Emergency
First
Don’t panic, children usually have accidents when they are learning to walk, or just by being kids!
Second
If there are visible wounds clean them! Use a damp cloth to wipe off dirt, also local pressure may help to control bleeding. Watch for any excessive disorientation, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, or sleepiness, as well as for any seizures or loss of consciousness. If you notice any of these signs, take him or her to the nearest medical center.
Third
If you are a PATIENT OF RECORD in our office, call 966-4433 to inform us that you are on your way. If this is after hours, please listen to our instructions on how to leave a message for immediate attention.
If you are NOT A PATIENT OF RECORD of Dr. Carlos Dorantes or Summitview Pediatric Dentistry you may also call our office during business hours if you require immediate attention. If this happens after normal hours of operation, please drive to the nearest emergency room.
What do I do if my child "knocks out" one of his/her teeth out?
If the tooth is Permanent:
- Gently pick up the tooth by holding it from the crown (the white part that we can normally see).
- Gently rinse it with water making sure you don’t drop it down the drain.
- Clean any wounds. Watch for any excessive disorientation, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, or sleepiness, as well as for any seizures or loss of consciousness. If you notice any of these signs, take him or her to the nearest medical center.
- If you feel comfortable and ONLY if your child is awake and alert (not drowsy, not vomiting), attempt to place the tooth back in the socket (the hole in the mouth where the tooth used to be).
- Ask your child to bite down gently on a piece of cloth to hold it in place and take him/her to your dentist or to your local hospital.
- If you don’t feel comfortable placing it back in the mouth, or if your child is unconscious or drowsy or vomiting, place it immediately in COLD MILK. If you are in a sports facility or a school, ask if they have Save-A-Tooth™ solution.
- If you don’t have milk, and medical personnel are available ask them for some : “Normal Saline”.
- If all else fails, put the tooth in YOUR mouth. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO KEEP IT WET!!!
- If you don’t want to place the tooth in your mouth, you can always use water (COLD), but this is not ideal.
If the tooth is a BABY tooth, you still need to clean any wounds. After that, take your child to his pediatric dentist or local hospital for further tests.