What To Do In A Dental Emergency

Please don't hesitate to call anytime with a dental emergency! A pediatric dentist is always available to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After office hours, our answering service will help connect you directly to the pediatric dentist on call.

DON'T PANIC! Remember, one of the most important things you can do for your child when they are having a dental emergency is to STAY CALM. Calm parents make calm kids, and calm kids better are able to cope with any anxiety and discomfort, and communicate their needs for a more comfortable and safe dental visit.

Below are some first aid suggestion s from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for common dental emergencies. Click on one to jump to the first aid instructions.

first aid for child dental emergencies Other dental emergencies Cracked or broken tooth Broken braces or wires Knocked out permanent tooth Cut tongue, lip, or cheek Toothache

Copyright ©2008, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Reproduced with permission.

Toothache

Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between the teeth. Do not put aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues. Take your child to visit the dentist as soon as possible.

Cut or bitten tongue, lip or cheek

Clean the area gently with a cloth, and put cold compresses on the area to keep the swelling down. If bleeding is excessive or does not stop in a short period of time, take your child to your dentist or a hospital emergency room.

Knocked out permanent tooth

Keep tooth moist at all times. Hold the tooth by the crown, and if the tooth is dirty, rinse the root in water. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any attached tissue fragments. The tooth must not be left outside the mouth to dry. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If it cannot be replaced in the socket, put it in one of the following:

  • Emergency tooth preservation kit
  • Milk
  • Mouth (next to cheek)
  • If none of these is practical, use water (with a pinch of salt, if possible)

Broken braces and wires

If a broken appliance can be removed easily, take it out. If it cannot, cover the sharp or protruding portion with cotton balls, gauze, or chewing gum. If a wire is stuck in the gums, cheek or tongue, DO NOT remove it. Take the child to a dentist immediately. Loose or broken appliances which do not bother the child don’t usually require emergency attention.

Cracked or broken tooth

Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down. Take your child to see a dentist right away. If possible, take the broken tooth fragment with you. The dentist may be able to bond the fragment to the tooth.

Other emergency conditions

Possible broken jaw: Apply cold compress to control swelling. Take your child to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.

Object caught between teeth: Gently try to remove the object with dental floss. If you’re not successful, visit your dentist. Do not try to remove the object with a sharp or pointed instrument.

Bleeding after baby tooth falls out: Fold and pack a clean gauze or cloth over the bleeding area. Have the child bite on the gauze with pressure for 15 minutes. This may be repeated once; if the bleeding persists, see a dentist.

Cold/canker sores: Many children occasionally suffer from "cold" or "canker" sores. Usually over-the-counter preparations give relief. Because some serious diseases may begin as sores, it is important to have a dental evaluation if these sores persist.