Kids are active! So dental emergencies will happen. Roughhousing, bike or scooter riding, trampolines, etc. are all ways that kids have fun and they’re also ways that kids can get hurt. Facial trauma and damage to the teeth are often included in these dental emergency for kids.
What To Do In Pediatric Dental Emergencies
We understand how important it is that your child receives emergency care, but until we can get him or her into the office, you may need some tips on how to best care for the injury. We’ve provided a list of common injuries as well as some tips on how to care for them below:
Toothache
Clean the tooth thoroughly and have your child rinse with warm water. Use dental floss to loosen any food debris that may be causing the discomfort. If the pain persists, call our office for an emergency appointment. Do not put aspirin on the gum. If there is swelling, a cold compress may help until we see you.
Cut and Bitten Lip, Tongue or Cheek
To control the swelling, apply ice to the injured area. If the wound is bleeding, apply firm pressure with a piece of gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding persists and can’t be controlled, take your child to an emergency care clinic or a hospital emergency room.
Baby Tooth Knocked Out
Contact Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry during normal business hours. A knocked-out baby tooth isn’t usually an emergency, and many cases won’t require treatment.
Permanent Tooth Knocked Out
Find the missing tooth, if possible. Do not handle it by the roots; only touch the top of the tooth. Rinse the tooth off with water but do not clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily. If the tooth is still intact, and your child is old enough, reinsert the tooth into the socket and have your child keep it in place by biting down on gauze or a clean cloth. If the tooth can’t be reinserted, place it in a cup with milk, or your child’s saliva. Contact our office immediately, so that we can attempt to save the tooth.
Chipped or Cracked Permanent Tooth
If the tooth has broken, retrieve any pieces and bring them with you to our office. If we can treat the tooth quickly enough, we may be able to save the tooth, reducing the chances of infection and preventing any need for extensive dental treatment. Apply cold compress to the area to reduce swelling.
Swelling or Infection (Tooth Abscess or Gum Abscess)
Facial swelling usually points to an infected or abscessed tooth. It’s important that you seek immediate medical attention for an infected tooth. Swelling can be dangerous because it means that the infection in your child’s tooth may be spreading to the surrounding tissues in the mouth. Your child will need immediate antibiotic treatment. If our office is unavailable, take your child to the nearest emergency care clinic or emergency room.
Broken Jaw (Fracture)
Stabilize the jaw to keep it from moving and take your child to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns, or if your child has pediatric dental emergencies not listed above, please contact Dr. Zarmin Lalani and her team at Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry Frisco, Texas, by completing an online appointment request or phone 469-365-5437.
At Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry, healthy smiles are our top priority.
Follow Us On Social Media!