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Pediatric Dental Emergencies – Ephrata, PA
Pediatric Dental Emergencies
If your child experiences a dental emergency, please contact us immediately. Our emergency number is available for urgent treatment after hours. We are dedicated to protecting your child's dental health. Here are some tips for managing urgent dental situations. Keep this list handy on your refrigerator or with your emergency contact numbers for easy access.
Bitten Lip or Tongue
If your child has a bitten lip or tongue that is bleeding, please clean the bite gently with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Contact us for help in assessing the severity of the bite.
Object Caught In Teeth
Please use dental floss to gently remove any objects stuck between your child's teeth. Avoid using metal, plastic, or sharp objects. If you are unable to remove the object with floss, please contact us for help.
Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth
If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of a tooth, rinse their mouth with warm water, then apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Please try to locate and save the broken tooth fragment. Contact us immediately.
Knocked-Out Tooth
If your child's tooth is knocked out, find the tooth and rinse it with water (do not use soap) while holding only the crown (the part that is visible when in place). Place the tooth in a clean container filled with milk. Contact us immediately or go to the hospital. Acting quickly could help save the tooth.
Loose Tooth
For safety reasons, it is advised to remove a very loose tooth in your child to prevent the risk of swallowing or inhaling it.
Toothache
If your child has a toothache, rinse their mouth with warm water and check for any obstructions between the teeth. If the pain continues, use a cold compress to help with discomfort. Do not use heat, aspirin, or topical pain relievers directly on the affected area to avoid gum damage. Children's oral pain relievers can be used as necessary. Make sure to schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.
Broken Jaw
If you suspect your child has a broken jaw, immediately apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Contact our emergency number or go to the hospital immediately. A broken jaw is frequently the result of a head injury, which can be severe and possibly life-threatening.
Avoiding Injury
To prevent dental emergencies for your child, child-proof your house, avoid hard foods like ice and popcorn kernels, use car seats and seatbelts, and wear a mouthguard during contact sports. Inquire about a custom-fitted mouthguard for your child and don't forget to brush, floss, and schedule regular visits to our office to avoid toothaches.