What Constitutes an Emergency

TOOTHACHE

Toothache is common in children of all ages and rarely occurs without cause.   If pain persists, contact the pediatric dentist.  Some common causes of toothache include: tooth fractures, tooth decay, tooth trauma, and wisdom teeth eruption (adolescence).

How you can help:

  1. Cleanse the area using warm water. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth
  2. Check for impacted food and remove it as necessary
  3. Apply a cold compress to the affected area to reduce swelling
  4. Contact the pediatric dentist to seek advice

CUT OR BITTEN TONGUE LIP CHEEK

Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to the hospital emergency room.

DENTAL AVULSION (KNOCKED OUT TOOTH)

If a tooth has been knocked-out of the child’s mouth completely, it is important to contact the pediatric dentist immediately.  In general, pediatric dentists do not attempt to reimplant avulsed primary (baby) teeth, because the reimplantation procedure itself can cause damage to the tooth bud, and thereby damage the emerging permanent tooth.

Pediatric dentists always attempt to reimplant avulsed permanent teeth, unless the trauma has caused irreparable damage.  The reimplantation procedure is almost always more successful if it is performed within one hour of the avulsion, so time is of the essence!

How you can help:

  1. Recover the tooth.  DO NOT touch the tooth roots! Handle the crown only
  2. Rinse off dirt and debris with water without scrubbing or scraping the tooth
  3. For older children, insert the tooth into its original socket using gentle pressure, or encourage the child to place the tooth in the cheek pouch.  For younger children, submerge the tooth in a glass of milk or saliva (do not attempt to reinsert the tooth in case the child swallows it)
  4. DO NOT allow the tooth to dry during transportation.  Moisture is critically important for reimplantation success
  5. Call our office immediately.  Time is of the essence and the faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth

BROKEN OR FRACTURED TOOTH

The crown is the largest, most visible part of the tooth.  In most cases, the crown is the part of the tooth that sustains trauma. The pediatric dentist can readily assess the severity of the fracture using dental X-rays, but any change in tooth color (for example, pinkish or yellowish tinges inside the tooth) is an emergency warning sign.  Minor crown fractures often warrant the application of dental composite, whereas more severe crown fractures sometimes require pulp treatments.

How you can help:

  1. Rinse the child’s mouth with warm water
  2. Place a cold, moist compress on the affected area
  3. Offer strong pain relief (for example, Children’s Tylenol)
  4. Call our office to have the tooth evaluated. Fractures to permanent teeth are much more serious than fractures to primary teeth but call immediately if a primary tooth is fractured nonetheless

FRACTURED JAW

If a broken or fractured jaw is suspected, proceed immediately to the Emergency Room.  In the meantime, encourage the child not to move the jaw.  In the case of a very young child, gently tie a scarf lengthways around the head and jaw to prevent movement.

HEAD INJURY/HEAD TRAUMA

If the child has received trauma to the head, proceed immediately to the Emergency Room.  Even if consciousness has not been lost, it is important for pediatric doctors to rule out delayed concussion and internal bleeding.

 

If you have questions about dental emergencies, please contact our office.

Our Location

150 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217 (between Butler St. & Douglas St.)

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Park Slope Kids Dental Care

Monday:

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

alternating

Tuesday:

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

Wednesday:

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-2:00 pm

alternating

Sunday:

Closed

  • "My child had the best check-up ever… she even had to have a filling. My daughter didn’t feel any pain and said she really liked Dr Francis!! The office is also great and inviting. Overall a great experience."
    Felicia G.
  • "If you are looking for the perfect place to take your little one for his/her super-important first dental visit, this is the PERFECT FIT! I noticed the new practice that opened up in the neighborhood near where I work, and I’m so glad I gave it a try! Dr. Francis was amazing she made my little guy (he’s 3) feel completely at ease for his first appointment at the dentist. He don’t even cry once! If you knew my kid, you would know that is a major accomplishment! The office is clean and modern with state of the art equipment; totally unexpected for a kids dental office. I have decided to officially make Dr. Francis my munchkin’s dentist! I would definitely recommend the office to other parents and I have already passed the info along to friends and coworkers."
    Melanie M
  • "I have 3-year old twins and we visited Park Slope Kids Dental Care on 3/1 and it was a great experience. Dr. Francis is fantastic and her staff are wonderful. I had to reschedule my appointment at the last minute and they were super accommodating. The office is beautiful and kid-friendly–really. I’ve been to other offices where they claim to be kid-friendly and all I can see that makes it “friendly” are a few books and pint-size chairs. Nicole–mom to C & P (the best gifts ever)"
    Nicole M.
  • "Dr. T Francis at Park Slope Kids Dental Care is great. At our appt yesterday, I hadn’t wanted to let all three to the exam room at once because they would incite a riot, but the doctor said that she welcomed it. She also let my eldest hold instruments during her sisters’ exam. Lovely doctor; great practice."
    Nicole M
  • "I like that this a friendly kids environment dentist office. They make the kids very comfortable and happy smiling teeth. I recommend to every parent who looking for a kid zone dentist office that won’t have your kids screaming their head off."
    Tanya R.
  • "I cannot rave enough about this place! Dr. Francis was amazing and the staff was friendly and professional. The office is clean and modern, with lots of cool activities for kids. I like it that they will accomodate you if you don’t want your kid watching tv! A huge plus in my book! My son is 4 and the exam went off without a hitch. Before we knew it, his teeth were clean, his issues were addressed, and we were out the door with a balloon and a goodie bag! I was dreading this day, but we made it out without my son having a metldown! Dr. Francis is a godsend. This will be his dentist through college!!!!"
    Martien J