Emergency Care

Laxer, Long & Savage has a pediatric dentist on call 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, ready to handle any dental emergency your child may have. We offer some general guidelines below, but in the event of an emergency, or if you have a question or concern, we encourage you to call our office so that we can advise you on the best course of action.

Toothache

Clean around the sore tooth carefully and have your child rinse with warm salt water to displace any food trapped between teeth. For temporary pain relief, acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be helpful. Contact us as soon as possible if pain is persistent or there are any visible signs of trauma or facial swelling.

Never place aspirin on the aching tooth or on the gum. Aspirin contact causes chemical burns.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek

Apply ice to any bruised or swelling areas. For bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop with pressure or continues after 30 minutes, call the office.

Broken Braces and Wires

Do not remove a broken appliance unless it comes out very easily. If it is lodged or painful to remove, cover any sharp edges with wax, cotton balls, gauze or chewing gum and contact us immediately.

Never attempt to remove any wire that is caught in the gums, cheek or tongue. Call us immediately for emergency treatment.

If the loose or broken appliance is not causing your child any discomfort, emergency care is usually not required. Simply call our office and we'll schedule a visit to repair the appliance as soon as possible.

Broken Tooth

Rinse the area with warm water. Apply a cold compress to the face in the area of the injury. If possible, recover any broken tooth fragments and immediately call the office.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Time is critical in the case of a lost permanent tooth. Call our office as quickly as possible and see a dentist immediately! If you are able to find the tooth, handle it by the top (crown), not the root. Rinse it gently, but do not clean or handle unnecessarily. Try to reinsert the tooth into its socket and have your child hold it in place by biting on a clean gauze or cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place it in a cup of milk or water for transport to your dentist.

Possible Broken Jaw

If you believe your child may have a broken jaw, proceed immediately to a hospital emergency room.

Bleeding After Loss of a Baby Tooth

Fold a piece of gauze and place it over the bleeding area. Have your child bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes. If bleeding continues after 30 minutes, please call our office for further instructions.

Cold or Canker Sores

Over-the-counter medications will provide effective temporary relief. Salt water and peroxide rinses may also help. If sores persist, call our office to schedule an examination so that we can diagnose any underlying issues that might be causing the condition.