Whether it’s playing sports, roughhousing with siblings or falling off of the couch, pediatric dental emergencies can happen, usually on the weekend or after hours. This is why Petrone Family Dentistry offers emergency dental care for children and adults.
Here are ways to address your child’s dental emergencies and information on when it’s time to give us a call:
Bitten Lip or Tongue
Often these bites cause momentary pain and are soon forgotten. However, if there is bleeding you need to take the situation more seriously. First, gently clean the bite with water and then place a cold compress on the area to reduce or avoid swelling. Once you’ve done this, call us so we can help you determine if we need to see your child right away.
Object Caught In Teeth
If your child has food or some other foreign object stuck between their teeth, use dental floss to remove it. If it remains caught, do not use a metal, plastic or sharp tool to try to dislodge it as you may cause additional harm. Instead, contact us for an appointment.
Broken, Chipped or Fractured Tooth
Care for your child by rinsing his or her mouth with warm water and then apply a cold compress to manage swelling. Next, try to find and save the tooth fragment. And finally, call us immediately.
Knocked Out Tooth
If the tooth has been completely knocked out of your child’s mouth, contact us immediately. Also, find the tooth and only hold it by the crown, not the root. Rinse it off with warm water but do not use soap and do not scrub or scrape the tooth. For older children, try to insert the tooth back into its socket using gentle pressure. For smaller children, place the tooth in a glass of milk or saliva. It is very important to keep the tooth wet as you drive to our office, as it will make a difference in the success of the re-implantation process.
Loose Tooth
If your child has a very loose “baby tooth”, remove it to avoid your child swallowing or inhaling it. If the loose tooth is a permanent one, contact us immediately.
Toothache
If your child complains of a toothache, rinse out his or her mouth with warm water. Next, inspect the teeth to see if there is anything caught between them or another obvious issue. Use a cold compress to ease the pain but do not apply heat or any kind of topical pain reliever directly to the sore area as it can cause gum damage. Oral children’s pain medication can be administered. Contact us immediately to schedule an appointment.
Other Dental Emergencies
If your child’s tooth is knocked out of place but is still in their mouth, or if the crown of the tooth is fractured, rinse his or her mouth with warm water and contact us immediately. Anytime he or she is experiencing severe mouth pain and you are unsure as to the cause, call us and we will help you decide if the child needs to be brought in for treatment. Always remember, if in doubt, rinse with warm water and call.
The caring and skilled staff of Petrone Family Dentistry will address your child’s pediatric emergency, resolving the issue as much as possible to avoid other problems later. If your child is experiencing pain in the mouth, gum or jaw, and it is not diminishing, call us so we can help you decide the best course of action. Remember, you are not alone and we are here to help.