Emergency Dental Procedures for Kids Can Be Scary
Dental emergencies are not common among children, but when they strike, they can be very scary for you and your child. The chances of experiencing at least one dental injury or trauma during childhood are very real. The periods where your child is most likely to face a dental emergency are toddlerhood (because exploring the world is a top priority for them) and adolescence (where getting into contact sports can be very alluring). The best way to handle a dental emergency is to seek immediate help from you dentist or any emergency medical personnel.
Close-up of little boy opening his mouth during dental checkup
While there are methods that you can take to ensure your child is safe in such emergencies, knowing what to do once your child faces an emergency dental situation is just as important. Dental emergencies are usually treatable, such as chipped tooth in kids, but only when you react quickly to get the treatment he needs. Below are some of the most common dental emergencies among kids, along with first aid treatments you can initiate before your bring your kid to your dentist.
- Knocked-out tooth. This should be treated quickly to save it. Dentists can mostly re-implant a permanent tooth if treatment is given within an hour. If your child loses a tooth, carefully retrieve it without touching the root. If it’s dirty, rinse it under plain water; never scrub its surface. If your child is old enough and won’t swallow the tooth, gently put it into the socket. Otherwise, put it in a cup of milk. For both cases, see the dentist immediately.
Tooth displacement. This emergency can indicate an underlying injury to the jawbone. If a tooth protrudes at a weird angle, apply a cold compress to relieve any swelling or pain. See the dentist immediately.- Crown fractures. A common result of dental trauma, x-rays are needed to determine the true extent of a crown fracture. A yellow or pink change of color in the tooth is a serious warning sign. Visit the dentist or go to the emergency room to get the injury assessed.
- Cheek, lip and tongue injuries. These can happen from accidental cuts or bites and can bleed profusely. Apply direct pressure to control the bleeding. But if it doesn’t stop, call for assistance or go to the emergency room.
- Fractured jaws. Fractures to the jaw are painful, serious injuries. If this happens, tell your child to not move the jaw, and go immediately to the emergency room.
Head trauma or injury. This can result to serious complications like internal bleeding or concussion. All cases of head trauma in children are injuries are beyond the scope of emergency dentistry, so you have to go to a hospital at once.
If your child experiences a dental emergency, the first and most important thing that you need to do is call your pediatric dentists in Levittown. It’s best that you first determine is your dentist has 24/7 emergency service phone line, so there will always be someone available to help you no matter what time of day or night your emergency happens. A kids dental emergency can be scary, especially when it happens to your child. Fortunately, a chipped tooth repair or the replacement of a knocked out tooth can be fixed if you react quickly.
