Never hesitate to call us in a dental emergency. Children’s dental emergencies may involve toothaches, accidents or injuries relating to the teeth, trauma to the soft tissues in the mouth, or dental pain. Please feel confident that pediatric dental emergencies always take priority with us.

During regular office hours, arrangements will be made to see your child promptly. Our office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If your child has a dental emergency during our office hours, please call us immediately at (805) 461-1182. We provide emergency dental services for children of all ages through San Luis Obispo County, including the communities of Atascadero, Paso Robles, Templeton, and San Luis Obispo.

Emergencies that might require immediate attention include:

Knocked-out primary (baby) tooth

Apply pressure with wet gauze if bleeding. Contact our office as soon as possible.

Knocked-out permanent tooth

Stay calm. Do not scrub the tooth. If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze. If you can’t put the tooth back into the socket, place the tooth in a container of milk (water if milk is not available). If there is no milk or water put the tooth carefully in your mouth between your lip and gum. You must keep the tooth moist! Call our office immediately. The bottom line is if the tooth is out of the mouth and dry for more than 60 minutes the likelihood of saving the tooth is quite slim. If it is kept moist the success rate goes up.

Fractured or chipped tooth

Contact our office as soon as possible. Our goal is to save the tooth and prevent infection. Rinse the mouth out with water; apply an ice compress to reduce swelling if soft tissue is also traumatized. Once we have evaluated the fracture, we will recommend the best treatment option. This might include simply disking or “smoothing” a small fracture, to repairing with a white-colored restoration, to possibly more extensive needs based upon the severity.

Toothache

Call our office immediately to schedule an appointment. Avoid any foods that seem to bring on the pain. Children's Advil can assist your child in limiting pain.

Soft tissue injury

If you child is experiencing pain from a cold/canker sore or a cut or bitten tongue, lip, or cheek, please call our office as soon as possible.