Emergency Pediatric Dentist Near You

Clean the area of the affected tooth, rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water, and or use dental floss to dislodge any food that may be stuck or impacted.  Aspirin, heat, or any other painkiller should not be put against the aching tooth or directly onto the gums, as it may burn.  If the mouth or cheek is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of their mouth or cheek and contact our office immediately.

Time is a critical factor, and you should contact our office as soon as possible. Try to salvage any broken pieces, rinse the mouth with warm water, and apply a cold compress to the outside of their mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken tooth in order to relieve discomfort and prevent swelling.  Bring the fractured tooth pieces with you to your appointment.

An injury to the orofacial soft tissues, such as the tongue, cheeks, gums, or lips, can cause bleeding.  This bleeding can be controlled by following these steps:

• Rinse your child’s mouth with a mild mixture of salt and water.
• Apply pressure to the bleeding area with a moistened piece of gauze or a clean washcloth, holding it in place for 15-20 minutes.
• Hold a cold compress against the outside of your child’s mouth or cheek in the affected area for 5-10 minutes.
• If bleeding persists, or you have any concerns, please call our office or go to the nearest emergency room/urgent care. Keep applying pressure to the bleeding with gauze until your child is seen and treated.

Call our office to schedule an appointment for replacement as soon as possible to avoid pain, infection, and space loss. If a crown or space maintainer is lost, please bring it to the appointment with you.

Luxated (dislodged or displaced) teeth occur when a tooth is pushed out of its original position.  When this happens it is important that your child be seen as soon as possible, so please call our office. We can evaluate the tooth to determine the best course of action.  Before arriving at our office, apply a cold compress to the outside of your child’s mouth or cheek to relieve pain and prevent swelling.  An over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or ibuprofen can also help with discomfort but should only be given if your child has no medication allergies. Please follow the directions on the label for the correct dosage.  We can assist in determining the appropriateness of medication if needed.

Before arriving at our office, apply a cold compress to the outside of your child’s mouth or cheek in the affected area to relieve any discomfort. An over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Tylenol or Advil, can also assist in the meantime.

If a baby tooth is knocked out of your child’s mouth, call to make an appointment as soon as possible so we can evaluate and recommend any treatment needs or palliative care.  We can also discuss the possibility of any future problems that could arise with permanent teeth.  Do not try to put the baby tooth back in, but do bring it with you for evaluation.

If a permanent tooth is knocked out of your child’s mouth, then time is of the essence. The tooth should be handled gently, taking care to avoid touching the root surface as much as possible.  Gently rinse the tooth to clean it, but avoid touching, scraping, or brushing it. If possible, it is ideal to put the tooth back into the socket that it came from. If unable to put it back in, then the next best thing to do is put the tooth in a glass of milk. Call our office immediately or head to the nearest emergency room for treatment.

An abscess is an infection that is caused by a severely decayed tooth.  An abscess most commonly occurs when a cavity is untreated and enters the nerve of the tooth.  This is a severe condition that can not only be painful, but also has the potential to harm surrounding teeth and other tissues. In more severe situations, a dental infection can even spread to other parts of the body.  If you suspect your child has an abscess, call our office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.  To ease the discomfort, place a cold compress on the outside of the swollen area.  Over the counter pain relievers such as Tylenol and ibuprofen can help with discomfort, and ibuprofen can also help with swelling.  Some infections require intervention through antibiotic therapy or surgery, and delaying treatment can lead to significant swelling and even hospitalization.

Some discomfort following a tooth extraction is expected, but if bleeding continues longer than one hour after the procedure, please call our office.  Place a gauze pad over the extraction site and have your child apply pressure by biting down on it.

Watch for problematic signs and symptoms, such as bleeding, sensitivity, pain, discoloration, sores, swelling, or anything abnormal.  Call for a dental evaluation, as these signs and symptoms can be early warnings of treatment needs. Early intervention can often prevent bigger problems!