Dental emergencies are those moments when your child is experiencing oral health issues that may require immediate attention from a dentist.
However, it can be difficult for parents to know exactly what constitutes a dental emergency and what can maybe wait for a regular appointment. If you already have a pediatric dentist, it never hurts to reach out to them and describe what your child is experiencing. They can recommend either bringing them in right away or doing some at-home care until a regular appointment.
For even more guidance, we have outlined a few very common dental emergencies that children can experience:
Children love playing, but sometimes play time may get a little bit rough. It’s not uncommon for children to fall and knock out one of their teeth.
Even if it’s a baby tooth, it’s still important to take them to the dentist right away. A missing baby tooth may affect the development of the other teeth or even how the permanent ones erupt. Try to control the bleeding by applying a compress.
Then, find the tooth and put it in an airtight container with milk to preserve it. In some cases, the dentist may be able to reimplant it.
Baby teeth are still prone to cavities and even infections, just like permanent ones. Infections are serious dental emergencies that need immediate attention.
If your child’s tooth is infected, they will most like experience:
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your dentist right away. The only way to reduce the child’s discomfort is through a pulpotomy, which is essentially a baby root canal.
If the infection is severe, the tooth may need to be extracted.
All parents know that children love chewing on items that they shouldn’t. In some cases, an object like a small toy may become stuck in between the child’s teeth.
Gently wiggle the object to see if it can come loose easily, but don’t apply too much force, as you may accidentally pull the baby's teeth too. If you can’t remove the object on your own, take your child to the dentist’s office for more help. They can use certain tools to help dislodge the object.
When your child is experiencing a dental emergency, it’s important to remain calm and think on your feet. Make sure the child is alright, and provide immediate help if necessary.
Then, call the Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry team at (267) 392-5878 for an emergency dental appointment.
For a regular consultation, you can easily book your visit to Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry online.