Emergency Care
If this is an emergency, please all our office at 415-785-3445. If it is after business hours, there will be information on our voicemail how to reach Dr. Sophie directly.
If your child experiences a dental emergency, whether it’s trauma or pain/infection we are here for you 24 hours a day. For established patients, most emergencies can be managed over the phone, but there are times when it may be necessary to meet at the office.
Your Child’s Tooth Has Been Knocked Out:
Did your child hit their head? Look for any signs of a concussion. This can include nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, or headache. Proceed to the ER if necessary.
Are there any broken or missing teeth? If so pick up the tooth by the crown (NOT the root). Rinse it with cold water and place it in an appropriate container such as a Save-a-tooth kit or a container filled with either: Hanks Balanced Solution, Milk, Saliva, Coconut Water, or Egg White. If NOTHING else you can use water. Contact us right away. If there is bleeding in your child's mouth, get a moist towel and apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
Is it a permanent tooth? If you are CERTAIN that the tooth is a permanent tooth and you are able to reposition the tooth right away, hold it by the crown, rinse the tooth with water, and reposition the tooth in the empty socket. The child should then bite on a towel to stabilize the tooth. If you are not comfortable doing this please place the tooth in one of the containers listed above and call our office.
Your Child is Experiencing A Lot of Pain/You Notice An Infection:
Follow the steps below to assess the seriousness of the pain and check for infection.
Your Child’s Tooth Has Been Knocked Out:
Did your child hit their head? Look for any signs of a concussion. This can include nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, or headache. Proceed to the ER if necessary.
Are there any broken or missing teeth? If so pick up the tooth by the crown (NOT the root). Rinse it with cold water and place it in an appropriate container such as a Save-a-tooth kit or a container filled with either: Hanks Balanced Solution, Milk, Saliva, Coconut Water, or Egg White. If NOTHING else you can use water. Contact us right away. If there is bleeding in your child's mouth, get a moist towel and apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
Is it a permanent tooth? If you are CERTAIN that the tooth is a permanent tooth and you are able to reposition the tooth right away, hold it by the crown, rinse the tooth with water, and reposition the tooth in the empty socket. The child should then bite on a towel to stabilize the tooth. If you are not comfortable doing this please place the tooth in one of the containers listed above and call our office.
Your Child is Experiencing A Lot of Pain/You Notice An Infection:
Follow the steps below to assess the seriousness of the pain and check for infection.
- If you notice bleeding, get a moist towel and apply pressure to stop the bleeding
- Look for any food that may be stuck, then brush and floss the area well. This may cause bleeding and be a little uncomfortable.
- Conduct an at home evaluation to assess the pain:
- Ask your child to localize the area of pain and look at this carefully (you can use the flashlight function of your phone)
- Check for swelling in the area of pain. Look for any holes in teeth, discolored or broken teeth that could be causing the pain.
- Try to figure out what triggers to the pain. Cold? Heat? Touch?
- Ask your child to rate the severity of their pain, both when resting, then with the trigger.
- If needed, give your child something to manage the pain. While we recommend Ibuprofen and/or Tylenol for pain control, be sure to check with your pediatrician to make sure these are safe for your child.