Reviewed By Dr. Jodi Kuhn
Reading time: 4 minutes
If your child experiences a dental emergency, knowing how to respond can make all the difference in preserving their dental health and ensuring they receive prompt care.
In this blog, you will learn about common pediatric dental emergencies, what to do, and when to call for urgent treatment.If you are in the Thornton area, contact our kids emergency dentist for immediate dental care for your child.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaway
A pediatric dental emergency is a situation involving severe tooth pain, injury, or infection that requires immediate attention. From knocked-out teeth to severe bleeding, quick responses and prompt care can make all the difference.
How to Recognize a Pediatric Dental Emergency
When your child experiences a dental emergency, immediate care is needed to address pain, save a tooth, or avoid infection.
These emergencies can occur from accidents, sports injuries, or severe tooth decay.
Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies and What To Do
Here is a list of common dental emergencies. If your child experiences any of these, call your family dentist or an emergency kid’s dentist right away.
1. Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
What to do:
- Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root.
- Rinse gently with warm water; avoid scrubbing.
- Place the tooth back in the socket if possible or store it in a container with milk.
2. Broken Or Fractured Tooth
What to do:
- Rinse gently with warm water.
- Use a cold compress to reduce swelling.
- Save any pieces of tooth and bring them to the dentist.
- Apply a piece of gauze to control bleeding.
3. Severe Tooth Pain Or Tooth Abscess
What to do:
- Rinse with warm salt water to ease discomfort.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek.
- Offer the child acetaminophen (never aspirin) for pain relief and always follow the recommended dose.
4. Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
What to do:
- Do not attempt to reinsert the tooth.
- Rinse gently with warm water.
6. Soft Tissue Injuries (lip, tongue, or cheek)
What to do:
- Apply firm pressure with a clean gauze or wet towel to stop bleeding.
- Use a cold compress to reduce swelling.
How to Prevent Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Here are key prevention tips:
- Use a custom-fitted mouthguard: Protect teeth during contact sports and other high-risk activities. Learn more in this blog: Protect Your Child’s Smile: Children’s Mouth Guards for Teeth Grinding and Sports
- Practice regular brushing and flossing: Keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy to prevent decay. Learn how to make flossing fun in this blog: Flossing for Kids: Why It’s Important and How to Make It Fun
- Teach safety measures: Encourage your child to wear a helmet when engaging in sports and never allow them to use their teeth as tools.
- Schedule regular dental check-ups: Routine visits help detect and address potential issues early.
Pediatric Dental Emergency Kit Essentials
Prepare a kit to respond quickly to dental emergencies. It can include:
| Item | Purpose |
| Clean gauze | To control bleeding |
| Container | To store knocked-out teeth |
| Dental floss | To remove stuck objects |
| Child-safe pain relievers | To manage severe pain |
| Wet towel | For soft tissue injuries |
| Clean cloth | For cleaning injured areas |
FAQs
What is the most common dental emergency?
A knocked-out tooth is one of the most common dental emergencies in kids.
When is dental pain an emergency?
Not all dental pain requires immediate attention, but severe pain, visible swelling, or signs of infection like fever or pus are indicators of a true emergency.
A tooth abscess or significant trauma, such as a knocked-out permanent tooth, requires immediate care to avoid complications.
Check out our blog for more tips on pain relief: Kid Toothache Pain Relief: Quick Tips Every Parent Should Know
Is exposed dentin an emergency?
No, exposed dentin is not an emergency. It can cause some sensitivity and pain, leaving the tooth vulnerable to decay and infection. Contact your dentist during business hours for treatment.
Choose Thornton Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics for Pediatric Dental Emergencies
At Thornton Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics, our kids dentists are experienced in treating a wide range of dental emergencies.
We prioritize prompt care and same-day appointments for dental trauma, severe pain, and other urgent dental situations.
If your child has experienced a dental emergency, call us at (303) 280-8878 or visit our kid’s dental office in Thornton at 550 E. Thornton Parkway, Suite 240A, Thornton, CO 80229.
