A pediatric dental emergency can be a scary experience for both parent and child. Whether your child hurt their jaw accidentally or injured a tooth, if your child is experiencing an emergency and needs emergency dental services, treat the pain as best you can, and get them professional help as soon as you can. If you’re not sure whether your child has a dental emergency, be sure to carefully assess the situation to determine the extent of the damage as well as whether or not they need emergency dental services.
What to Do in a Pediatric Dental Emergency
A dental emergency for children may differ from a dental emergency for adults. As children’s mouths and bodies are still developing, parents should always be cautious when it comes to potential dental injuries. It’s hard to think clearly in the midst of an emergency. If your child sustains a serious injury, call 911 first for help. If the injury is a dental emergency, contact your dentist or a nearby emergency dentist. Then, make sure your child gets the urgent care they need at our general dentistry.
What Is a Pediatric Dental Emergency?
Urgent dental situations that require immediate care include bites to the tongue, lip, or cheek, lost or loose teeth, cracked teeth, a toothache, or any injury to the jaw. It isn’t uncommon for children to bite their lips, tongue, or cheek by accident. However, if the bite is serious, you’ll need to get it treated right away. After cleaning your child’s bite with water, take them to the dentist or emergency room immediately.
In an emergency situation where something knocks your child’s tooth out, preserve the tooth in a container of milk and get to the dentist immediately. If the tooth is viable, the dentist can reinsert it. Losing baby teeth is normal, but if your child loses a permanent tooth, this is a dental emergency. Visit the pediatric dentistry as soon as possible so the dentist can decide the next course of action to take.
If your child experiences a broken or cracked tooth, you will need to see the dentist immediately. After locating all the tooth fragments, clean the inside of the mouth, and rinse with warm water. Your child’s dentist may be able to repair the teeth by bonding the fragments to it.
A toothache can be extremely painful for children to experience. Make sure your child’s mouth is clean and that food isn’t stuck in their teeth. Rinse using warm water and visit the dentist to determine the severity of the toothache and discuss treatment options.
Caring for Your Child’s Dental Health
Certain emergencies are unavoidable. However, parents can do their part to protect their child’s dental health to make sure their teeth are safe. Make sure your child is brushing their teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste as well as flossing once a day and attending regular teeth cleanings. Brushing should be done for approximately two minutes per session.
In addition to caring for your child’s teeth at home, make sure to regularly schedule dental visits. Experts suggest that parents should schedule their child’s first dental visit six months after their baby teeth first come in. This can help prevent larger problems down the road.
Contact Lovett Dental Gulfgate
Help your child avoid potential dental emergencies with proper dental hygiene. With regular visits to the dentist, you will be able to teach your child how to properly care for their teeth. Contact Lovett Dental Gulfgate at 713-847-8822 to learn about your options for pediatric dentistry and the additional services we provide for you and your family.