Dental First Aid
Following a Head or Mouth Injury:
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Calm the injured person.
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Check to determine the type of injury.
If serious, contact parent and arrange to take child to emergency room
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Check for knocked out tooth.
Find tooth and...
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If minor bleeding:
Apply direct pressure with sterile gauze or clean cloth
If bleeding doesn’t stop within ten minutes, contact parent and arrange to take child to emergency room.
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If bleeding profusely:
Contact parent and arrange for emergency services by an emergency squad or emergency room
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ACTION PLAN
Knocked Out Tooth
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Find tooth – do not handle it by the roots.
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If it’s dirty, rinse tooth gently – don’t scrub or use antiseptic.
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For permanent tooth (age 5 and older): Gently place tooth back in socket; have child hold with finger or tissue. If you can’t easily replace tooth, place tooth in glass of milk.
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For primary or baby tooth (under age 5): Place tooth in glass of milk.
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If milk is unavailable, wrap tooth in clean wet cloth or gauze.
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Contact parent and arrange to TAKE CHILD AND TOOTH TO DENTIST IMMEDIATELY.
Loosened/Chipped Tooth
Clean the area with warm water.
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Find the chipped portion of the tooth.
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Avoid movement of tooth.
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Apply cold compress to face to minimize swelling
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Contact parent and arrange to take child and the tooth chip to dentist immediately.
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Tooth Pushed Into Gums
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Wash area with warm water.
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Do not attempt to move tooth into correct position.
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Contact parent and arrange to take child to dentist immediately.
Toothache
Injury to Lips, Tongue, Cheek
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Do not place aspirin on gum tissue of aching tooth (aspirin will burn tissue!)
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Contact parent and arrange to take child to dentist as soon as possible.
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Rinse affected area with warm water.
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Place cold compress over area to minimize swelling.
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If lip injury due to fall or if tooth chipped, contact parent and arrange to take child to dentist immediately (foreign matter lodged in lip may cause infection). See #2
Broken or Dislocated Jaw
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Immobilize jaw by placing a scarf, necktie, or towel under the chin and tying the ends on top of the head
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Contact parents and arrange to take child to emergency room for examination immediately.
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Arrange to have a dentist on call for weekend or evening emergencies.