For our existing patients, we provide 24-hour coverage for dental emergencies. In the event of an urgent dental situation, please call us as soon as possible so that we may assess your child’s needs and if necessary, schedule an appointment quickly. For an after-hours emergency, call 781-391-8300 and follow the instructions on how to reach the dentist on call. On the rare occasion that we are not available, we recommend going to the Boston Children’s Hospital Emergency Department where they always have a dentist on call.
Below are tips on dealing with urgent dental situations. You may want to display this list on your refrigerator or store it near your emergency phone numbers for easy reference.
Broken, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth
If your child has chipped or broken a piece off of their tooth, try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off, and place the fragment in milk. Call us immediately so we can determine if emergent treatment is needed or if it can wait for our normal office hours. We recommend taking photos
Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
If your child’s permanent tooth has been knocked out of the mouth, find the tooth and rinse it with water (no soap), taking care to only touch the crown of the tooth (the part you can see when it’s in place). Place the tooth in a clean container with milk. Call us immediately. If you don't get a response quickly, then head into Boston Children's Hospital. If you act quickly it's possible to save the tooth.
Toothache
If your child complains of a toothache, inspect the teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. Do not apply any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums and aspirin is contraindicated for children. Children’s pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible during regular office hours.
Bitten Lip or Tongue
If your child has bitten their lip or tongue severely enough to cause bleeding, clean the bite gently with water and use a cold compress (a cold, wet towel or washcloth pressed firmly against the area) to reduce or avoid swelling. Give us a call to help determine how serious the bite is.
Swollen Cheek
If your child develops a swollen cheek directly after a dental procedure with local anesthesia, then it is most likely due to your child biting their cheek without realizing it. This usually takes 1 week to heal on its own, and we recommend analgesics and cold compresses. However, if they develop a swollen cheek due to a cavity or randomly, please give us a call as an evaluation and antibiotic prescription may be necessary.
Object Caught In Teeth
If your child has something caught between their teeth, use dental floss to gently remove it. Never use a metal, plastic, or sharp tool to remove a stuck object. If you are unable to remove the item with dental floss, give us a call.
Broken Jaw
If you know or suspect your child has sustained a broken jaw, use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Call our emergency number and/or head to Boston Children's Hospital immediately. In many cases a broken jaw is the result of a blow to the head. Severe blows to the head can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
Avoiding Injury
You can help your child avoid dental emergencies. Child-proof your house to avoid falls. Don't let your child chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods. Always use car seats for young children and require seat belts for older children. And if your child plays contact sports, have them wear a mouthguard. Ask us about creating a custom-fitted mouthguard for your child. Finally, prevent toothaches with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to our office.
Orthodontic Emergencies
How to place wax on the bracket: 1:34
Loose bracket: 2:33
Poking metal tie: 3:01
Lost elastic tie: 3:31
Loose wire: 3:50
Poking wire: 4:39
