Pain & Infection
Please call our office on (724)774-1920 if the emergency is during business hours Mon-Thu, 8am to 5pm. If the office is closed, please text the emergency number (878)529-0336 to contact the dentist after hours.
PAIN
​Pain in the mouth can be related to any number of reasons and Motrin with soft food can help in some cases such as:
- Pain/discomfort from a new baby/adult tooth growing in. Often this pain is limited to eating and is experienced as intermittent pressure.
- Pain/discomfort from injuries to the gum or roof of the mouth often due to hot food or crunchy foods such as chips.
- Ulcers such as canker sores or discomfort from a sharp tooth.
Severe Pain can be experienced by patients with deep cavities or broken teeth particularly at bedtime. Motrin alternated with Tylenol every 4 hours could be helpful, but an antibiotic prescription may be necessary to control the pain. Please call the office or text the emergency line after business hours. You will need to make an appointment as well to discuss a long-term
solution such as extraction or root canal for the pain.
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INFECTION
Most infections are related to untreated decay in a child’s mouth but occasionally an abscess may develop from a fractured tooth or a tooth with a history of trauma. If an abscess is limited to the gums, we encourage Motrin and warm saltwater rinses to control the discomfort. Please call the office to discuss the need for an antibiotic and schedule an appointment to discuss a treatment plan.
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If the swelling is progressing rapidly, apply a cold compress and immediately visit the ER at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. This is critical if:
- the swelling is spreading to the eye
- the child experiences any difficulty swallowing or breathing
- high fever is associated with the swelling
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FOR ANY PRESCRIPTIONS WE WILL REQUIRE DETAILED INFROMATION SUCH AS PATIENT NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, WEIGHT AND ANY KNOWN ALLERGIES (ESPECIALLY PENICILLIN/AMOXICILLIN).
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NO PRESCRIPTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS WHO HAVEN’T BEEN SEEN BY THE DENTIST IN OVER 6 MONTHS OR ARE NOT PATIENT’S OF RECORD WITH BUDDING SMILES OF BEAVER.​​​