Sandhills Pediatric and Family Dentistry

Dental Emergencies/Trauma

What do I do if my child has a dental accident?

If your child has an accident; please call our office as soon as possible (919-499-9950). We will see your child immediately.

Permanent Teeth

The first 30 minutes after an accident are the most critical to treatment of a dental trauma associated with permanent teeth. If a permanent tooth is knocked out of the mouth, gently rinse, but do not scrub the tooth under water. Replace the tooth in the socket if possible.

If you are unable to replace the permanent tooth, place the tooth in a glass of milk or a clean wet cloth and come to the office immediately. If the tooth is fractured, please bring in any pieces that you can find. Our schedule may be delayed in order to accommodate an injured child. Please accept our apologies in advance should an emergency occur during your child’s appointment.

Care of the Mouth After Trauma

Please keep the traumatized area as clean as possible. A soft washcloth often works well during healing to aid the process.

Watch for darkening or color change with traumatized teeth. This is a common result following trauma and could be an indication of a dying nerve (pulp). If any swelling should occur, please call our office so we can schedule your child to be seen. An ice pack should be used during the first 24 hours to keep the swelling to a minimum.

Watch for infection or abscess in the area of trauma. If an infection of the area or increased mobility of the tooth is noticed – please call the office so your child can be seen as soon as possible.

Maintain a soft diet for two to three days, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again. Avoid sweets or foods that are extremely hot or cold. If antibiotics or pain medicines are prescribed, be sure to follow the prescription as directed.

POST-OP DENTAL TRAUMA INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRIMARY (BABY) TEETH

PAIN - a liquid pain reliever such as Children’s Motrin (Ibuprofen) or Tylenol (Acetominophen) is recommended to control discomfort.

DIET - a soft diet is recommended for the next 6 weeks. In particular, avoid using the injured tooth for biting or tearing. Cut up hard foods like apples and carrots and use your uninjured teeth to chew.

HABITS - but try not to suck any objects or fingers. Placing further pressure on the injured tooth will likely delay healing.

MOUTHCARE - excellent oral hygiene is needed to facilitate the healing process. Run your toothbrush under warm water to make the bristles softer for gentle brushing.

POST-OP DENTAL TRAUMA INSTRUCTIONS FOR PERMANENT (ADULT) TEETH

PAIN - a liquid pain reliever such as Motrin or Tylenol is recommended to control discomfort.

SPORTS - try to avoid any further injury to the damaged tooth, especially in the next few weeks. If you have a sports mouth guard, please wear it! If you do not have a sports mouth guard, one can be made for you after your injured tooth has stabilized.

MOUTHCARE - excellent oral hygiene is needed to facilitate the healing process. Run your toothbrush under warm water to make the bristles softer for gentle brushing. Rinsing with Colgate Periogard will help keep bacterial growth under control. Rinsing after every meal is recommended.

What can happen to an injured tooth?

Change color - yellow, dark gray or brown
Loose sensation - feel dull-tooth nerve has died
Abscess - infected, draining pus from the end of the tooth root
Increased mobility or looseness- splint comes off or infection

What follow-up care will my child need?
Possibly:

Splint Removal (Permanent Teeth)
Tooth Fracture Repair
Orthodontic Treatment/Braces
Endodontic Procedure/Root Canal (Permanent Teeth)
Bleaching (Permanent Teeth)