Emergency Care

Dental emergencies in children can be a frightening experience for both the child and their parents. Common pediatric dental emergencies include knocked-out teeth, broken or chipped teeth, and severe toothaches. It is important to act quickly when a dental emergency occurs as prompt treatment can often make the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If your child experiences a dental emergency, it is important to remain calm and contact your pediatric dentist. With proper care and attention, most pediatric dental emergencies can be successfully treated, and your child can resume their normal activities with a healthy and happy smile.

Please Help! My Child's Adult Tooth Was Knocked Out!

This is one of a few time sensitive dental emergencies. Please read below for the International Association of Dental Traumatology and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's Guidelines for First Aid at the place of the accident. Try to stay calm and contact us.

FIRST AID FOR AVULSED TEETH AT THE PLACE OF ACCIDENT

Immediate replantation of the avulsed tooth is the best treatment at the place of the accident. If for some reason this cannot be carried out, there are alternatives such as using different types of storage media. If a tooth is avulsed, make sure it is a permanent tooth (primary teeth should not be replanted) and follow these recommended instructions:

1. Keep the patient calm.
2. Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (the white part). Avoid touching the root. Attempt to place it back immediately into the jaw.
3. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently in milk, saline or in the patient’s saliva and replant or return it to its original position in the jaw.
4. It is important to encourage the patient/guardian/teacher/other person to replant the tooth immediately at the emergency site.
5. Once the tooth has been returned to its original position in the jaw, the patient should bite on gauze, a handkerchief or a napkin to hold it in place.
6. If replantation at the accident site is not possible, or for other reasons when replantation of the avulsed tooth is not feasible (eg, an unconscious patient), place the tooth, as soon as possible, in a storage or transport medium that is immediately available at the emergency site. This should be done quickly to avoid dehydration of the root surface, which starts to happen in a matter of a few minutes. In descending order of preference, milk, HBSS, saliva (after spitting into a glass for instance), or saline are suitable and convenient storage mediums. Although water is a poor medium, it is better than leaving the tooth to air-dry.
7. The tooth can then be brought with the patient to the emergency clinic.
8. See a dentist or dental professional immediately. 

https://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/e_avulsion.pdf