Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Emergency Contact Information

210-787-1200

After Hours

Our established patients should call Dr. Torres’ cell phone. That number is available on our after-hours phone message.

We are always here to assist when your child’s dental health is at risk. Below are tips on dealing with urgent dental situations. You may want to display this list on your refrigerator or store it near your emergency phone numbers for easy reference.

Bitten Lip or Tongue

If your child has bitten his lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (a cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is.

Object Caught In Teeth

If your child has something caught between his teeth, use dental floss to gently remove it. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you are unable to remove the item with dental floss, give us a call.

Knocked Out Baby Tooth

Contact your pediatric dentist to assess the situation. This is not usually an emergency, and in most cases, no treatement is necessary.

Chipped or Fractured Baby Toth

Contact your pediatric dentist to access the situation

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

First find the tooth. Try to avoid touch the root handle it by the crown. Make sure it is an adult tooth, if it is a baby tooth don’t place it in the mouth, it is not necessary.  Rinse the permanent/adult  tooth with water only, DO NOT clean with soap or scrub. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a gauze. If for any reason you cannot reinsert the tooth, place the tooth in a cup of cold milk or if the patient is old enough, the tooth may also be carried in the patient’s mouth (beside the cheek) and visit your child’s pediatric dentist immediately! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth. If tooth was successfully reinserted at home or place of accident it is still important to visit your dentist to fully access all injuries and provide antibiotic if necessary. If there are any fractured pieces of teeth save them and bring them with you to the appointment.

Chipped or Fractured Permanent Tooth

Contact your pediatric dentist immediately. Depending on the fracture immediate attention might be required.  Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If possible, locate and save any broken tooth fragments and bring them with you to the dentist. Avoid extreme temperatures in food, too cold or too hot might cause increased pain/sensitivity

Loose Tooth

If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.

Toothache

If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his mouth with warm water and inspect his 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.

Broken Jaw

If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our emergency number and/or go to the hospital immediately. In many cases a broken jaw is the result of a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Severe Blow to the Head

Take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately.

Avoiding Injury

You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house to avoid falls. Don’t let your child chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods. Always use car seats for young children and require seatbelts for older children. And if your child plays contact sports, have him wear a mouthguard. Ask us about creating a custom-fitted mouthguard for your child. Finally, prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office.