How to Manage a True Dental Emergency

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What is a Pediatric Dental Emergency?

Scroll below to find your child's symptom and determine if your child is experiencing a true dental emergency.

Medical Emergencies

Difficulty Breathing
  • Call / Report to your nearest emergency room.
  • This is a MEDICAL emergency and needs to be treated in an emergency room
Loss of Consciousness
  • Call / Report to your nearest emergency room.
  • This is a MEDICAL emergency and needs to be treated in an emergency room.
Severe Facial Swelling
  • Needs to be seen by a medical physician who can determine if IV antibiotics are needed.
  • Call / Report to your nearest emergency room.
  • This is a MEDICAL emergency and needs to be treated in an emergency room.
Excessive Bleeding
  • If you are unable to stop significant bleeding after holding continuous pressure with a damp gauze / paper towel for 15 minutes, maintain pressure on the bleeding site
  • Call / Report to your nearest emergency room.
  • This is a MEDICAL emergency and needs to be treated in an emergency room.
a cute little kid smiling - Emergency Pediatric Dentist in Winston Salem NC
a cute little kid smiling - Emergency Pediatric Dentist in Winston Salem NC

True Dental Emergencies

KNOCKED OUT PERMANENT TOOTH
  • Pick up the tooth by the crown only (do not touch the root!)
  • Rinse gently with water (do not scrub!)
  • Attempt to reinsert the tooth into the socket; have your child keep the tooth in place by biting gently on a gauze or folded up paper towel
  • If unable to reinsert the tooth into the socket:
    • Submerge & store the tooth in milk or saliva

During Office hours: Call 336-815-2573

After hours: Call our emergency line asap at 336-422-7833

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Mild Facial Swelling

During Office hours: Call 336-815-2573

After hours: Call our emergency line asap at 336-422-7833

Non-Emergent Dental Complications

PAIN
  • Manage discomfort by alternating Motrin/Tylenol every 4 hours as needed.
  • Avoid chewing in the area experiencing pain. Consider a soft food diet.
  • Call our office during normal business hours to schedule an appointment.
BLEEDING (MINOR)

‍If your child is experiencing bleeding from either a lost tooth or recent trauma:

  • Place a damp gauze / paper towel with firm pressure on the bleeding site for 15 minutes.
  • For younger children, television distraction works well to gain cooperation while holding pressure.
  • DO NOT remove pressure to look at the area until 15 minutes have passed.

If you are experiencing significant bleeding that cannot be controlled with continuous pressure after 15 minutes, report to your nearest emergency room immediately.

BROKEN TOOTH / LOOSE TOOTH

Permanent Tooth

  • Save tooth fragment if possible
  • Manage discomfort by alternating Motrin / Tylenol every 4 hours as needed.
  • Avoid chewing on that tooth. Consider a soft food diet.
  • Call our office during normal business hours to schedule an appointment.
    ‍

Baby Tooth

  • Manage discomfort by alternating Motrin / Tylenol every 4 hours as needed.
  • Call our office during normal business hours to schedule an appointment.
  • Fun Fact: Baby molars often break/crumble when they are ready to come out & this is completely normal!
KNOCKED OUT BABY TOOTH:
  • Manage discomfort by alternating Motrin / Tylenol every 4 hours as needed.
  • Call office during normal business hours to schedule an appointment.
  • Fun Fact: Baby molars often break/crumble when they are ready to come out
LOST / MISSING CROWN
  • Save the Crown to bring with you to your dental appointment.
  • Manage discomfort by alternating Motrin/Tylenol every 4 hours as needed.
  • Call office during normal business hours to schedule an appointment.
cute little kids smiling - Emergency Pediatric Dentist in Winston Salem NC

If you feel your child is experiencing a True Dental Emergency, please call:
‍AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY LINE:
336-422-7833

Leave your child’s name, date of birth, phone number, and a brief description of the emergency, and our on-call team will review the chart and schedule an Emergency Teledentistry appointment ASAP.