Dental Emergencies
Our pediatric dentists are often able to determine your child’s need to be seen over the phone. If you think your child’s injury is a true life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.
When to call: Immediately
Plan of action: If possible, find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown and not by the root. You may gently rinse the tooth with water only. Do not scrub the tooth. Try to place the tooth back into the socket and then hold it in place with your finger or by biting on a towel. If you can’t reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing your child’s saliva or milk.
When to call: As soon as you can
Plan of action: Never reinsert a baby tooth. This is usually not an emergency, and in most cases, no treatment is necessary. It is recommended to find the tooth to confirm it was not swallowed. An x-ray may be recommended to confirm the tooth was not pushed into the gum.
When to call: As soon as you can
Plan of action: This is usually not an emergency. Be prepared to answer questions relating to sensitivity and size of fracture. Our dentist will determine if a nerve has been exposed; we will then determine the timing and need for treatment.
When to call: Call during business hours. If your child can not sleep, call the following morning.
Plan of action: Clean the area of the affected tooth with a toothbrush and use dental floss to remove any food that may be impacted. Look for signs of an abscess or swelling. Ibuprofen or Tylenol is recommended for tooth pain. We do not recommend the use of Ora-gel.
When to call: If your child has swelling of the face, call immediately. If your child has a pimple-like area next to the tooth, call during business hours.
Plan of action: Our pediatric dentist will determine the treatment needed and if your child will need to be placed on an antibiotic. A referral for a root canal may be recommended for a permanent tooth. Most abscessed primary teeth need to be extracted.
When to call: Usually not necessary. Call during business hours with questions or concerns.
Plan of action: If your child had dental treatment and bit his/her lip, cheek, or tongue, it may look like a yellow strawberry for 3-5 days. It is not an infection; it is tissue regenerating. It is critical to keep the area clean and avoid salty, acidic foods. If necessary take Ibuprofen or Tylenol
When to call: Lower teeth: Usually not necessary. Upper teeth: Call during business hours.
Plan of action: When baby teeth are loose, allow your child to wiggle them out. This will prevent permanent teeth from erupting in the wrong place. The lower incisors often erupt behind the baby teeth and the tongue helps push them forward and out. Typically, extractions are not needed for the primary lower central incisors but may be recommended for the primary upper incisors.