No one likes to see a child hurt at any time, especially when it deals with their teeth. Dental emergencies can happen at any time. Knowing what to do when they arise can make a big difference in saving a tooth and/or comforting the child. Here is a quick summary of the most common dental emergencies and the appropriate actions to take.
Objects caught between teeth:
- Try to gently remove the object with dental floss.
- Call your dentist if unable to remove the object.
Toothache:
- An over-the-counter analgesic such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be given for pain.
- DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth. Contact your dentist.
- Your child may find a cold pack or warm compress to be comforting.
Soft-tissue injury:
- Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or a moist tea bag to the area involved.
- If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to a hospital emergency room or urgent care.
Fractured or broken tooth:
- Rinse dirt from injured area with warm water.
- Control any bleeding by applying gauze to the area and contact your dentist immediately.
- Locate and bring all broken tooth fragments to your appointment.
Knocked-out baby tooth:
- Do not place the baby tooth back into the socket. It may cause problems with the development of the permanent tooth.
- Call your dentist and apply gauze to the area for about 15 minutes to control bleeding.
Knocked-out permanent tooth:
- Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the top (crown), not the root.
- If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it under running water. DO NOT scrub or remove any tissue from the tooth. DO NOT handle the tooth unnecessarily.
- Try to reinsert the tooth into its socket. Have the child hold the tooth in place by biting on clean gauze or cloth.
- If the tooth cannot be reinserted, transport the tooth in a cup of milk. If milk is not available, place the tooth in cold Gatorade or cold contact lens solution. Water or saliva can be used as a last resort.
- See your dentist as quickly as possible. Knocked out teeth having the greatest chance of being saved are those seen by a dentist and returned to the socket within one hour.
Possible broken jaw:
- Go immediately to the emergency room.
- Immobilize the jaw and apply a cold compress to control swelling.
Broken braces and wires:
- Loose or broken appliances which do not bother the child don’t usually require emergency attention.
- If a broken appliance can be removed easily, take it out. If it cannot, cover the sharp portion with dental wax or a pencil eraser.
- If a wire is stuck in the gums, cheek or tongue, bring the child to their orthodontist or dentist.
In case of a dental emergency after regular hours, simply contact us. We’re committed to ensuring your child receives the care they need, even when the unexpected occurs.
