emergencies
Whether you’re a new or existing patient, The Tickled Tooth is here for you and your child in case of an emergency. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 818-790-6721. We’re here to help.
For after-hours emergencies, simply follow the prompts to leave a message for the doctor, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Below are some tips for handling common emergencies. However, if you’re experiencing an urgent medical emergency, please dial 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Toothache
Gently rinse the affected area with warm salt water. Avoid placing aspirin or any anesthetic gels directly on the gums or tooth. Take acetaminophen for pain relief and be sure to contact our office.
Broken Filling or Loose Crown
Clean the area gently and use warm water or dental floss to remove any food debris. Contact our office immediately so we can evaluate the situation and guide you on the best course of action.
Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
DO NOT try to reinsert the tooth. Gently rinse the mouth with water and stop the bleeding by applying gentle pressure with a clean towel, tissue, or gauze. You can give your child the appropriate dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen to manage pain. Contact our office so we can evaluate the situation and guide you on the best course of action.
Knocked-Out Adult Tooth
Find the tooth and handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. DO NOT scrub the tooth or use soap. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with cool water. If possible, gently place the tooth back in the socket and apply light pressure to reinsert it. Hold with light pressure. If you can’t reimplant the tooth, DO NOT place it in water. Store it in milk or your child’s saliva. Time is critical in saving the tooth, so please contact our office immediately.
Swelling or Abscess
An abscess typically signals an infection that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If left untreated, the infection can spread leading to facial swelling, which is a sign that the condition is becoming more serious. Please contact our office right away. If the swelling affects the face, neck, or eye, apply a cold compress and go to the nearest emergency room.
Bumped or chipped tooth
Treatment depends on the severity of the injury and whether the tooth is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth. Treatment options can range from monitoring the tooth, smoothing a chipped edge, to more involved procedures and in some cases extracting the tooth. Contact our office immediately so we can evaluate the situation and guide you on the best course of action.
Adult Tooth Behind Baby Tooth
This is a common situation and usually doesn’t require treatment. If the baby tooth is loose, help nature take its course and wiggle it. In some cases, we may need to remove the baby tooth to allow the adult tooth to come in properly. Contact our office to discuss the best course of action.
Broken Tooth
Rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you to the dentist. If the fragment is missing, don’t worry—there may still be a way to restore the tooth. Place the fragment in plain water to preserve it. If the nerve is exposed, additional treatment may be needed. Contact our office immediately.
