WHAT IS A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
A dental emergency is any injury or infection affecting your child’s teeth, gums or mouth that needs immediate attention.
Dental Emergencies Include:
- A knocked-out PERMANENT tooth (For a knocked-out PERMANENT tooth, find the tooth, hold it by the crown or top, not the root, gently rinse if dirty, and try to place it back in the socket. If that’s not possible, keep it moist in milk or saliva.)
- A tooth that’s been pushed out of position or loosened
- A cracked, fractured or broken tooth
- Severe toothache or pain that won’t respond to pain reliever
- Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth or gums
- Swelling in the face, gums or mouth
- An abscess or infection in the mouth
- A broken or fractured jaw (go directly to emergency room)
Steps to Take in a Dental Emergency:
- Stay calm to help your child stay calm.
- Call us immediately at 860-489-1328.
- If you cannot reach us, go immediately to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Emergency Room, 540 Litchfield St, Torrington, CT, Phone 860-496-6650; UConn Emergency Room, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT, Phone 860-679-2000; or Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC,) 282 Washington St., Hartford, CT, Phone 860-545-9205.
The following is NOT usually a Dental Emergency:
- A lost or loose baby tooth (this is normal)
- A small chip in a tooth with no pain
- Mild toothache that responds to pain reliever
- Food stuck between teeth
- An adult tooth growing behind baby teeth
- Lost space maintainer or crown
At Brooker Memorial, we’re here to help keep your child’s smile healthy and safe!