EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE

It is no secret that children are accident prone. Just as medical emergencies can occur at any time, dental emergencies can also occur. It is important to respond to dental emergencies with the same urgency as medical emergencies and seek dental treatment immediately. Delaying dental treatment can cause the problem to progress, make treatment possibly more difficult and invasive, and put your child at risk for further complications. At Battery Park Pediatric Dentists, we provide prompt, professional emergency dental care to get your child smiling sooner.

Did You Know?

According to the American Dental Association, one of the most common dental emergencies in children is due to untreated cavities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a dental emergency?

• Toothaches, especially those that come on suddenly and are intense
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Knocked out teeth
• Partially dislodged tooth
• Lost filling
• Lost crown
• Broken braces
• Abscess
• Soft-tissue injuries

What can I do for my child while waiting for an emergency appointment?

While we will do our best to accommodate emergencies as soon as possible, while you wait follow these tips: (Note: It is recommended to not delay treatment and make an appointment as soon as possible if your child has any of the following conditions. This guide is not to act as a replacement for professional dental treatment).

Type of Dental Emergency	Pre-Appointment Tips
Toothache	Rinse your child’s mouth with warm water and have them floss to remove any food particles that may be causing pain. If the pain persists, you can use a cold compress wrapped in a towel against their cheek.
Chipped/ broken teeth	If you can find any of the broken pieces, collect and gently rinse them. Then, have your child rinse with warm water to remove any debris in the mouth. Gauze should be applied with gentle pressure for at least 10 minutes if there is any bleeding. You should use a cold compress wrapped in a towel against their cheek to relieve pain and any possible swelling that could occur.
Knocked-out tooth	Find the tooth, pick it up avoiding contact with the root, and gently rinse it without removing any attached tissue. Then place the tooth in a glass of milk and get to our office immediately. For the best chance of saving the tooth, it will need to be replaced in the socket no later than an hour after the incident.
Partially dislodged tooth	Get to our office immediately and do not try to remove the tooth. In the meantime, you can use a cold compress to relieve any pain. You may also be able to use an over the counter pain reliever, however do not do so until you have verified with our office.
Lost filling	Place a piece of sugar-free gum or over the counter dental cement into the cavity. Do not use gum containing sugar because that will increase your child’s pain level.
Lost crown	To relieve pain, you can spread clove oil on the affected area. If you can, coat the inside of the crown with over the counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, and slip it back on the tooth. If not, be sure to bring the crown with you to your child’s appointment.
Broken braces	Do not try to cut the wire because you could accidently swallow or inhale it. Instead, start by using a clean pencil eraser to realign the wire into a more comfortable position. If that proves unsuccessful, then you can use dental wax, a small cotton ball, or a piece of gauze to act as a barrier between the wire and your mouth.
Abscess	Rinse your mouth with a mix of 8 oz warm water and ½ teaspoon of table salt several times a day to relieve the pain and draw out the infection.
Soft-tissue injuries	If an injury to your lips, cheeks, gums, or tongue results in bleeding, start by rinsing your mouth with warm water, then apply pressure to the injury with gauze or a tea bag for about 15-20 minutes. You can also use a cold compress to the affected area for 5-10 minutes to relieve pain. If the bleeding persists, come to our office right away or go to an emergency room if we are unavailable.

 What should my child expect during an emergency dental appointment?

During an emergency dental appointment, the priority is to address the cause of the emergency as quickly and effectively as possible. To relieve any pain your child is experiencing and to relax them during the necessary procedures, dental sedation may be needed. You can help make this experience easier for your child by letting them bring a special blanket or toy with them to the appointment. Every dental emergency is different, however Battery Park Pediatric Dentists are well-equipped, both in training and office amenities, to handle a variety of situations.

What can I expect after my child receives emergency dental treatment?

Depending on the nature of your child’s dental emergency and treatment, our dentists will provide you with post-treatment instructions. It is very important to follow these instructions to help your child heal quickly and with minimal pain. If your child required sedation, they may be drowsy or sleepy for the remainder of the day, depending on the level of sedation.

How can I prevent dental emergencies from occurring?

While some dental emergencies cannot be prevented, the risk for others may be able to be reduced by taking some precautions. To avoid endangering your child’s teeth, do not let them chew ice, candy, or other hard foods that may break their teeth. Also, if they play sports, be sure to have them fitted for a dental mouth guard to prevent injury. If they have braces, make sure you follow all the dietary guidelines to prevent wires or brackets from breaking. Finally, if you have any concerns about your child’s dental health, discuss these with our dentists during their dental checkups.