What to do in a Dental Emergency

If your child faces dental emergency, call us immediately at 205-538-3335. We are always here to assist when your child's dental health is at risk. Here are some tips on dealing with urgent dental situations:

If your child has bitten their lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling.

If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of their tooth, have them rinse their mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the severed tooth fragment. Call us immediately. 

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse their mouth with warm water and inspect their teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children's pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately.

If a permanent tooth has been knocked out of your child's mouth, find the tooth and rinse it with plain water, taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it's in place). If you are sure it's a permanent tooth, try to place the tooth back into its socket and hold it in place with a clean towel or cloth. If you can't return the tooth to its socket, place it in a clean container of milk. In either case, call us immediately and/or go to the emergency room. If you act quickly, it is possible to save a permanent tooth.

If a baby tooth has been knocked out, rinse the child's mouth with water and check for any other damage. Stop the bleeding by placing pressure on the socket with a washcloth or gauze. Do not put a baby tooth back into its socket after being knocked out, as it is unlikely that the tooth will heal properly. Call our office to schedule an appointment to be sure that proper healing is occurring.