Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Should your child suffer a dental emergency after typical business hours, please immediately contact your nearest children’s hospital, and we will promptly triage the injury. Once an attending pediatric dentist or resident is able to review your child’s emergency, we will either provide over-the-phone recommendations or we will provide you with an appointment depending upon your child’s specific symptoms. We truly appreciate your understanding and flexibility when attempting to schedule your child’s dental emergency.

  • Gently clean or rinse dirt from the area around the break. Place a cold compress on the face in the area of the broken tooth to minimize lip or facial swelling. If the fracture affects more than one-half of the tooth, see the dentist immediately or go to the nearest children’s emergency room.

  • For permanent teeth – Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, not root. If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it in cold water, but DO NOT scrub or handle the root unnecessarily. Try to replace the tooth into the socket. Have the child hold the tooth in place by closing on a gauze pad or washcloth. If it is not possible to replace the tooth, place the tooth in a cup of milk, or the child’s saliva. If neither of these is available, submerge the tooth in cool water. Go to the dentist immediately or the nearest children’s emergency room. Time is important for saving the tooth, rectifying the situation in 30 minutes or less is ideal.

    For primary (baby) teeth – Teeth are not re-implanted. The tooth fairy will be at work prematurely.

  • Clean the area around the tooth. Rinse the mouth with warm salt water and use dental floss to remove any trapped food between the teeth. DO NOT place aspirin on the gums or tooth. This will cause burns to the gum tissues. If there is swelling, apply a cold compress to the outside of the face. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain. Call the dentist.

  • Do not move the jaw. Stabilize the jaw by tying a towel, necktie, etc., over the top of the head. Apply cold compresses. Go to nearest children’s emergency room.


  • Fold a gauze pad or clean washcloth over the bleeding area. Keep it in place for 15 minutes, then repeat as necessary.