Riverstone Pediatric Dentistry Welcomes Children’s Dental Emergency Appointments. Please call us at (281) 778-5565 if your child is having a Dental Emergency.
KNOCKED OUT PERMANENT TOOTH
Hold the tooth by the crown, not the root. Do not try to clean the tooth or handle it unnecessarily. If the tooth is not dirty or fractured, put it back in the socket and have the child keep it there by biting on a clean cloth if he/she is able to. If the tooth is dirty, fractured, or if you can’t get it in the socket, put it in a cup of milk or the child’s saliva and take the child and the tooth to the dentist as quickly and safely as possible.
If, for any reason, you cannot make contact with our office within 30 minutes, or you are out of town, follow the instructions above and go to your nearest emergency room.
KNOCKED OUT BABY TOOTH
If a primary or baby tooth has been knocked out, we do not recommend re-implanting it as this created too great a risk to the forming permanent teeth. We recommend that you take your child to the dentist as soon as possible to make sure that no additional damage has been done to other teeth or the jaw from the impact that knocked out the tooth.
CHIPPED OR FRACTURED TOOTH
Contact our office immediately. Rinse your child’s mouth with warm water and place a cold compress in the area to reduce any possible lip swelling. It is important to act quickly to increase the chances of saving the tooth, preventing infection, and reducing pain. If possible, try to locate the broken fragment and place in a cup of milk and bring it with you to the dental visit.
CUT LIP OR CHEEK
Apply pressure with a clean cloth for 10-15 minutes If swelling is present, use a cold compress to reduce discomfort- sometimes popsicles work well for this.
If the cut is due to dental trauma, and any teeth are chipped, check the area for embedded tooth fragments.
If the bleeding persists, call our office or go to the emergency room immediately.
TOOTHACHES
If your child complains of a toothache, it is important that you check for the cause, Here are our recommendations:
Check the area for the possible source of pain, such as food impaction, a canker sore, an erupting tooth, or a “hold” or cavity in a tooth.
If you think you see a cavity, come and see us as soon as possible. An untreated cavity that is causing pain can quickly develop into an infection, which can cause serious medical problems if left untreated.
Try brushing and flossing to dislodge any food that may be stuck between the teeth.
Rinse the irritated area with warm salt water.
To treat dental pain in children, over the counter pain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen dosed for the appropriate age and weight of the child are the primary choices. DO NOT apply aspirin directly on to gums, as this can cause severe tissue burns.
JAW INJURY
If your child has an injury to the jaw, take him or her to the emergency room for immediate care as necessary, and follow up with a visit to the dentist as soon as possible. Depending on the extent of the injury, we may need to consult with an oral surgeon.
SWELLING
Contact our office immediately or take your child to the emergency room. Facial swelling could be related to a dental infection and needs immediate attention.
If you have any questions, please call us for assistance.
