First Impressions Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

And that’s ok (whew!). Statistics show nearly half of all children will have some type of tooth injury during their childhood, despite our best efforts to keep them safe.  So what do we do when an injury happens? Here are a few at-home guidelines to follow:

E V A L U A T E  and comfort. 

Your first priority is to rule out any signs of concussion or head trauma. 

I D E N T I F Y  Is this a tooth or soft tissue injury?

• If a tooth injury: identify if it might be fractured (checking for any signs of pink nerve showing), displaced (can your child still bite down normally?), or knocked out entirely. Give us a call if you see worrisome conditions. 
• If a gum or soft tissue injury: apply pressure to the area that is bleeding and use a cold compress for swelling.

M O N I T O R  For all injuries, you want to keep an eye out for any swelling of the gums, continued pain, fever or change in the color of the tooth. 

* Please consider while reviewing these guidelines that every accident and child will be different. While we consider these general steps helpful to follow, we want you to always use your best judgment and instinct when it comes to taking the best care of your child. And remember, First Impressions staff is on-call to answer emergency questions and treat injuries, whether or not you’re an existing patient of ours.