If there’s anything you’ve probably learned from being a parent, it's that children are accident prone. And accidents often result in dental injuries. Fast and appropriate action in a dental emergency is important for the best possible outcome. It could mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.
Do you know what to do in case of a dental emergency? What exactly constitutes a dental emergency? Here’s what you need to know about pediatric dental emergencies.
Common Dental Emergencies and What To Do
The following dental situations are often urgent enough to be considered an emergency:
- Dislodged tooth. If a tooth gets bumped it could be dislodged from its proper position in the mouth. The tooth could be pushed back in the socket or knocked loose. This situation may need immediate attention or it may be able to wait until the next day. Give us a call so that we can determine the best course of action.
- Knocked out tooth. If a permanent tooth gets knocked completely out of the socket, pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the roots. Rinse the tooth in water or milk and put it back in the socket. If you are unable to get it back into the socket, put it in a container of milk. Call our office so that we can make plans to see you right away. The sooner we can put your tooth back in place the better the chance of saving the tooth. Do not attempt to put a baby tooth back in the socket, but still give us a call.
- Broken tooth. A chipped or broken tooth is at risk of infection and should be treated right away. Call us during or after regular office hours and we will assess the situation to determine the best course of action. Keep the piece or pieces of the tooth that have broken off in a container of milk if you have them and bring them with you to your appointment.
- Soft tissue injury. In case of a soft tissue injury, such as the lip, cheek, gums, or tongue, apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding and call us. If the bleeding becomes uncontrollable or the child loses consciousness, call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency department.
- Severe toothache. A severe toothache may not be caused by an accident, but it is still an urgent situation. Tooth pain indicates that the tooth may be infected. Infection can spread quickly to the other teeth and tissues of the mouth and even enter the bloodstream. Call us immediately if your child complains of severe tooth pain.
Instructions for Contacting Our Office
In case of a pediatric dental emergency, follow these instructions:
- Regular hours: During regular office hours please call us immediately and we will do our best to see you the same day.
- After hours: If your emergency occurs after our normal office hours, please call and follow the voicemail prompts to leave a message. Someone from our office will contact you to ask some questions and determine the severity of the situation. We will make plans to see you right away or the following day during regular office hours according to the urgency of the situation.
Westford Office: 978-399-0017
Bedford Office: 781-394-9213
Emerson Dental Provides Emergency Dental Care
It is important to have a pediatric or family dentist who provides emergency dental care so that if an emergency occurs, you can get fast treatment. Don’t wait until an accident happens to start looking for emergency dentists. Make sure your child is a regular patient at a dental practice that offers emergency care. Emerson Dental is a family dental practice providing a wide range of dental services for the whole family, including emergency treatment.
In case of a dental emergency, please call the office location closest to you:
Westford Office: 978-399-0017
Bedford Office: 781-394-9213