Emergency Dental Care in San Tan Valley, AZ

It is very important to be prepared in case your child has an emergency. Even though we wish that they wouldn't, emergencies do happen. Being educated and knowing what to do in an emergency can be the difference between losing and saving a tooth. You also need to know your dentist's phone number. You need to contact us right away if you are having an emergency! If we are not open, go to the nearest emergency center.

• Call immediately — with teeth, timing decides outcomes
• Guidance over the phone on what to do first
• Save the tooth or fragment and keep it moist
• Comfort and pain relief are the first priority
• If we are closed, go to the nearest emergency center

The single most useful thing a parent can do is have the number saved and know the basics in advance. In the moment, with a distressed child and blood involved, nobody is calm enough to research what to do — as the practice's own guidance puts it, being educated and knowing what to do can be the difference between losing and saving a tooth. The most time-critical situation is a knocked-out permanent tooth. Handle it by the crown, never the root. Rinse briefly without scrubbing, and either place it back into the socket or keep it in milk. Do not let it dry out, and call immediately — the window is measured in hours. For a knocked-out baby tooth, do not attempt to put it back, as that can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Call us for advice.

Stay calm, because your child will take the cue from you. Rinse the mouth gently with warm water so you can see what has actually happened — injuries often look far worse than they are once blood is cleared. For bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze. For swelling or a knock to the face, a cold compress on the outside of the cheek helps. Save any broken fragments and bring them with you. For toothache, rinse with warm salt water and check for food trapped between teeth; give age-appropriate pain relief, and never place aspirin against the gum. Then call us at (480) 581-7681 and describe what happened. We will tell you whether to come straight in and what to do meanwhile. If we are closed and it cannot wait, go to the nearest emergency center.