Emergency Care

What should I do if my child’s adult tooth gets knocked out?

Find the tooth and gently rinse it in cool water. DO NOT scrub it or use soap. If you are able to, place the tooth back into the socket and hold it in place with clean napkin or wash cloth. If you are unable to put in back in the socket, place it in a clean container or cup in milk or saliva. Call your pediatric dentist ASAP. When a tooth is knocked out, time is critical. The longer it takes to replant the tooth, the chances of being able to save the tooth will diminish.

What should I do if my child’s baby tooth is knocked out?

Baby teeth should not be put back in the child’s mouth. Rinse the child’s mouth out with warm water and apply pressure if there is any bleeding. Call the dental office and bring your child in as soon as possible. While that tooth can not be replaced, we want to make sure that no other intra-oral trauma needs to be addressed.

My child chipped their tooth?

Call your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. The quicker the problem is addressed, the greater the chance of infection, pain or other extensive treatment can be minimized. Rinse the mouth with water and apply gentle pressure if their is any bleeding or swelling present. Try and avoid biting on hard foods with those teeth until they can be evaluated.

My child hit their head or jaw and can’t open?

The child should immediately taken to the ER or local hospital. A severe blow to the head or jaw can be life threatening. In addition, a broken jaw will require surgical intervention.

Should my child wear a mouth guard?

Yes. If you child participates in activities involving a risk of falls, collisions, or contacts with hard surfaces an oral mouth guard can help prevent dental injury. A soft preformed mouth guard can be purchased from the store or a more comfortable, fitted mouth guard can be fabricated by our office.