Pediatric Emergency Care

If you face a dental emergency, give us a call immediately at 541-476-8383. If you need urgent treatment after hours, you can call our emergency number. We are always here to assist when your child's dental health is at risk. Below are tips on dealing with urgent dental situations; you may want to display this list on your refrigerator or store it near your emergency phone numbers for easy reference.

Bitten Lip or Tongue
If your child has bitten his lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite with water gently and use a cold compress (a cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is.

Object Caught In Teeth
If your child has something caught between his teeth, use dental floss to gently remove it. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you are unable to remove the item with dental floss, give us a call.

Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth
If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of his tooth, have him rinse his mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off. Call us immediately.

Knocked Out Tooth

Primary (Baby) Teeth
If your child’s primary (baby) tooth is out of his mouth, it should not be put back in the socket. Trying to do so may force the blood clot or the root itself into the developing permanent tooth. This can cause damage to the developing permanent tooth. Additionally, there is a high percent that will abcess causing pain. Unless significant soft tissue damage is present antibiotics are not required.

Secondary (Permanent) Teeth
If your child's permanent tooth has been knocked out of his mouth, find the tooth and rinse it with milk or plain water (no soap), taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it's in place). If you can, place the tooth back in its socket immediately and hold it in place with a clean towel or cloth. If you can't return the tooth to its socket, place it in a clean container with milk. In either case, call us immediately and/or head to the hospital. If you act quickly it's possible to save the tooth. The chance of success is enhanced by minimizing the amount of time the tooth is out of it’s socket.

Loose Tooth
If your child has a very loose tooth, it should be removed to avoid being swallowed or inhaled.

Toothache
If your child complains of a toothache, rinse his mouth with warm water and inspect his teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children's pain relievers may be taken orally (Ibuprofen works best). Schedule an appointment immediately.

Broken Jaw
If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our emergency number and/or head to the hospital immediately. In many cases a broken jaw is the result of a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head can be dangerous and even life-threatening; therefore, go to the emergency room immediately.

Avoiding Injury
You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house to avoid falls. Don't let your child chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods. Always use car seats for young children and require seatbelts for older children. And if your child plays contact sports, have him wear a mouthguard. Ask us about creating a custom-fitted mouthguard for your child. Finally, prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office.