My Child is Having a Toothache and Swelling
A tooth can become abscessed or infected if it has a large cavity or had previous treatment completed. A tooth abscess can look like a pimple on the gum tissue below or above of the infected tooth or can lead to large swellings of the inside of the mouth or outside of the face. For facial swellings extending past the jaw line or towards the eye, the patient should be evaluated at the ER or urgent care to assess if IV antibiotics are needed. If your child has swelling and is acting lethargic or having difficulty swallowing or breathing, they should also be evaluated at the ER instead of in the dental clinic.
For less severe swellings, feel free to call the after-hours provider. We would love to see a picture of the swelling, as well.
My Child Knocked Their Tooth Out
If it is a baby tooth, locate the tooth and see if the tooth is whole. Take a picture of the tooth and call your dental provider.
If the tooth is a permanent adult tooth. Pick up the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the root with your fingers or hands. Rinse the root of the tooth gently under clean running water. Try to place the tooth back in the socket, as close to its original position as possible. If you are unable to reimplant the tooth, save the tooth in cold milk. If you do not have milk, place the tooth in a cup submerged in your child’s saliva until you can get some milk. Call your dental provider ASAP.
My Child Hit Their Tooth and It’s Out of Place
With clean hands and gentle pressure, see if you can push the tooth back into the right place. Call your dental provider.
My Child Broke Their Tooth
Try to locate the piece of the tooth that is missing. Especially if the patient cut their lip or tongue at the time of the trauma, it is important to rule out that the piece of the tooth is not inside the cut. If you find the fragment, please save it in some clean water or milk. Check the edge or chewing surface of the tooth. Try to take a picture of the tooth from the front and from underneath. Call your provider and they will need these pictures to try to assess if there has been a nerve exposure.
My Child Hit Their Tooth, and It’s Loose
Double-check to make sure the tooth is not out of alignment or out of place. It will help to compare a recent photo of your child to assess the alignment. Take a picture of the loose tooth and call your dental provider. Avoid biting or chewing on the teeth for two
My Child is Having a Toothache and Swelling
A tooth can become abscessed or infected if it has a large cavity or had previous treatment completed. A tooth abscess can look like a pimple on the gum tissue below or above of the infected tooth or can lead to large swellings of the inside of the mouth or outside of the face. For facial swellings extending past the jaw line or towards the eye, the patient should be evaluated at the ER or urgent care to assess if IV antibiotics are needed. If your child has swelling and is acting lethargic or having difficulty swallowing or breathing, they should also be evaluated at the ER instead of in the dental clinic.
For less severe swellings, feel free to call the after-hours provider. We would love to see a picture of the swelling, as well.
