Kids' Dental Emergencies and What to Do Immediately

As a parent, you’ve been watching your child’s teeth grow since they were a baby. Therefore, it’s difficult to see them experience a dental emergency like a toothache, fractured tooth, or other oral issues. In such situations, you need to know what to do and who to contact. If you’re in Martinsville and need an emergency pediatric dentist, consider contacting Kids First Dental for a fast response.

This article aims to empower you by providing a list of common dental emergencies that might occur in children and the steps you should take in the next moments. By knowing what to do in a crisis, you can help your child have the best outcome possible.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek

If your child accidentally bites their tongue, lip, or cheek mid-bite, it can be painful and distressing. Even older children can let out some major shrieks in response. However, it’s essential to stay calm and act quickly.

First, gently clean the affected area with water. Then, apply a cold compress or ice to the affected site to help control and minimize any swelling. If the spot is bleeding, apply gentle pressure using a clean piece of cloth or gauze. If the swelling is severe, contact your pediatric dentist in Martinsville, VA, immediately.

Knocked-out Baby Tooth

A knocked-out baby tooth is usually not considered an emergency. Still, it’s best to call your dental office to be on the safe side. While you don’t have to keep this tooth moist as you would a permanent tooth, it’s still helpful to save it and bring it to the appointment with you. If you need assistance, you can contact the kids’ dentist near you for guidance.

Knocked-out Permanent Tooth

If your child has permanent teeth and one or more are knocked out, this qualifies as an absolute dental emergency. First, check your child for other, more severe injuries. In some cases, knocked-out teeth can be a side effect of head trauma. If you suspect that your child has sustained head trauma, call 911 immediately. Please get in touch with our emergency pediatric dentist in Martinsville for immediate assistance.

If you can locate the tooth, handle it by the crown only, and avoid touching the root. The most important thing to remember at this juncture is that the tooth needs to stay moist. If you can position it back into the socket, have your child hold it in place by biting on a piece of gauze. If you cannot reposition the tooth, it still needs to stay moistened. Instead of submerging it in water, please place it in a container of saline solution or milk. Alternatively, please have your child hold it in their mouth against their cheek. Then, visit your kid’s dentist in Martinsville immediately if there is no sign of other injuries.

Potentially Broken or Fractured Jaw

If you believe your child’s jaw might be broken or fractured, it’s essential to exercise extreme caution. First, gently apply a cold compress to help control the swelling and keep the jaw from moving. Then, make an immediate call to your dentist for an emergency visit. Dr. Brown can provide immediate assistance for your child.

Severe Blow to the Head

If your child has experienced a severe blow to their head, there will likely be some form of dental trauma involved. However, it’s critical to get your child into the nearest dental emergency room as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this is one dental issue that will require more intensive treatment than your pediatric dentist emergency care team can provide. The same applies to severe swelling on or near the face and gums, as well as persistent, uncontrollable oral bleeding.

Severe Toothache

A toothache can range in severity from a minor complication to a significant issue. Sometimes, the pain is caused by something as simple as a piece of food stuck in your child’s tooth! As soon as they complain of a toothache, rinse their mouth thoroughly to clean it.

Tooth Sensitivity

If your child is experiencing sudden sensitivity to hot or cold foods, there may be several reasons, such as injury or cavity. It is best to schedule an emergency visit with your pediatric dentist to determine the root cause and treat it instead of waiting for it to go away on its own.