Dental emergencies have a way of happening at the worst possible moments. A fall at the playground, a collision during a game, a sudden toothache that will not let your child sleep. When something happens to your child’s teeth, knowing where to turn and what to do makes an enormous difference in the outcome.
At Lion’s Tooth Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we want to be the first call you make, and we want you to already know our number before you ever need it.
If your child is an established patient at Lion’s Tooth, we reserve emergency appointment slots every single day for exactly this reason. Call us as early as possible when something happens and we will do everything we can to get your child seen the same day.
Same day emergency care means your child is evaluated and treated by doctors who already know them, already have their records, and already understand their history. That continuity matters clinically and it matters to a frightened child who needs a familiar face in a stressful moment.
If your child is not yet a patient at Lion’s Tooth and you are experiencing a dental emergency, please call our office. We cannot guarantee same day availability for new patients, but we will always check our schedule and do our best to accommodate urgent situations when openings exist. We would rather you call and let us try than assume we cannot help.
If we are not able to see your child immediately, we will help direct you to the appropriate next step.
We provide comprehensive pediatric dental care with a focus on prevention, gentle treatment, sedation dentistry, and care for children with special needs, all in a warm, unhurried environment designed with kids and families in mind. Whatever your child needs, we meet them there.
We do not offer after hours phone consultation or emergency care outside of regular office hours. If your child experiences a dental emergency in the evening, overnight, or on a weekend, we recommend the following:
For injuries involving significant trauma, heavy bleeding, a suspected broken jaw, or any concern about your child’s overall safety, go to your nearest emergency room or call 911. The emergency room is the right first step for medical stabilization even when the primary injury involves the teeth.
For urgent dental concerns that are not medically threatening, such as a knocked out tooth, a broken tooth, or significant tooth pain, call our office first thing when we open. We will prioritize getting your child in as quickly as possible. If you are unsure whether something requires an ER visit, err on the side of going. It is always better to be seen and reassured than to wait through the night with an injury that needed attention.
Knowing what to do in the first few minutes after a dental injury can significantly affect the outcome.
Here is a quick reference for the most common situations.
Time is critical. Pick the tooth up by the crown, which is the white part, not the root. Do not scrub or rinse it aggressively. If possible, place it gently back in the socket and have your child hold it there, or store it in a small container of milk or your child’s saliva. Get to a dental office as quickly as possible. A knocked out permanent tooth has the best chance of being saved when reimplanted within 30 to 60 minutes.
Note that knocked out baby teeth are not reimplanted, as doing so can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Call our office for guidance.
Do not attempt to reinsert a knocked out baby tooth. Apply gentle pressure if there is bleeding and call our office to schedule an evaluation. A loosened baby tooth should also be evaluated to make sure it does not pose a risk to the child.
Rinse your child’s mouth gently with warm water. If there is swelling, apply a cold compress to the outside of the face. Save any tooth fragments if you can find them and bring them to the appointment. Call our office for same day evaluation.
Rinse your child’s mouth with warm water and check carefully for any food or debris lodged between the teeth. Do not place aspirin directly on the tooth or gum tissue. Children’s pain reliever can help manage discomfort until your child is seen. Call our office as soon as possible.
Injuries to the lips, tongue, or cheeks can bleed significantly even when they are not serious. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth. If bleeding does not slow within 15 to 20 minutes or if the laceration appears deep, go to the emergency room.
Try gently removing the object with dental floss. Do not use sharp instruments. If you cannot remove it, call our office rather than continuing to attempt removal at home.
Our team handles a full range of pediatric dental emergencies including knocked out or displaced teeth, broken, chipped, or fractured teeth, dental abscesses and infections, severe toothaches, dental injuries related to trauma or sports, and damaged dental restorations. For children with complex medical needs or those who require sedation for emergency treatment, our full range of sedation options including in-office general anesthesia with Dr. Klanke is available, as are our operating room privileges at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for patients who require that level of care.
The single most important thing you can do to prepare for a dental emergency is to establish care before one happens. Established patients at Lion’s Tooth receive priority access to our same day emergency slots, have their records on file, and have a team that already knows them walking into a stressful situation.
If your family is not yet part of the Lion’s Tooth family, we would love to welcome you before you ever need us urgently. A first visit is a low-pressure opportunity to meet our team, get your child comfortable in our office, and know exactly where to call when something unexpected happens.
If your child is experiencing a dental emergency during office hours, please call us immediately. We will do everything we can to help.
