fitted mouthguard for your athlete.

Finally, prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office.