Emergency Treatments

Falls, bumps and bruises are a normal part of the growing up process. Quite often the injuries are minor, but sometimes it is necessary for your pediatric dentist to evaluate the injury.

Have the injury evaluated when:

• Bleeding does not stop readily
• A tooth is fractured
• A tooth is pushed up into the gums
• A tooth is knocked out
• A tooth changes color to yellow or grey
• Whenever the injury causes parental concern

What is a dental abscess?
Due to trauma or extensive decay, the pulp (live part of the tooth with nerves and blood vessels) of the tooth dies. The infection drains out through the tip of the tooth’s root and tunnels out through the bone forming a raised yellow area above the tooth.

What should I do if I see an abscess?
Call your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. Your child will not usually experience pain since the abscess is draining. BUT it is an infection that can effect the child’s general health and damage the permanent (adult) teeth developing in the bone above the abscessed tooth.

What can I do when my child has a toothache?
When a child develops a toothache, it important to realize that the toothache will most likely become worse with time instead of better.

Although there is little that a parent can do to treat a toothache, Tylenol can be given until the child is seen by the pediatric dentist. Do NOT place asprin on the tooth or gum!!

See the dentist immediately to prevent possible spread of infection and to alleviate the child’s pain and discomfort.

What if my child has a baby tooth knocked out?
The child should be seen by the dentist. The knocked out baby tooth will NOT be put back into the socket; because there is a risk of further injury to the permanent tooth by the replantation process.

Your child's permanent tooth is knocked out! What should be done?
1. Stay calm and have the child bite on gauze or clean cloth with pressure to control bleeding.
2. Find the tooth
3. Pick up tooth by the CROWN ONLY –don’t touch the root.
4. Rinse tooth gently with running water – don’t scrub the tooth.
5. For permanent tooth, place rinsed tooth back into socket and hold in position OR place tooth in glass of milk – if not available cool water
6. See dentist IMMEDIATELY.

Your child fractured a tooth! What should be done?
1. Rinse the mouth with warm water to remove dirt and other debris.
2. Apply cold compresses to lip and face to control swelling.
3. If possible find and save tooth fragments
4. See dentist IMMEDIATELY

What are the risks of a tooth fracture?
--Visible fracture of the tooth
--Trauma to the pulp
--Interruption of root development
--Pulpal complications by bacterial toxins penetrating the dentin into the pulp

Immediate evaluation and treatment of tooth fractures reduces the risks to the tooth and alleviate the child’s discomfort.