Frequently Asked Questions

Dental Emergencies | Sealants | Mouth Guards | Cavity Prevention

Faqs regarding dental emergencies:

Q. What should I do if my child’s baby tooth is knocked out?

A. Contact our office as soon as possible.

• Kempsville Office: 757-474-1200
• Thalia Office: 757-486-2525
• Great Neck Office: 757-496-8300
• Chesapeake Office: 757-548-3030

Q. What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth is knocked out?

A. Find the tooth. Hold the tooth by the top (crown), not the root portion. Rinse the knocked out tooth in cool water. Do not scrub the tooth or handle the tooth unnecessarily. If possible, replace the tooth in the socket. Have your child hold the tooth in place by biting on a clean gauze or cloth. If you can’t put the tooth back into the socket, place the tooth in a container of milk, preferably, or water. Come to our office immediately. Feel free to call our emergency number if this happens after office hours. The tooth has a better chance of being saved if you act immediately.

Q. What should I do if my child’s tooth is fractured or chipped?

A. Contact our office as soon as possible. Every minute counts! Our goal is to save the tooth and prevent infection. Rinse the child’s mouth out with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, we may be able to bond it back to the tooth.

Q. What do I do if my child has a toothache?

A. Call our office immediately to schedule an appointment. To help comfort your child, rinse his or her mouth with cold water and apply a compress.

Q. How can we prevent dental injuries?

A. Simple. Wearing a mouth guard can prevent or reduce sports-related dental injuries. Childproofing your house can help reduce injuries at home. In addition, regular dental check ups will contribute to preventive care.

Other Emergency Situations:

Possible Broken Jaw
If you suspect a fracture of your child’s jaw, try as best you can to immobilize the jaw with a cloth wrap and take your child immediately to the emergency room.

Bleeding Following Loss of Baby Tooth
This is not uncommon. Have your child bite on a clean cloth or gauze for several minutes. Avoid hot or hard foods. Your child should not drink through a straw or spit until bleeding subsides.

Cold / Canker Sores
Many children occasionally suffer from cold sores around the lips and ulcers inside the mouth and in the back of the throat. These ulcers can last from seven to fourteen days and are often extremely uncomfortable. You can buy over-the-counter numbing gels and creams at your local pharmacy that will help relieve the pain. Please let us know if these sores occur often or last longer than usual, as this may suggest a more serious underlying disease.

General FAQS:

Regarding Sealants

Q. What are sealants?

A. Tooth Sealants refer to a plastic that a dentist bonds into the grooves of the chewing surface of a tooth as a means of helping to prevent the formation of tooth decay. Typically, primary or baby teeth don't require sealants. Also, all permanent molars don't require sealants. Your dentist can help you advise you.

Q. How do sealants work?

A. In many cases, it is nearly impossible for children to clean the tiny grooves between their teeth. When a sealant is applied, the surface of the tooth is somewhat flatter and smoother. There are no longer any places on the chewing part of the tooth that the bristles of a toothbrush can't reach and clean. Since plaque can be removed more easily and effectively, there is much less chance that decay will start.

Q. What is the life expectancy of tooth sealants?

A. The longevity of sealants can vary. Sealants that have remained in place for three to five years would be considered successful, but sealants can last much longer. It is not uncommon to see sealants placed during childhood still intact on the teeth of adults. Our office will check your child’s sealants during routine dental visits and will recommend repair or reapplication when necessary.

After placing a sealant, our office will guarantee it! If repair or reapplication is required, there will be no charge.

Q. Which teeth should be sealed?

A. Any tooth that has characteristics that a sealant can correct – lessening the risk for developing decay – should be sealed. The most common teeth for a dentist to seal are a child’s "back" teeth, and of these teeth, the molars are the most common teeth to seal. The recommendation for sealants should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Q. What is the procedure for placing sealants?

A. The procedure usually takes just one visit and can be a very straightforward process. The tooth is cleaned, conditioned and dried. The sealant is then applied to the grooves of the tooth and then hardened with a special blue light. The sealant is then buffed down. The child can resume all normal activities directly after the appointment.

Q. Do sealants lessen the need for brushing and flossing?

A. Definitely not! Sealants are only one part of the defensive plan against tooth decay, so it’s just as important for children to brush and floss their teeth.

Q. How much does it cost?

A. This treatment is quite affordable, especially when you consider the value of protection against tooth decay. Most dental insurance companies cover sealants. Our business team can tell you whether sealants are covered by your insurance carrier.

Regarding Mouth Protectors

Q. What are mouth guards?

A. Athletic mouth protectors are composed of soft plastic and come in standard models as well as custom versions – created from a mold taken by a dentist – that will be an exact fit for your upper teeth.

Q. Why are mouth guards important?

A. Mouth guards protect the teeth from possible sport injuries. They not only protect the teeth, but the lips, cheeks, tongue and jaw bone as well. They can also help to protect a child from head and neck injuries such as concussions. Most sports-related injuries to the mouth and head area occur when a child is not wearing a mouth guard.

Q. When should my child wear a mouth guard?

A. During any sports activity in which there is risk of head, face or neck injury. Such sports include hockey, soccer, karate, basketball, baseball, skating, skateboarding, as well as many other sports. Most oral injuries occur when children play basketball, baseball and soccer.

Q. How do I select a mouth guard for my child?*

A. Choose a mouth guard that your child feels is comfortable. If a mouth guard feels bulky or interferes with speech to a great degree, it is probably not appropriate for your child.

There are many options in mouth guards. Most are found in athletic stores, and these vary in comfort and protection, as well as cost. The least expensive tend to be the least effective in preventing oral injuries. Customized mouth guards can be provided through our practice. They may be a bit more expensive, but they are much more comfortable and shock-absorbent.

*If your child has braces or other orthodontic appliances, our orthodontist, Dr. Barney can recommend and/or provide an appropriate mouth guard.

Regarding Diet and Cavity Prevention

Q. How do I know if my child is getting the appropriate amount of fluoride in their diet?

A. If you don’t live in a community that has fluoridated water or have the appropriate amount of natural fluoride in your well water, your child will need some sort of supplement in his/her diet. We can help you determine how much of a supplement your child needs based upon weight, age, current water fluoride levels and brand of toothpaste.

Q. What is an appropriate diet for my child?

A. It is important that your child receives a naturally balanced diet that includes the important nutrients your child needs to grow. A daily diet should include the major food groups of meat, fish and eggs, vegetables and fruits, breads and cereals, as well as milk and other dairy products.

Q. Can my child’s diet affect their dental health? How do I create a diet safe for my child’s teeth?

A. A diet high in sugar and other forms of carbohydrates may increase the risk of tooth decay. Analyze how often your child eats starch-based foods. These include breads, pasta, potato chips, etc. Sugar is found in more than just candy, and ll types of sugar can promote tooth decay. For example, most milk-based products contain sugar. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a favorite for bag lunches, but unfortunately, it includes sugar not only in the jelly, but also in the peanut butter. For less sugar and more flavor and nutrients, try replacing jelly with fresh fruit slices (apples, pears, or bananas) or chopped dried fruit. Go easy on the peanut butter, though—it’s high in fat. Choose the “no-salt-added” kind for less sodium.

Q. Should I eliminate all sugar and starch from my child’s diet?

A. Of course not. Many of these foods are incredibly important to your child’s health. Starch based foods are much safer for teeth when eaten as part of a larger meal. Foods that stick to teeth are also more difficult to wash away by water, saliva or other drinks. Its important you talk to our staff about your child’s diet and maintaining proper dental care.

Q. What helpful information can you give me regarding tooth decay in infants?

A. Most importantly, don’t nurse your children to sleep. Nor should you put them to bed with a bottle of milk, juice or formula. When a child is sleeping, any liquid that remains in the mouth can support the bacteria that produce acid and harms the teeth. A simple pacifier or bottle of water is fine.

Make sure your child goes to sleep with a clean mouth. For infants and toddlers, cleaning the gum pads and teeth with a wash cloth will work nicely.