Teeth!

Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies

by Dr. Gordon Lee D.D.S.
Westport Pediatric Dentistry

Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth —
If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of a tooth, rinse his or her mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off. Contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible.

Knocked out a baby tooth —
If your child knocked out a baby tooth, the baby tooth should not be placed back into the mouth. Contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible.

Knocked out a permanent tooth (adult tooth)
If your child knocked out an adult tooth, find the tooth and rinse it with water (no soap). Do not scrub, taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it’s in place). If possible, place the tooth back in the socket immediately and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk. Contact your pediatric dentist IMMEDIATELY. If you act quickly, it’s possible to save the tooth.

Toothache
If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his or her mouth with warm water and inspect the 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, such as children’s Motrin/Advil/ibuprofen, may be taken orally. Contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible.