Dental Emergencies, Post-OP Instructions - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City

Dental Emergencies
Toothache
Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek
Knocked out Baby Tooth
Knocked out Permanent Tooth
Chipped or fractured tooth
Care of Mouth after Trauma
Preventing dental injuries

Post-Op Instructions
Care of Mouth after Local Anesthetic
Care of Mouth after Extractions
Care of Mouth after Dental Work (fillings/crowns)

Dental Emergencies

Toothache

Clean the area of the affected tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris. Ibuprofen, (Motrin) is very effective for dental pain. Read the back of the bottle for recommended dosage for your child. Never place aspirin or other analgesics directly on the gums- this will cause a chemical burn! For swelling, place a cold compress, take ibuprofen and contact us for an appointment. If swelling is severe, contact your closest hospital.
Dental Emergencies - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek

Clean the affected area. Apply a cold compress to affected area. If the area is bleeding apply pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. If bleeding is excessive and does not seem to be slowing after 15-20 minutes, take the child to the closest hospital. For severe cuts, seek the emergency room.
Dental Emergencies - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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Knocked out Baby Tooth

Remain calm and find the tooth. Clean the area. Place a clean cloth or gauze over the site and apply pressure to contain the bleeding. Contact us for evaluation.
Dental Emergencies - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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Knocked out Permanent Tooth

The faster the tooth is re-implanted into the socket the better chance the tooth has for survival. So first, remain calm. Find the tooth. Gently, run the tooth under cool water, being careful to handle the tooth by the crown of the tooth (the portion that normally is seen in the mouth). If possible, replace the tooth back into the socket and hold it there with a clean cloth or gauze. If you can't replace the tooth, place the tooth in a container of Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (hard to have on hand), or milk, or saliva. The tooth will need to have a splint placed by the dentist for the best survival chances.
Dental Emergencies - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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Chipped or fractured tooth

Rinse the mouth and remove any debris. Place a cold compress on the area. Try to locate the chip or fractured portion of the tooth and place it in a container with Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (hard to find), or milk, or saliva. The dentist will determine if the fractured piece will be usable for replacement. Maintain a soft diet and avoid utilizing the affected tooth for a couple of weeks or until the child feel back to normal.
Dental Emergencies - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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Care of Mouth after Trauma

Keep the traumatized area as clean as possible. Use ibuprofen and cold compresses for swelling reduction. Avoid extreme hot or cold foods. Schedule an appointment for an evaluation. Watch for darkening of traumatized teeth. This is indication of a dying nerve within the tooth. It is also important to watch for infection (abscess) in the area of the trauma. If you notice a change in the color of the teeth, or an abscess/swelling, contact our office for an appointment.
Dental Emergencies - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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Preventing dental injuries

Reduce oral injuries in sports by wearing a properly fitted mouth guard.
Always use a car seat for young children. Seat belts for all others.
Child proof your home to prevent falls, electrical injuries and choking on small objects.
Protect your child from unnecessary toothaches with routine dental visits and good oral hygiene practices.
Dental Emergencies - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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Post-Op Instructions

Care of Mouth after Local Anesthetic

Your child has had a local anesthetic (numbing) for their dental procedure.
If the dental work was in the lower jaw, your child's lip, cheek, teeth and tongue on the side that was treated will feel numb (or asleep) for approximately two hours following the procedure. If the work was on the top jaw, the teeth, lip and some of the cheek will be numb.
It is very important that the child does not pull, bite, suck or play with the area that is numb, doing so can cause swelling and if the child bites the area, major trauma that will take weeks to heal properly. Please monitor your child during this numb phase and it is best to have your child on a liquid diet until the anesthetic has worn off.
Post-OP Instructions - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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Care of Mouth after Extractions

Your child has had a tooth "wiggled out" or extracted. The area around the socket is numb or asleep from the local anesthetic, so please do not let your child scratch, chew, suck or play with numb area. Your child should be closely monitored so that he/she does not injure his/her lip, tongue or cheek before the anesthesia wears off.

A gauze has been placed on the site to help control bleeding and also to keep pressure on the site. Change this gauze when needed for the first 15-20 minutes after the extraction. Once the clot has formed, do not replace the gauze.

Remember the rules that are in place for the day: don't allow your child to drink through a straw, don't have your child spit excessively, don't drink carbonated beverages and have your child keep his/her fingers away from extraction area.

Some bleeding is to be expected. If unusual or sustained bleeding occurs, keep applying pressure with clean gauze. If there are no changes, don't hesitate to contact our office.

The child should have a soft diet for a day or two and not be allowed to eat crunchy snacks such as popcorn or chips that may get lodged into the site.
Post-OP Instructions - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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Care of Mouth after Dental Work (fillings/crowns)

Your child has had local anesthesia. It is very important that the child does not pull, bite, suck or play with the area that is numb, doing so can cause swelling and if the child bites the area, major trauma that will take weeks to heal properly. Please monitor your child during this numb phase and it is best to have your child on a liquid diet until the anesthetic has worn off.

The dental work that has been completed on your child will require good oral hygiene practices to ensure the maximum longevity. Please, floss and brush the teeth, gums and the dental work and refrain from sticky candies that may dislodge your dental work.
Post-OP Instructions - Crocodile Smiles Children's Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-1616

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