Pediatric Emergency Care

Baby teeth should never be put back into the mouth because it may damage the growing permanent tooth. Your child still needs to be seen, however, to rule out any other injuries to the teeth or jawbone.

Contact us immediately. Time is a critical factor in saving a permanent tooth. Find the tooth and gently rinse off any dirt with milk if possible, if milk is not available rinse off quickly underwater (without soap).

Hold the tooth by the crown, not the root, and do not scrub it. Place the tooth into its socket and gently hold it in place with gauze.

If you are not able to reinsert the tooth, put it in a cup with milk and bring it to the office. If milk is not available, have your child spit in a cup and place the tooth in saliva. Avoid placing the tooth in water.

We do not recommend having your child hold the tooth inside his/her cheek because they may swallow it — unless the child is older and able to avoid this. If you act quickly, it may be possible to save the tooth.

If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of their tooth, have them rinse their mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off and place it in a glass of milk. Call us to schedule an appointment so your child may be seen.

The most common cause of dental pain in a child is caused by untreated tooth decay. Clean the area of the affected tooth. Rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm salt water and use dental floss to dislodge any food that may be impacted. If swelling is present, apply cold compresses to the cheek.

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 as directed. Never give your child a pain reliever that they are allergic to. Protect your child from unnecessary toothaches with regular dental visits and preventive care.

If your child has something caught in between, 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.

If the face is swollen because of a tooth infection, it could be a life-threatening situation – your child needs to go to the hospital emergency room immediately.

Place a cold compress on the face in the meantime to reduce the swelling. Call our office for an emergency appointment to evaluate where the infection is and how to treat it.

If there is bleeding, apply firm yet gentle pressure to the area with a clean cloth or gauze. If you can’t get the bleeding to stop after fifteen minutes, go to the hospital emergency room.

Apply a cold compress to swollen or bruised areas. Make sure your child is comfortable and calm. Call our office for an appointment to assess any injury to the teeth, jawbone or tissues around the mouth.

If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling, keep the jaw from moving and take your child to the nearest hospital immediately.

In many cases, a broken jaw is the result of a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately.