Emergencies

The health and well-being of our patients is always our top priority! That being said, we do understand that dental emergencies can arise and, if they do, we highly encourage you to contact our office immediately. Our staff will be quick in assisting you and your child with your dental emergencies and make sure that you are properly cared for in an efficient manner.

What Is A Dental Emergency?

Knocked Out Tooth

In the case of a knocked-out tooth, it is important that you preserve it right away. The best way to do this is by keeping it moist. If it is dirty, you can clean it with warm water. If it has tissue fragments on it, do not wipe it off. After you have properly preserved it, the next step would be to visit the dentist’s office. The quicker you get there, the higher the chances are that we can put it back into place. The ideal time would be about 15-20 minutes after the tooth has been knocked out.

Object Caught in Teeth

If your child has something caught in their teeth, never use a metal or sharp tool to try and get it out. Instead, use floss. If after the object is still stuck, contact our office.

Loose Tooth

A loose baby tooth is normal. However, a loose permanent tooth is a cause for concern. If your child’s permanent teeth are loose, contact our office right away so that our dentist can quickly determine the right plan of action.

Toothache

A toothache can be caused by a number of things. One of the reasons is that it is impacted by a piece of food. If that is the case, make sure that your child is flossing and brushing their teeth with warm water. If your child is still experiencing pain afterwards, it would be best to make an appointment with your child’s dentist.

Cracked or Broken Tooth

The first step would be to collect any tooth fragments, if possible. The dentist might be able to bond the fragments back to the original tooth, making it important to visit the dentist as soon as the incident occurs.

Broken Jaw

Is your child suddenly unable to move their jaw? Do their teeth look uneven or they can’t close their mouth properly? If so, it is highly likely that they have a broken jaw. If this is the case, we advise you to take your child to the emergency room immediately. While on your way, it is important to try and stabilize the jaw as much as possible. You can do this by using a towel or anything else that would help immobilize the jaw. You can also put ice inside a cloth to help lessen the swelling.

How You Can Help Prevent A Dental Emergency

There are some situations that are out of your hands, but it is still best to be prepared. One of the ways that you can do your part to protect the oral health of your child is by having them wear mouthguards when they are participating in sports, such as baseball or football. Another way you can help prevent a dental emergency is by having them avoid chewing hard foods like ice, popcorn kernels or hard candy. These can all cause a crack in the tooth. In addition, never use your teeth to cut things! Permanent teeth are durable but should never be used to perform a task that scissors can easily do.

If you live in the Sparks, NV, area and are experiencing a dental emergency, contact our office immediately! Before or after hours, we are here to help you with your emergency needs. Of course, if the case is severe, don’t hesitate to call 911.

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