Emergency Dental Care

Animated Elephant & Castle LogoByDr. Maggie

Dental emergencies can happen unexpectedly, and we’re here to help! Whether your child has a toothache, a chipped or broken tooth, or an injury to their mouth, we’ll gently assess the situation and take necessary dental X-rays to better understand what’s going on. At the end of the visit, we’ll discuss our findings, review treatment options, and create a clear plan for next steps. Our priority is to get your little one feeling comfortable and cared for while helping you feel supported every step of the way! 

Emergency Dental care FAQ

We are always here to help save a smile, but true medical emergencies come first! If your child has a severe facial injury, difficulty breathing, or won’t stop bleeding, please head straight to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

Do not try to put a knocked-out baby tooth back into the socket. Replanting a baby tooth can accidentally damage the permanent tooth developing underneath it. However, you should still call us for an urgent exam so we can check for remaining root fragments and ensure your child’s lips, gums, and surrounding teeth are safe.

Act quickly! Find the tooth, hold it only by the crown (the chewing part), and never touch the root. Gently rinse it with water if it’s dirty, but do not scrub it. If possible, gently push the tooth back into the socket. If you can’t, place the tooth in a small cup of cold milk or clean water and call us immediately. Time is critical—saving the tooth depends on getting to us fast!

Yes, it warrants a prompt phone call. Rinse your child’s mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to their face to prevent swelling. If you can find the broken piece of the tooth, save it in a moist paper towel or a cup of milk and bring it with you. We will evaluate the tooth to ensure the nerve isn’t exposed and smooth or repair the edge.

First, rinse their mouth with warm salt water and gently use dental floss to check if any food or debris is trapped between their teeth, which can cause intense pressure. You can give them age-appropriate acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain. Call our office right away so we can find and treat the root cause of the ache. Never place aspirin directly on the aching tooth or gums.

This could be a dental abscess, which is a localized infection. Abscesses can be painful or completely painless, but they require urgent professional treatment to keep the infection from spreading to other parts of the face or body. Please call us to schedule an urgent evaluation.

Keep the area clean and avoid letting your child chew on that side of their mouth. While this isn’t always a middle-of-the-night emergency, you should call us the next business morning so we can replace it before the unprotected tooth becomes sensitive, decays further, or breaks.

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