Offering emergency pediatric dentistry in our Brighton, CO office means you can rest assured that your child will be safe when accidents happen, and you will know the best steps to take for their oral health. To help you navigate through dental emergencies, we’ve included some tips below to help you know what to do during common accidents that we see.
As always, we welcome you to call our office at any time, but the information below may give you the guidance you need immediately during a dental accident. If you have additional questions, contact our team right away!
Toothache
Clean the area of the affected tooth. Rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge any food that may be impacted. If the pain still exists, contact your child’s dentist. Do not place aspirin or heat on the gum or the aching tooth. If the face is swollen, apply a cold compress and contact your dentist immediately.
Cut Or Bitten Tongue, Lip Or Cheek
Apply ice to injured areas to help control swelling. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room.
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
If possible, find the tooth. Handle it by the crown, not by the root. You may rinse the tooth with water only. DO NOT clean with soap, scrub or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a gauze or clean cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk, NOT water. If the patient is old enough, the tooth may also be carried in the patient’s mouth (beside the cheek). The patient must see a dentist immediately! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.
Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
Contact your pediatric dentist. Unlike with a permanent tooth, the baby tooth should not be replanted due to possible damage to the developing permanent tooth. In most cases, no treatment is necessary.
Chipped/Fractured Permanent Tooth
Time is a critical factor, contact your pediatric dentist immediately to reduce the chance of infection or the need for extensive dental treatment in the future. Rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth piece, bring it with you to the dentist.
Chipped/Fractured Baby Tooth
Contact your pediatric dentist.
Severe Blow To The Head
Call 911 immediately or take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Possible Broken Or Fractured Jaw
Keep the jaw from moving and take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.
We’re Here For You!
At Trinity Kids Dental, it’s our goal to ensure every child has a healthy, happy smile and dental experience. There is both pride and passion in everything that we do as a team – not only because we love dentistry, but also because we care for your kids! For this reason, we offer emergency services in our office. When faced with a scary, unexpected dental emergency, we want to help you know what to do as a parent, and we want your child or teen to be cared for in a friendly environment, surrounded by familiar faces.
