If you face a dental emergency, give us a call immediately. If you need urgent treatment after hours, you can call our office number and be directed to an emergency line. 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 his 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 his tooth, have them rinse their mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off and store it in water. Call us immediately.

KNOCKED OUT TOOTH

If your child’s tooth has been knocked out of their mouth, find the tooth and only touch the crown (part you can see when it’s in place) of it and rinse it with water (do not use soap). Place the tooth in a clean container with milk. Call us immediately and/or head to the hospital. If you act quickly it’s possible to save the tooth.

TOOTHACHE

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse their mouth with warm water and inspect 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, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children’s Tylenol or Motrin may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately.

BROKEN JAW

If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Head to the hospital immediately. You are welcome to call us on the way if we can help answer any questions. 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 seatbelts for older children. And if your child plays contact sports, have him 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.