What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Most parents feel that they can recognize a medical emergency. But could you recognize a dental emergency? Would you know what to do to help your child save her tooth? We spoke with Dr. Martha Ann Keels and Dr. Cynthia Neal, pediatric dentists affiliated with Duke Children's Hospital and the specialists at Wake Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry to understand what constitutes a dental emergency and what steps you should take if an emergency should arise.

"If your child falls and hits her mouth, it may be a "dental emergency," say the dentists at Wake Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. "The main thing is to take care of your child, get any bleeding to stop and then call your dentist. Explain to the dentist what happened and he can help you decide what to do and to determine whether your child needs to be seen immediately."

In general, call your child's dentist if he's in pain that's not assuaged by over the counter pain relievers like Motrin or Acetaminophen. Also, call your child's dentist if his tooth is knocked out, chipped, or out of position. If you have questions after hours, don't worry. According to Wake Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry all pediatric dentists have a doctor on call around the clock.

Dental 911: What to do if your child has a...

Toothache

Rinse with warm salt water and floss to dislodge any food that could be causing discomfort. Place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. "The child definitely needs to be seen by a dentist if the parent can not determine the cause of the pain or if there is a cavity that might be causing an abscess," says Dr. Keels. "If the child develops a fever and or facial swelling, the child needs immediate dental attention."

Chipped Tooth

Chipped front teeth are usually not true dental emergencies unless there is bleeding from the tooth where the fracture occurred. "Please save the broken piece as it may be re-attached," says Dr. Keels. "But don't worry if you can't find the broken piece. Dentists can artistically re-create the tooth." Call your dentist immediately and let him know about the injury. Then, heed his recommendation about the urgency of the situation.

Knocked Out Primary (Baby) Tooth

Find the tooth and have your child rinse with warm water. Don't try to replace the tooth. "We rarely re-implant primary teeth" says Dr Keels. Call your dentist immediately for an appointment as damaged primary teeth can impact the permanent teeth that come in later.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Find the tooth and try not to touch the root. "If your comfortable with it, try to replant the tooth into the socket yourself," says Dr, Keels. "But if you can't, store it in cold milk or a special kit called "Save-A-Tooth" to keep it moist until you can get to a dentist. Time is critical in this instance, so you need to find a dentist as quickly as possible - within 30 minute is best."

Bitten Lip or Tongue

Clean the bitten area with a clean cloth and apply a cold compress to stop bleeding and reduce swelling. If the bleeding doesn't stop, go to a hospital emergency room.