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Dental Emergencies

What to do when the unexpected happens.

Emergency? We’ve Got Your Back

Kids will be kids, and that means they just can’t help getting into trouble sometimes. Accidents happen, and we’re here to help in case you’ve got a dental emergency on your hands. If your child or teen needs emergency dental care right now, call our office as soon as possible.

What to Do in the Meantime

Sometimes you might not be able to get to a doctor right away. We’ve got some important tips for the most common emergencies here!

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Knocked-Out Tooth

First, find the tooth. Always handle the tooth by the crown (that’s the big chewing part) and not the roots (the pointy side). You can rinse it off, but don’t handle it unnecessarily. After inspecting the tooth for fractures, you can try to reinsert the tooth into the socket if it’s undamaged (have your child bite down on gauze to keep it in place). If you can’t reinsert it, place the tooth in a cup of milk until you can see us. While baby teeth are not usually replaced, we recommend seeing your pediatric dentist ASAP!

Broken Tooth

Use warm water to rinse the injured area and apply a cold compress over the face. Find and save any pieces of the broken tooth that you can, and call your dentist for immediate treatment.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek

Apply ice to bruised areas and apply firm pressure with a gauze or a cloth to areas that are bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes (or it doesn’t respond to applied pressure), head to the hospital emergency room.

Toothache

Toothaches are the worst, and you’ll want to make an appointment with your pediatric dentist since there could be decay, infection, or worse! To help with the toothache, clean the affected tooth thoroughly and rinse with warm water. You can use dental floss to remove any impacted food or debris. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or tooth! If the face is swollen, use a cold compress to relieve some of the pain.

No matter what, you’ll want to take your child to the pediatric dentist as soon as possible if you have any of these dental emergencies. Even if you can’t get to the doctor right away, make an appointment for follow-up care or treatment for your little one.

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Affording the Best Care

Finances should never stand in the way of getting your child or teen the best dental care in town. We want to make sure that you’re relaxed, not worried, when you visit us. Work with our team to find the best way to fit great dental care into your budget, with awesome payment options, maximized insurance benefits, and affordable solutions at every step.

Patient Reviews

"I’m an adult patient and have never had braces before! Great Smiles is excellent! High end technology, great kind staff and super super efficient. Melissa was amazing at handling all aspects of my care process and she actually asked how my husband was doing as I had shared with her some medical issues he was having and she remembered thirty days later. That is a sign of a caring staff member. Serena Installed the Invisalign today and was very precise in explaining everything and was funny and sweet. If you have put off getting braces don’t. This place is very good at what they do! The picture is just my first set so this is not the final result!"

- Tom C.

"I started to have several issues with my teeth in my 50s and did not want traditional braces but with Invisalign I could get the results looking for without the hassle of braces. My experience at Great Smiles has been seamless, extremely helpful staff and Orthodontist exceeded my expectations and I am not even at the end of my journey. I would highly recommend this practice!"

- Donna H.

"It IS possible to go to the dentist and have a great time! Dr. Paul has set up an environment that is open, relaxing and FUN! And my teeth look great!!!"

- Jody C.

"Update: it’s been five months, my teeth ARE STRAIGHT! And the care is amazing.
NEW PATIENT: I was amazed at how fast they were. I didn't have time to complete my paperwork before they took me back. Very thorough, courteous, and took their time answering a ton of questions. Highly recommend.
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- Rebecca R.

"Great Smiles has been so easy to work with. Anyone who has a child or teen needing some help getting their teeth in order Great Smiles is a great place. They have really helped guide us in this adventure!"

- Triple J Farm NC

"My daughter needed braces and they were so accommodating to get her in quickly for spring break. Super thankful for an orthodontist that is local and their staff is always so nice. They make it a priority to know their and take their time to listen to any concerns. Just a wonderful experience all around. Definitely recommend to anyone who is looking to take their child for braces!"

- Crystal J.

"I have just completed my three-year treatment course with Dr. Blackman and the Great Smiles staff. Every aspect of my journey with them was exceptional! Truly. I was impressed with the practice at my first visit - their professionalism, knowledge, kindness…. But I leave their care even more amazed that they consistently delivered the highest level of service I have ever experienced in any medical practice. As a doctor, myself, that means a lot. Every visit I left their office feeling nurtured and grateful I had chosen Great Smiles to handle my orthodontic needs The results of my treatment also far exceeded my expectations! My jaw pain and over-bite are gone. My teeth are perfectly aligned. I never thought this could be accomplished - especially given that my problems had existed for over 60 years!"

- Dr. Laura F.