Emergencies
Our practice has a 24 hour emergency service for our patients.
Tips for Handling Dental Emergencies:
When your child needs urgent dental treatment, we are ready to help. Please keep the emergency number available and convenient:
(562) 377-1375.
What should I do if my child's baby tooth is knocked out?
Contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. Baby teeth are usually not reimplanted because of the possibility of an infection that can affect the permanent tooth bud forming. There will be other injuries that the dentist will want to discuss with you, such as lacerations, contusions or bleeding of the gums or lip.
What should I do if my child falls and knocks out a permanent tooth?
The most important thing to do is to remain calm. Then find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to reinsert it in the socket. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child and the glass immediately to the pediatric dentist. Time is of the essence.
What if a tooth is chipped or fractured?
Contact your pediatric dentist immediately. Depending on the extent of the break, quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce lip or facial swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you to the dentist.
What about a severe blow to the head or face?
Go immediately to the emergency room of your local hospital. A blow to the head can be life threatening. A jaw fracture may not be obvious and needs proper assessment.
What if my child has a toothache?
Call your pediatric dentist and visit the office promptly. To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with warm salt water rinses. Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth if there is facial swelling. Do not put heat or aspirin directly on the sore area.
Children’s Tylenol or Motrin may be given to temporarily reduce the pain.