Accidents happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.
Below are tips on dealing with urgent dental situations; you may want to display this list on your refrigerator or store it near your emergency phone numbers for easy reference.
For all dental emergencies, it’s important to visit your dentist as soon as possible. If you have a dental emergency, please call us at 919-719-1780.
COMMON DENTAL EMERGENCIES
Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth
If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of his tooth, have him rinse his 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.
Click here to read our blog about how we fix fractured teeth.
Slide to See How We Repair Broken Teeth
Bitten Lip or Tongue
If your child has bitten his lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (a cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is.
Object Caught In Teeth
If your child has something caught between his teeth, use dental floss to gently remove it. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you are unable to remove the item with dental floss, give us a call.
Knocked Out Tooth
If your child’s tooth has been knocked out of his mouth, 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 milk. In either case, call us immediately and/or head to the hospital. If you act quickly it’s possible to save the tooth.
Loose Tooth
If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.
Toothache
If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his mouth with warm water and inspect his teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children’s pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately.
Broken Jaw
If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our pediatric dental emergency number, we always have a pediatric dentist on call. 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 Injury
You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house 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 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.
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT
Request a complimentary orthodontic consultation or a pediatric dental appointment online.
OUR
hours
RALEIGH
Pediatrics: Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm
Orthodontics: Monday-Thursday 8:15am-5:15pm
(closed for lunch 1-2pm)
GARNER
Pediatrics: Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm
Orthodontics: Monday-Thursday 8:15am-5:15pm
(closed for lunch 1-2pm)
SMITHFIELD
Orthodontics Only: Tuesdays 8:15-5:15pm