Dental Emergencies and Sports Dentistry

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.

Knocked out tooth

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has some simple recommendations for parents and caregivers to help them manage the most common tooth injuries.

If a baby tooth is knocked out:

Don’t spend time looking for a baby tooth. Baby teeth cannot be placed back into the mouth because it could damage the developing permanent teeth. Rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.

If a permanent tooth is knocked out:

• Time is the most important factor when trying to save a tooth, try to re-implant the tooth within a 30-minute window.
• Rinse the tooth gently with cool water, Do Not scrub the root surface.
• Replace the permanent tooth into the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth.
• If you can’t put the tooth back into the socket, place it in a clean container with cold milk or with children’s saliva. Do Not store the tooth in water.
• Take your child to our office immediately or call the emergency line.

If a tooth is chipped:

• Quick action can prevent infection, save the tooth and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. If you are able to find the tooth fragment, place it in cold milk and bring it with you to our office.
• Rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.

If a tooth is displaced:

• If a tooth is moved due to trauma, see your dentist as soon as possible.
• Do not try to move the tooth back on your own.
• For any mouth discomfort before you get to the dentist, apply ice.

Other dental emergencies

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.

Object Caught In Teeth

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

Loose Tooth

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

Toothache

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his mouth with warm water and inspect his 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 pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately.

Preventing 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.
• 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