Dental emergencies occur often in young patients. Though some can require urgent treatment, it is important to remain calm while determining the course of action. Dental emergencies are any trauma or condition that requires immediate attention.

Examples include:

  • Toothache
  • Fractured or broken tooth
  • Knocked-out tooth
  • Tooth displacement

Injured jaw bone, cheek, lip or tongue

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do for an injury to the tongue lip or cheek?

Apply ice to the injured area. If there is bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.

What should I do if my child’s PERMANENT tooth is knocked out?

First, you should try to find the missing tooth. Once found, handle the tooth carefully by the crown (the top part), not the root portion (the portion normally unseen). You may gently rinse the tooth, but minimize any unnecessary handling as this may damage the tooth. Inspect the tooth for any broken or cracked areas. If the child will tolerate it and the tooth is without damage, try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a piece of sterile gauze. Call our office immediately and alert us. Your child will need to be seen as soon as possible.

If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk.

What should I do if my child’s PERMANENT teeth are chipped or broken?

Contact our office. Addressing the broken tooth quickly may help to save the tooth, minimize risk of infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse your child’s mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.

What should I do if my child’s BABY teeth are knocked out or chipped?

Call us at the office and examine for any associated injuries of the lip or soft tissues. Clean injured areas with water and apply a cold compress. It is important to note that knocked out baby teeth are NOT to be re-implanted into the mouth.

What should I do if my child suffers a possible broken or fractured jaw?

Keep the jaw from moving and take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.

24 hour emergency care

We provide 24 hour emergency care and can be contacted at phone number. One of our doctors or staff members will be sure to reach out to you as soon as possible.

Regardless of the type of dental emergency, there are a few set steps a patient needs to take as a response. The first step is to seek immediate medical attention at an emergency room if the individual has any large cuts, broken bones, or other major injuries. An emergency room will be able to treat all wounds and stop any bleeding.

If the individual damages a tooth in the accident, an emergency room will be able to stop the bleeding and manage injuries, but may not be able to repair or even possibly save the tooth itself. Thus, once the individual is able to return home and leave the emergency room, the parent needs to call an emergency dentist. As a dentist, not only can we repair, replace or save a damaged tooth, but we can also provide specialized emergency care for the patient. Several treatments that we offer our patients include:

  • Re-implantation of teeth
  • Bonding of tooth fragments
  • Dental Crowns
  • Dental Restorations

The individual may already be shaken up from the accident and may have difficulty remaining calm. Our team at Smile Adventures has the necessary skills to provide the best and most effective form of emergency treatment for the individual while also keeping the patient comfortable during the procedure. Sedation dentistry is an option that we will consider when the individual arrives at our office.

After the accident occurs, call our office and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. If we are available, we will treat the individual immediately. If we are not available at that moment, we will treat the individual as soon as possible. It is crucial to receive treatment for a damaged or missing tooth as soon as possible. The longer an individual waits to seek treatment, the greater chance that the individual will not be able to repair the damage. Fortunately, we can treat the issue and ensure that regardless of the treatment decision the individual makes, that the individual’s teeth are on the right track for continuing strong oral health.

If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (760) 842-0888.