If your child is critically injured or needs immediate attention seek emergency care and call 911.Â
If Your Child Has a Toothache
Clean the area of the affected tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris. If the pain persists, call our office. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth.
Bitten or Cut Lips, Tongues Or Cheeks
Apply ice to the bruised areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze pad or clean cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.
If One of Your Child’s Permanent Teeth is Knocked Out
Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown (the top part), not the root portion (the portion normally unseen). You may rinse the tooth with cold water (no soap), but DO NOT clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a piece of sterile gauze. Call our office immediately to schedule an appointment.
If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk. If the patient is old enough and won’t swallow the tooth, the tooth may also be carried in the patient’s mouth. But don’t delay – your child must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.
If a baby tooth is knocked out, contact the office. Depending on the child’s age and tooth affected treatment may or may not be required.
If One of Your Child’s Permanent Teeth Is Chipped or Fractured
Contact our office immediately – your child will probably need to be seen as soon as possible. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse your child’s mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If possible, locate and save any broken tooth fragments and bring them with you when you come to the office.
If One of Your Child’s Baby Teeth Is Chipped or Fractured
Call the office. In the meantime, make sure your child has no other injury. Often a lip may also be bruised or bleeding. Clean the area and apply cold compresses to keep the lip from swelling more.
If Your Child Suffers A Possible Broken or Fractured Jaw
Keep the jaw from moving and take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Avoiding Injury
You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Childproof 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 seat belts for older children. And if your child plays contact sports, have him wear a mouthguard. Ask us about creating a custom-fitted mouth-guard for your child. Finally, prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office.
Emergencies Related to Orthodontic Appliances
Sometimes, appliances might be broken or bent during your orthodontic care. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, loose brackets, broken or poking wires, please call our office for an appointment during patient hours. For your convenience and the convenience of scheduled patients, it is not possible to handle emergencies on a walk-in basis. In the meantime, here are some helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until our office can see you.
- If a tie wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with beeswax or tuck it under the archwire with a blunt object like a pencil eraser or Q-tip.
- A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office. Call Smile Arc Pediatric Dentistry, during patient hours, when you notice a loose band or bracket. We will schedule you to reattach the loose appliance, if indicated.
- A broken or poking archwire can often be bent in with a pencil eraser or cut with nail clippers. Call our office, during patient hours, if you do not feel the problem has been resolved properly.
- Watch the video below that explains how to handle an orthodontic emergency.Â
