Pediatric dental emergencies happen. Children happily run and play, exploring everything they can about the world. Sometimes, those learning experiences become accidents that affect the mouth and teeth. Here at Champagne Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Jason Champagne and associates will ensure that your child receives competent and timely emergency dental care here in Sparks, Nevada. Our goal is for you to rest easy knowing that your questions and concerns have been answered and that your child is ready to return to their exploration.

How To Treat Common Dental Emergencies

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek
You can apply ice to any bruised areas. For any bleeding, apply firm pressure with a sterile cloth or gauze. Although uncommon, if the bleeding does not stop with pressure after 15 minutes, take your child to an emergency room.

Broken Braces and Wires
Only remove a broken appliance if it comes out easily. If it is painful to remove or lodged in, cover any protruding edges or wires with gauze, wax, cotton balls or chewing gum. Do not remove any wires that are puncturing the gums, tongue or cheeks, and see a dentist or orthodontist immediately. Emergency orthodontic care is not usually necessary for loose or broken appliances that do not cause pain.

Broken Permanent Tooth
If one of your child’s secondary teeth becomes broken or fractured, rinse the tooth and surrounding area with warm water. Put a cold compress over the facial area of the injury. Recover any broken tooth fragments and see a dentist immediately.

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
If your child’s secondary tooth has been knocked out, be sure to hold the tooth by the crown instead of the roots once you recover it. Place the tooth back in the socket and hold it with a washcloth or clean gauze before going immediately to a dental provider. If you cannot place the tooth in the socket, keep it moist in a container with either egg whites, milk, saliva or water. Receive emergency dental care as soon as possible. The faster you act, the better your child’s chances are of saving the tooth. Note that knocked-out baby teeth cannot be replaced. Trying to replace the tooth can cause further injury to the jaw.

Possible Broken Jaw
If your child has a jaw injury, tie the mouth closed with a towel and go immediately to an emergency room.

Cold or Canker Sores
Temporary relief is often provided by regular over-the-counter medications. Sores can last up to 14 days and go away by themselves.