If your child is having a dental emergency, please call our office.

Scarborough: 207.883.4203
Windham: 207-219-8602

If it is after hours, please follow instructions on our phone message.

Below are common dental emergencies and ways you can approach them.

Broken Tooth

Try to find the broken piece, keep it moist using a paper towel and a little water and place in a plastic bag. Call our office as the piece can often be rebonded.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Recover the tooth, making sure to hold it by the crown (top) and not the root end. Rinse, but do not clean or handle the tooth more than necessary. Reinsert the tooth in the socket and hold it in place using a clean piece of gauze or cloth. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, carry it in a cup containing milk or saliva, not water. Because time is essential, please call the office.

Bleeding After a Baby Tooth Falls Out

Fold a piece of gauze and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes; if bleeding continues, call our office for further guidance.

Toothache

Begin by cleaning around the sore tooth meticulously. Using warm salt water, rinse the mouth to displace any food trapped between teeth. For temporary pain relief, acetaminophen or ibuprofen is recommended, please use age appropriate dosage. Contact our office as soon as possible.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek

Ice can be applied to any bruised areas. For bleeding, apply firm (but gentle) pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop with pressure or continues after 15 minutes, call our office or go to an emergency room.

Cold & Canker Sores

Cold sores are typically a cluster of blisters. First infections may be inside the mouth but sore generally appear on the lips. Initial infection is similar to other viral infections and can include fever, swollen glands, and multiple sores inside the mouth. Recurrences are less severe and typically resolve within 7-10 days.

Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are painful sores inside the mouth that can appear as early as age 2. The sore may be painful for 3-4 days with complete healing typically occurring 10-15 days. 

For both cold and canker sores over-the-counter medications will usually provide temporary relief. If sores persist contact our office.

Possible Broken Jaw

In the event of jaw injury, you can gently tie the mouth close with a towel or tie. You can also support jaw with your hands and go immediately to an emergency room.