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Port Dover Family Dentistry
Emergency Dental Care for Children in Nanticoke
A child’s toothache, injury or facial swelling can worry any parent. Nanticoke families can learn first steps and when to call our Port Dover dental office.
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Caring for Nanticoke patients at our Port Dover office
Browse every service for Nanticoke patientsWhen a child is hurting
Staying calm helps your child and helps the dentist.
Children fall off bikes, collide on the playground and bite into things they should not. They also get toothaches and gum infections that seem to appear overnight. A dental emergency in a child can be frightening for the whole family, but knowing a few first steps and when to call makes it easier to act quickly and sensibly.
If your child has a dental problem in Nanticoke, phone our Port Dover office and describe what has happened. The team can help you judge how urgent it is, explain what to do at home and arrange for the dentist to see your child as appropriate.
Common situations
Different emergencies call for different first steps.
Injuries to teeth
Chipped, loosened, pushed-in or knocked-out teeth are common after falls and sports. For baby teeth, do not try to replant a tooth that has come out. For permanent teeth, handle by the crown, keep moist in milk and call right away. Collect any broken fragments. Check lips and tongue for cuts and apply gentle pressure with clean gauze.
Pain and swelling
Toothache, a swollen gum or face, or a bump on the gum can point to decay or infection. Note whether your child has a fever or difficulty eating. A cold compress on the cheek may ease discomfort. Children’s pain relief should be given only as directed for their age and weight. Never place tablets against the gum.
Judging urgency
Know when the hospital comes first.
Emergency medical signs
Go to emergency or call 911 if your child has a head injury with drowsiness, confusion or vomiting, bleeding that will not stop after firm pressure, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling that is spreading rapidly toward the eye or neck. These require medical care immediately. The dental issue can be addressed once your child is safe.
When to call the dentist
Call the dental office promptly for knocked-out permanent teeth, teeth that have moved, broken teeth with pain, toothaches that wake your child or swelling without breathing difficulties. Describe the injury or symptoms, your child’s age and when it began. The team will advise on timing and what to do before you arrive.
At the appointment
The dentist balances urgency with your child’s comfort.
Examining the child
The dentist examines the injured or painful area, checks neighbouring teeth and soft tissues and may take X-rays to assess roots and developing adult teeth. Explanations are given in age-appropriate language. Let the team know if your child is very frightened, has special needs or has had difficult dental experiences, so they can adapt their approach.
Treatment and comfort
Treatment may involve smoothing or bonding a chipped tooth, repositioning and splinting a moved tooth, treating an infection or occasionally removing a damaged baby tooth. Sometimes the first visit focuses on relieving pain and stabilizing the situation, with further treatment planned later. The dentist will explain the options and next steps clearly.
Follow-up
Injured teeth sometimes change weeks later.
Home care while healing
Offer soft foods, help your child keep the area clean with gentle brushing and follow any specific instructions given. Watch for increasing pain, swelling, fever or a pimple on the gum, and call if they appear. Keep your child away from contact sports until the dentist says it is safe to return.
Watching for later changes
Injured baby teeth may darken or develop problems later, and injuries can sometimes affect the adult teeth developing underneath. Follow-up appointments allow the dentist to monitor healing. If the injury occurred during sport, ask about a properly fitted mouthguard to help reduce the risk of another dental injury.
Planning your appointment
Getting help from Nanticoke
Call our Port Dover office as soon as possible after a dental injury or sudden pain. Describe what happened and your child’s symptoms so the team can advise on the next steps and timing.
Bring any tooth fragments in milk, your child’s health card and a list of medications or allergies.
Port Dover Family Dentistry
697 Norfolk County Hwy 6, Unit 2, Port Dover, ON N0A 1N2519-583-2929Directions to our office (opens in a new tab)Office hours & contact detailsBefore you book
Children’s dental emergency questions
Have a question about your situation? Our team can help you plan a visit.
Should I put a knocked-out baby tooth back in?
No. Replanting a baby tooth can damage the adult tooth developing beneath it. Keep your child calm, control bleeding with gentle pressure and call the dental office for advice on whether your child should be seen and when.
What if a permanent tooth is knocked out?
Find the tooth, handle it by the crown and keep it moist in milk or saliva. Contact a dentist immediately, since time is critical. If you have been advised how to do it, gently replanting the tooth may help preserve it.
When is a child’s toothache an emergency?
Pain with facial swelling, fever, difficulty eating or pain that keeps your child awake should be assessed promptly. Swelling that spreads or affects breathing or swallowing requires emergency medical care immediately.
Can I give my child pain medicine before the appointment?
Over-the-counter pain relief suitable for children may be used according to the package directions for their age and weight, if it is safe for them. Do not place medication on the gums. Ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.
Will my child need follow-up after an injury?
Often yes. Injured teeth can change over weeks or months, and the dentist may want to check healing and the development of adult teeth. Keep follow-up appointments even if your child seems fine.
Injury care for children and teens
Children’s Dentistry →Knocked-Out Tooth Treatment →
A knocked-out adult tooth needs fast action. Nanticoke patients can learn how to handle and store the tooth and when to call our Port Dover office right away.
Dental Trauma Treatment →
Falls, sports and accidents can loosen, crack or dislodge teeth. Nanticoke patients can learn first steps and how injured teeth are assessed in Port Dover.