When your child cracks a tooth on the playground or comes home from practice with a bent braces wire, you need to know two things fast. What do you do right now, and who do you call? NC Tooth Docs provides emergency pediatric dental care and orthodontic emergency care for families at our Huntersville, Harrisburg and Mooresville, NC offices. Our pediatric dentist, Dr. Amanda, is board certified in pediatric dentistry, and our orthodontist, Dr. J, is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics.
If your child has a dental emergency, call the office nearest you: Huntersville 704.456.9166, Harrisburg 704.850.9902 or Mooresville 704.457.1900. Tell the team what happened, and we will schedule an urgent appointment.
Is it a dental emergency, or can it wait?
Not every dental problem needs to be seen the same day, but some do. Use this table as a guide, and call us whenever you are unsure.
| What happened | What to do now |
|---|---|
| Knocked-out permanent (adult) tooth | Hold it by the crown, rinse gently and try to place it back in the socket without force, or keep it in milk. Call us immediately. |
| Knocked-out baby tooth | Do not put it back in. Control bleeding with gauze and call the same day. |
| Chipped or broken tooth | Save the pieces, rinse and apply a cold compress. Call as soon as possible. |
| Severe toothache with swelling or fever | Cold compress on the cheek and a pain reliever as directed. Call as soon as possible, as this may be an abscess. |
| Lost or loose filling or crown | Keep the area clean and avoid sticky and hard foods. Call for a prompt visit. |
| Loose bracket or poking wire | Cover it with orthodontic wax and call to schedule a repair. |
| Head injury, loss of consciousness or bleeding that will not stop | Go to the hospital emergency room or call 911, then call us once your child is stable. |
What should I do if my child’s tooth is knocked out?
The answer depends on whether it is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth.
Knocked-out permanent tooth
It may be possible to save a knocked-out adult tooth if you act quickly and come in for urgent treatment. Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse it gently and carefully try to put it back in its socket, but do not use any force. If that does not work, place the tooth in a small container of milk and call our office immediately. The sooner the tooth is treated, the better the chance of saving it.
Knocked-out baby tooth
Baby teeth should not be put back in, because replanting can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Have your child bite gently on gauze to control bleeding and call us. We will check the area and the surrounding teeth. If a baby tooth is lost early, the dentist may recommend a space maintainer to keep neighboring teeth from drifting into the gap.
What if my child chips or breaks a tooth?
Carefully collect any broken tooth pieces and bring them to your appointment. Use dental floss to remove tiny particles stuck between the teeth. Apply gauze to control bleeding and an ice pack or cold compress to reduce swelling. If a tooth is loose after a mouth injury, use a cold compress and give an over-the-counter pain reliever as needed, then contact us so we can schedule an urgent visit.
Treatment depends on how much of the tooth is damaged. A small chip may only need smoothing or bonding. A larger break may need a crown, and an injury that reaches the nerve of a baby tooth may need a baby root canal.
How do I know if a toothache is serious?
Common causes of tooth pain in children include decay and cavities, new teeth coming in, and enamel worn down by improper brushing. Mild discomfort from an erupting tooth usually passes. Call us promptly if your child has:
- extreme or worsening tooth pain
- swollen gums or facial swelling
- fever along with tooth pain
- pain that keeps them from eating or sleeping
Severe pain with swollen gums or fever can be a sign of a dental abscess. This is a dangerous infection that can spread to other parts of the body, so contact the office as soon as possible if you suspect one. Tooth sensitivity, on the other hand, often comes from cavities, brushing habits or enamel erosion, and can usually be checked at a regular appointment.
What about a lost filling or crown?
A lost or loose filling can cause sharp pain and sensitivity. Keep the exposed tooth clean and avoid foods that may get stuck in or between teeth until your child is seen. If a stainless steel crown comes off, keep it and bring it with you. Avoiding sticky foods such as fruit snacks and gum helps prevent crowns from coming loose in the first place.
What counts as an orthodontic emergency?
True orthodontic emergencies are rare. Most braces problems are uncomfortable but can be managed at home until a repair appointment with Dr. J’s team.
- General soreness: new braces or a recent adjustment can leave teeth and gums sore. Over-the-counter pain relievers and rinsing with lukewarm salt water usually help.
- Loose bracket: call us for a repair appointment. If it rubs, cover it with a small piece of orthodontic wax.
- Loose or poking wire: try to gently move it with clean, alcohol-sterilized tweezers. If it will not move, cover the end with orthodontic wax while you wait for your appointment.
- Loose appliance: carefully remove the loose piece if you can, and call the office right away to schedule a repair.
Our life with braces page covers foods and habits that help prevent broken brackets and wires.
How does NC Tooth Docs treat dental emergencies for kids?
When you call, the team will ask what happened and schedule an urgent appointment. At the visit, the dentist examines the injured area, takes X-rays when needed to check the roots and developing teeth, and explains the options before any treatment begins. Depending on the injury, treatment may include a white filling, a crown, a baby root canal or a tooth extraction.
A dental injury can frighten a child. We offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for procedures such as baby root canals and extractions. For children who need more extensive treatment or have significant anxiety, Dr. Amanda can discuss sedation options, including IV sedation in our office. After treatment, our post-operative instructions explain how to manage soreness, diet and healing at home.
Can dental emergencies be prevented?
Not all of them, but many can. Children who play contact sports should wear a mouthguard, and a custom-fitted mouthguard offers the best protection, especially for kids in braces. Regular exams and cleanings catch cavities before they turn into painful infections, and sealants help protect molars from decay.
Frequently asked questions about pediatric dental emergencies
Can an injury to a baby tooth affect the adult tooth?
It can. The permanent tooth develops just under the baby tooth, so a hard knock can sometimes reach it. That is why the dentist checks the surrounding teeth after an injury and may take X-rays to look at the developing tooth, even when the baby tooth itself looks fine.
Which offices treat children’s dental emergencies?
Pediatric dentistry is available at all three locations: Huntersville at 4605 Hylas Lane, Unit B, Harrisburg at 4079 Harris Square Drive and Mooresville at 132 Welton Way. Call whichever is closest to you.
What should I bring to an emergency visit?
Bring any tooth pieces, a knocked-out permanent tooth stored in milk, or a crown that has come off. A list of your child’s medications and allergies also helps the dentist decide on pain relief and treatment.
Get help for your child’s dental emergency
For anything urgent, please call the office directly rather than using the online form. For a problem that can wait a few days, such as mild sensitivity, you can request a kids dentistry appointment online and our team will contact you to schedule.