Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Sedation | Tongue-Tie | Laser Dentistry | Silver Diamine Fluoride | Special Needs Dentistry | Emergencies | Pediatric Feeding, Speech, and Airway Screenings | Preventive Dentistry
Dental emergencies can occur at any time, even if your child has regular dental checkups and maintains proper oral hygiene.
Whether it’s a chipped tooth from a fall or a painful dental abscess, both need prompt care and can be distressing for a young child.
We understand how scary and painful these situations can be for little ones. That’s why Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry offers emergency dental services every weekday and a 24/7 after hours emergency line! Our experienced dentists and staff will help your child get
your child as comfortable as possible, as soon as possible.
If your child experiences any dental emergency, please call our 24/7 emergency hotline right away at 337-443-9944. You can also reach out to our office to find out more about the pediatric emergency dental care we provide.
ADVICE FROM YOUR LAFAYETTE EMERGENCY PEDIATRIC DENTIST
From a chipped tooth to a painful mouth injury, prompt care is essential for minimizing complications. Knowing how to handle your child’s dental emergency can help alleviate their discomfort and prevent the situation from worsening. Our pediatric dental experts have put together a quick reference guide to assist you in responding to some of the most frequent dental emergencies that can happen with children.
Toothache:
Clean the area of the affected tooth. Rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge any food that may be impacted. If the pain still exists, contact your child’s dentist. Do not place aspirin or heat on the gum or on the aching tooth. If the face is swollen, apply cold compresses and contact your dentist immediately.
Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek:
Apply ice to injured areas to help control swelling. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room.
Knocked Out Permanent Tooth:
If possible, find the tooth. Handle it by the crown, not by the root. You may rinse the tooth with water only. DO NOT clean with soap, scrub or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a gauze or clean cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk, NOT water. If the patient is old enough, the tooth may also be carried in the patient’s mouth (beside the cheek). The patient must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth so seek out an emergency pediatric dentist if outside of normal business hours.
Knocked Out Baby Tooth:
Contact your pediatric dentist. Unlike with a permanent tooth, the baby tooth should not be replanted due to possible damage to the developing permanent tooth. In most cases, no treatment is necessary.
Chipped or Fractured Permanent Tooth:
Contact your pediatric dentist immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If possible, locate and save any broken tooth fragments and bring them with you to the dentist.
Chipped or Fractured Baby Tooth:
Contact your pediatric dentist.
Severe Blow to the Head:
Take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately.
Possible Broken or Fractured Jaw:
Keep the jaw from moving and take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.
