Children's dental emergencies aren't just smaller versions of adults'. Baby teeth, growing jaws, and developing permanent teeth all change the calculus. Here's what every Scarsdale-area parent should know — ideally before they need it.
Knocked-out baby tooth: do NOT re-implant
This is the biggest difference between adult and child trauma. Replanting a baby tooth can damage the developing permanent tooth bud underneath. Don't try.
Do this instead:
- Find the tooth, store in milk (in case the dentist needs to confirm it's a baby tooth and not permanent).
- Apply gentle pressure with gauze for any bleeding.
- Cold compress on the outside for swelling.
- Book an appointment online — we'll examine the socket, check for fractures and discuss whether a space maintainer is needed.
Knocked-out permanent tooth: same as adult
For a permanent tooth (usually after age 6 or so), follow the adult protocol:
- Pick up by the crown, never the root.
- Rinse briefly with milk.
- Try to reinsert; if not, store in milk.
- Get to the dentist within 30–60 minutes.
Severe toothache in a child
If your child's pain is bad enough to interrupt sleep, comes with swelling or fever, or has lasted more than a day, treat it as an emergency. Children's infections can progress faster than adults' because their immune response is still developing.
Use children's ibuprofen at the package dose, warm salt-water rinse if old enough not to swallow, and a cold compress on the outside.
Falls and sports injuries
Common pediatric trauma includes lip lacerations, displaced teeth, fractured fronts, and tongue injuries. Signs of more serious injury that warrant the ER first:
- Loss of consciousness, even briefly
- Vomiting after the fall
- Suspected jaw fracture (jaw won't close properly, severe pain on opening)
- Heavy bleeding that doesn't slow with 10 minutes of pressure
If none of those apply, call us and come in.
Object stuck between teeth
Try gentle floss or a soft pick. Don't use sharp objects (toothpicks, needles, knives). If it won't come out, we can remove it without damaging the tooth.
What to expect at our office
We see children of all ages. Parents stay with the child throughout. We use kid-friendly language, smaller instruments, and proceed at the child's pace. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are available for anxious children.
After the emergency, we send notes to your child's pediatric dentist for restorative follow-up. If you don't have one, we'll refer you to a Scarsdale-area pediatric practice.
If your child has a dental injury right now, book an appointment online.