Kids Dental Emergencies

When to call us

A toothache, a chipped or broken tooth, a knocked-out tooth or a swollen face all deserve a call. Call the office your child usually visits (the numbers are below). We’ll see your child the same day. If there are other injuries, go to the emergency room first.

Knocked-out tooth: baby tooth or adult tooth?

Baby teeth should not be put back in, because replanting them can damage the adult tooth growing underneath. Comfort your child, control bleeding with gentle pressure on clean gauze, and call us so we can examine the area.

Adult front teeth usually arrive around ages 6 to 8. If your child is older than that, assume the tooth may be permanent and act quickly.

Knocked-out adult tooth: step by step

1. Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part you chew with). Don’t touch the root.
2. If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or saline. Don’t scrub it or use soap.
3. If your child can cooperate, gently push it back into the socket and have them bite on a clean cloth to hold it.
4. If you can’t put it back, keep it moist: in milk, in saline or in your child’s own saliva. Never in water, and never dry.
5. Call us right away and head in.

Why the first hour matters

The root is covered in delicate living cells that help the tooth reattach. International dental trauma guidelines (IADT) note that once a tooth has been dry for 60 minutes or more, those cells no longer survive. A dentist will usually still try to replant a permanent tooth, but the outlook is better the faster it’s handled.

Pack a small “tooth-saver” in your sports bag: a lidded cup and a small carton of shelf-stable milk. Mouthguards prevent many of these injuries in the first place.