Dental emergencies
Dental emergencies inevitably happen when the dental office is closed or on a weekend. However, if an emergency happens during business hours, please give us a call as soon as possible. There may be time during our schedule to care for your child that day.
We’re happy to offer after-hours emergency care for our patients if necessary. Start by calling our office at 585-872-0150 and follow the menu prompts to reach the pediatric dentist on call. You can also text our on call dentist at the number listed on the voicemail. Have photos of your child’s injury ready for our dentist to review.
With appropriate guidance and triage, most dental injuries can wait for treatment until the next day the office is open. In extreme situations such as a knocked out permanent tooth, we may recommend immediate treatment. Please be aware that an after-hours charge may apply to cover the cost of opening the office, bringing in support staff to care for your child, etc.
Toothaches and abscesses
Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm salt water to dislodge trapped food or debris. Do not place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth as this can cause a burn. If the face is swollen, apply a cold compress. Take ibuprofen for pain and call your dentist as soon as possible.
Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek
If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a folded paper towel or washcloth. A popsicle is good to have on hand for cuts in the mouth; the cold is soothing and the sugar is distracting. Have photos of the injuries ready if you call us for an after-hours evaluation.
Broken Teeth
Locate and save any broken tooth fragments in cold milk. Call us and have photos of the fractured teeth ready for us to evaluate. We may decide to see your child after-hours if there is a nerve exposure.
Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
This is a true dental emergency where treatment time is critical.
Call us immediately. Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the top (crown), not the pointy root portion. If there is debris on the tooth, you may rinse it gently with water only; do not scrub the tooth. Try to reinsert the tooth in its socket. After reinserting it, have the child hold the tooth in place by biting on a paper towel or washcloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place it in cold milk and bring to us for treatment.
Knocked out baby tooth
We do not replace baby teeth that have been knocked out.
However, contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. An office visit may be necessary to determine if there are other injuries present besides the lost baby tooth. Additionally, it is ideal to take an x-ray of the area to make certain that there are no remaining tooth fragments present in the jaws and no other injuries.
Bleeding after Baby Tooth Falls Out
All bleeding eventually stops. Fold a paper towel and place it over the bleeding area. Have the child bite on the gauze for 5 - 10 minutes.
Canker Sores
Many children occasionally suffer from canker sores and thankfully they resolve on their own in 7 – 10 days. During the healing process, over-the-counter preparations may provide some relief. Refrain from acidic foods and drinks such tomatoes, orange juice or pickles, as these foods tend to irritate the area. Canker sores may be caused by a variety of reasons and sometimes a switch to an SLS-free toothpaste may help prevent future sores.
Possible broken jaw
If a fractured jaw is suspected, immediately go to your nearest emergency department as intensive treatment may be required.
