Something happened!  What do I do?

You can help prevent dental injuries. Reduce oral injuries in sports by wearing mouth guards. Always use a car seat for young children and require seat belts for everyone else in the car. Child-proof your home to prevent falls, electrical injuries, and choking on small objects. Protect children from unnecessary toothaches with regular dental visits and preventive care. Sometimes, even though you do everything exactly right, bad things happen.  Click the buttons below to see some tips on what to do in each case.
I've got a bad toothache!	I bit my tongue, lip or cheek and it's bleeding!
Oh No!  I knocked out one of my permanent teeth!	Help!  I broke a tooth!
I broke some wires on my braces!	I lost a baby tooth and it won't stop bleeding!
I've got a yukky cold sore!	I should have used my mouth guard! Be sure to read this one to save yourself some real trouble!
Note:  The tips on the these pages follow the guidelines set out by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and have been reviewed and approved by a licensed, qualified dentist.  Even so, sometimes opinions may differ on the best thing to do in an emergency situation, so check with your regular dentist for more guidance.  You should always consult your local dentist concerning specific treatment questions and options. Don't have a regular dentist?  If it's a real emergency, you can always go to the nearest hospital.  They'll most likely have a dentist they can call to come in and help. In the United States, call the American Dental Association (312-440-2617; www.ada.org) or the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (312-337-2169; www.aapd.org) for an accredited pediatric dentist in your area.

BlackDog Goes to the Dentist

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Crayon Alphabet courtesy of Phyllis's Backgrounds and Alphabets.  Thanks!