What Do I Do if My Child Has a Dental Emergency?

June 1, 2021
What Do I Do if My Child Has a Dental Emergency?

Santa Teresa Dental is proud to offer trusted pediatric dental emergency services to patients in Morgan Hill, CA, and the surrounding areas. We never spare any effort to ensure your child is comfortable while receiving outstanding urgent dental care. You can always count on us!

Is It a Dental Emergency?

If you’re not sure if your child is experiencing a dental emergency, consider the following questions:

  • Is there severe tooth pain?
  • Is there uncontrolled bleeding?
  • Is there a knocked-out or loose tooth?
  • Is there injury to the lips, tongue, or cheeks?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, your child is likely experiencing a dental emergency.

What Should You Do if Your Child Has a Dental Emergency

Please call our office right away at 408-782-6568 for an emergency appointment. If you reach us after our business hours, you’ll be connected to our clinical staff on call. If your child experiences a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately. 

What Can You Do While Waiting for Emergency Dental Care?

Here’s what you can do while waiting to receive the necessary emergency care:

Severe Tooth Pain: Toothaches usually occur due to infection, deep decay, tooth fracture, or trauma. If your little one’s pain increases or persists, contact us for an emergency appointment. Meanwhile, clean the area with warm water and make sure there’s nothing trapped between the teeth. If you notice any swelling, a cold compress may help. 

A Knocked-Out Tooth: We do not recommend replanting baby teeth to prevent infection or damage to the adult teeth developing behind the scenes. If your little one knocks out a permanent tooth, pick it up gently by the crown and avoid touching the root. Rinse it in lukewarm water and try to slide it back into its socket, if possible, or store it in a container of milk. Contact us for an emergency appointment as soon as possible.

A Displaced or Loose Tooth: Displaced primary teeth generally heal on their own. However, permanent teeth will require emergency care. For the best outcomes, push the tooth into alignment with very gentle pressure, making sure not to force it. Have your child bite down, so the affected tooth does not move. We may recommend a splint to stabilize the tooth and keep it in place. 

A Fractured Tooth: Have your child rinse gently with warm water and use an ice pack or cold compress to reduce swelling. Contact us for an emergency appointment.

Soft Tissue Injury: Mouth tears, puncture wounds, and lacerations to the cheek, lips, or tongue will require emergency care. Clean the area with warm water and take your child to a hospital emergency room for the necessary care. Meanwhile, place firm pressure using clean gauze to help reduce the bleeding. 

Emergency Dental Care in Morgan Hill, CA

We at Santa Teresa Dental hope your child never experiences a dental emergency but are here to provide quality urgent services if ever required. You can always count on our kid-friendly team for exceptional care with your child’s comfort and wellbeing in mind!