What do I do in an emergency?

In case of a dental emergency, please call our office for further instructions on how to either reach Dr. Johnson or the pediatric dentist that is taking emergent calls if he is out of town. For after-hours emergencies or questions, please call our office at 662-840-8540 and follow our instructions .

Our child has fractured their tooth. What do you suggest?

Rinse debris from injured area with warm water. Place cold compresses over the face in the area of injury. Placement of Vaseline over the area of the broken tooth will aid in decreasing sensitivity. Locate and save any broken tooth fragments in milk. Contact our office as soon as possible .

My child accidentally knocked out her tooth, what should I do?

If a permanent tooth is knocked out, try to replace back into socket or if the child can hold it under the tongue until you come into our office. Contact our office as soon as possible.

What can I do about my child’s toothache?

Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth with warm salt water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth. If the face is swollen or the pain still persists, contact our office as soon as possible.

What should be done about a cut or bitten tongue, lip or cheek?

Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to the emergency room.

Small procedures in cooperative children can often be done under local anesthesia with or without nitrous oxide. The most common form of sedation we routinely use in our office is nitrous oxide (laughing gas). This is given through a small breathing mask which is placed over the child's nose. The AAPD recognizes this technique as a very safe, effective technique to help relax your child during treatment.

What are sealants, fillings and crowns?

A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) for the back teeth (premolars and molars), where most cavities in children can form. This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque, and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth. However, cavities between the teeth are not protected by sealants. As long as there is no cavity in the tooth, sealants will be recommended for all children. If your child has a cavity, a filling is placed after the cavity is removed. Most of the time, the filling is a tooth colored (white) filling, but there are certain situations in which a silver filling is necessary. In a primary tooth, if a cavity is too large to restore with a filling, a crown may be recommend or the tooth may need to come out. If the cavity is too large and has involved the nerve of the tooth, then the nerve will be removed (pulpotomy) along with the cavity, and a crown will be placed. A crown can either be tooth colored or stainless steel. For front teeth, white crowns are routinely used for esthetics. For back teeth, stainless steel crowns are used for their durability and longevity. The purpose of the crown is to help provide structure for the tooth, to help maintain space for permanent teeth to erupt properly, and to help protect the remaining tooth. All of these procedures are associated with a certain failure rate depending on the severity of disease, cooperation of patient during treatment, and individual response to the treatment. All treatment is recommended based on scientific criteria and clinical experience in the best interest of your child. If your child needs any of the above treatments, please talk to us about any questions or concerns that you may have.

Why are baby teeth so important?

It is very important to maintain the health of primary teeth (baby teeth). Neglected cavities can cause pain and infection, and it can also lead to problems which affect the developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth are important for (1) proper chewing and eating, (2) providing space for permanent teeth and guiding them into position, and (3) permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles.

FAQs Archive - Tupelo Pediatric Dentist

What do I do in an emergency?
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Our child has fractured their tooth. What do you suggest?
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My child accidentally knocked out her tooth, what should I do?
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What can I do about my child’s toothache?
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What should be done about a cut or bitten tongue, lip or cheek?
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What about sedation?
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What are sealants, fillings and crowns?
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Why are baby teeth so important?
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FAQs

What do I do in an emergency?

Our child has fractured their tooth. What do you suggest?

My child accidentally knocked out her tooth, what should I do?

What can I do about my child’s toothache?

What should be done about a cut or bitten tongue, lip or cheek?

What about sedation?

What are sealants, fillings and crowns?

Why are baby teeth so important?

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