What to Do When Your Child Has a Dental Emergency If you face a dental emergency, give us a call immediately. If you need urgent treatment after hours, you can call our emergency service at (316) 202-0140. We are always here to assist when your child's dental health is at risk.Below are tips and strategies on dealing with urgent dental situations. Bitten Lip or CheekIf your child has bitten his or her lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is or if the bleeding does not stop. Broken, Chipped, or Fractured ToothIf your child has chipped or broken a piece off his or her tooth, have the child rinse out the mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off. Call us immediately to determine the need for urgent treatment. Knocked-Out ToothIf your child's tooth has been knocked out, find the tooth and rinse it with water (no soap), taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it's in place). If you can, place the tooth back in its socket and hold it in place with a clean towel or cloth. If you can't return the tooth to its socket, place it in a clean container with cold milk. In either case, call us immediately and/or go to the emergency room. If you act quickly, it's possible to save a permanent or adult tooth. Primary or baby teeth are generally not re-implanted. If one of your child's primary teeth has been knocked out, you will want to schedule a visit to our practice as soon as possible so we can ensure there are no fragments of tooth remaining. Displaced ToothCall us immediately and/or go to the emergency room. Displaced teeth many times need "put back into place" and splinted (fixed in place) in order to promote proper healing of the tooth supporting jawbone and gums. This procedure has the best outcome the quicker it is accomplished. Loose ToothIf your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled. ToothacheIf your child complains of a toothache, rinse the mouth with warm water and inspect his or her teeth to make sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease it. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, because this can cause damage to the gums. Children's pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately. If your child'’'s face is swollen, please go to the emergency room immediately. Broken JawIf you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our emergency number and/or go to the emergency room 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. Avoiding InjuryYou can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Childproof your home to avoid falls. Don't let your child chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods. Always use car seats for young children and require seatbelts for older children. And if your child plays contact sports, have him or her wear a mouthguard. Ask us about creating a custom-fitted mouthguard for your child. Finally, prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office. |
