Toothaches and accidents rarely happen at a convenient time. If your child has a dental emergency, call the NECD office nearest you right away. Our pediatric dentists see urgent problems for children across San Antonio, and we’ll tell you what to do right now and find the soonest time to see your child.
When to go to the emergency room
Some problems need a hospital emergency room before a dentist. Go to the nearest ER, or call 911, if your child has:
- Facial swelling with a fever
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- A head injury, especially with vomiting, confusion, or loss of consciousness
- Bleeding that won’t stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure
Once your child has been seen there, call us so we can follow up on their teeth.
A knocked-out permanent tooth: what to do
When an adult tooth is knocked out, time matters more than anything else. Act quickly and calmly:
- Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown, the white part you normally see. Don’t touch the root.
- If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly with water. Don’t scrub it or use soap.
- Keep it moist. Place it in a cup of milk or your child’s saliva. An older child can hold it inside the cheek, if they won’t swallow it.
- Call us immediately and come straight in. The sooner we see your child, the better the chance of saving the tooth.
A knocked-out baby tooth is different. We don’t put baby teeth back, because doing so can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Call us during office hours; we’ll check for any broken pieces left in the gums or lip and make sure nearby teeth are okay.
What to do for other dental emergencies
Toothache: Have your child rinse with warm water, then gently brush and floss around the sore tooth to clear out trapped food. A cold compress on the outside of the cheek can help. If the discomfort continues, call us for an appointment. If your child’s face is swollen, call us right away, since swelling can mean an infection that needs prompt care.
Chipped or broken tooth: Save any pieces you can find, rinse your child’s mouth with water, and hold a cold compress to the face. Call us promptly. A deep break can expose the nerve inside the tooth, and early care protects it. Many chips can be repaired with Dental Bonding.
Cut or bitten tongue, lip, or cheek: Apply ice to reduce swelling. If there’s bleeding, press gently with clean gauze or a cloth. Head to the ER if the bleeding can’t be controlled.
Loosened or pushed tooth: Don’t try to move it back into place. Call us so we can check it and the teeth around it.
Care after the emergency
Injured teeth sometimes change weeks or months later, even when they look fine at first. We’ll check the area with Digital X-Rays and plan follow-up visits; Dental Trauma explains what we watch for over time.
What counts as a dental emergency for a child?
A knocked-out permanent tooth, a broken tooth, a toothache that keeps your child up at night, facial swelling, or bleeding that won’t stop all need prompt attention. When in doubt, call and we’ll help you decide.
Is a knocked-out baby tooth an emergency?
Usually not. Call during office hours so we can check the area, but there’s no need to rush in or save the tooth.
Should I give my child something for the pain?
Ask your pediatrician or pharmacist which over-the-counter medicine and dose are right for your child’s age and weight, and call us so we can find the cause.
Related: Dental Trauma, Dental Bonding, Mouth Guards, Pulp Therapy