Common Dental Emergencies for Kids and What to Do!
Toothaches
Not every toothache means a severe dental injury has happened. A toothache can be the result of a yet undetected cavity, bruxism (teeth grinding), wisdom teeth erupting (typically in older teens), dental trauma, or even a minute fracture. There are several ways to deal with the urgent dental pain.
- Place a cold compress.
- Gently floss the area to ensure that the pain is not caused by debris or food that may be caught.
- Have them rinse their mouth with warm salt water
- Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or tylenol
- Do Not apply an aspirin! This can make the gum tissue burn!
- Call us on next business day to schedule an appointment.
Knocked-out teeth
This is a dental emergency where quick action is best, especially if it is not a baby tooth! If a baby tooth is knocked out, endeavor to find the tooth, control bleeding, and don’t worry too much about it.
However, if a permanent tooth is knocked out, this is considered a critical dental situation, and the following should be done:
- Control any bleeding. If you can’t stop the bleeding, head to the emergency room.
- Locate the tooth. If you can find it, pick it up carefully, avoiding touching the tooth’s root. Rinse it gently with water only.
- Once it is clean, carefully re-insert it into the tooth socket, ensuring it is root side down and facing the correct direction.
- Have your child bite down gently into gauze to hold the tooth in place until you get to our office.
- If you cannot reset the tooth, keep it moist until you can get to the office. If possible, put the tooth in cold milk. If milk is not available, then a damp cloth will work.
- Call our number and leave a message on our emergency line. Our on -call dentist will call you back and then arrange to meet you at the office.
- If the tooth cannot be found, we can determine the next step to prevent additional problems.
Displaced Teeth
A displaced permanent tooth is a dental emergency that should be evaluated. If a permanent tooth is moved out of position, please call us and leave a message on our emergency line. The on -call dentist will call you.
A displaced baby tooth can generally wait until the next business day to be evaluated. Some exceptions would be if the tooth is dangling or if it is interfering with biting down. If this is the case, please leave a message on our emergency line and the on -call dentist will call you.
Chipped or fractured Teeth
These concerns can often be repaired with a tooth -colored filling or dental bonding. While a chipped or fractured tooth may not be as intense as an immediate dental issue like knocked-out tooth, it is still important to act quickly.
- Get the bleeding, if any, under control.
- Rinse the mouth with warm water to be sure there are no lingering pieces of the tooth. If you find any fragments, bring them with you to the appointment.
- Place a cold compress on the injured area.
- Call us on next business day and we will schedule you for an emergency appointment.
Kids are going to play hard, and as such, there is always the potential for injury. But knowing what to do in a situation will make a difference. Keep your cool. Follow these tips; remember, our Emergency Pediatric dentist team is always here to help. We are just a call away, ready to provide the support and guidance you need to keep you and your child smiling.