How to Handle a Kid’s First Dental Emergency

Kids are very energetic and can fall and get hurt when playing outdoors. As a parent, you don’t want to see your kids in pain and would do anything to protect them. But, unfortunately, you can’t always be there to protect your kid from getting hurt. It’s also worth noting that not all accidents result only in body pain; sometimes, the damage can spread to the tooth, gums, and surrounding areas. So, when that happens, it’s best to take them to an emergency pediatric dentist near you for treatment.

Common Dental Emergencies

A dental emergency is a situation that results in dental pain, discomfort, or bleeding. Even though there are many dental emergencies, some tend to happen more frequently. Here are some of the most common dental emergencies:

Toothache

Toothache is a common indicator of dental problems and should not be ignored. The most common causes of toothaches are tooth cavities, infection, gum disease, and oral trauma.

If your child notifies you of dental pain, take them to a pediatric dental office in Martinsville for immediate diagnosis and treatment. As you wait for the emergency dentist, try to reduce your child’s pain by applying a cold compress to the aching tooth.

Dental Cracks and Chips

Biting on hard solid objects and oral injuries can cause your child’s teeth to chip or crack. To prevent your child from oral injuries, ensure they are wearing all protection gear when playing contact sports. You can also keep a close eye on your child at the playground to ensure they are not doing anything dangerous.

We also understand that accidents can happen even after taking all the necessary precautions. So, if your child’s teeth get damaged, take them to an emergency pediatric dentist in Martinsville for treatment.

Loose or Missing Teeth

As we said before, we can’t stop all accidents from happening. For example, your kid can accidentally slip and fall when climbing the stairs or trip on something in their path and get hurt severely such that their teeth get knocked off or loosen.

In case of knocked-out teeth, try to find the tooth and if you do, pick it up and store it in a glass of milk or salty water to preserve it. Then quickly take them to Dr. Brown or any other kids dentist in Martinsville for immediate treatment.

On the other hand, if the tooth is loose but still attached to its socket, it’s best not to try and remove it as it can cause more damage and bleeding. Instead, take your child to an emergency dental clinic for kids for treatment and tooth restoration.

Soft Tissue Injury

When we say soft tissue, we mean the gum, lips, tongue, and inner cheek walls. Since these structures are soft, just a little amount of trauma can cause them to get damaged and cause swelling and bleeding. In case of soft tissue injury, assess the situation to see if the damage left behind is severe enough to warrant an emergency dental visit. If necessary, contact your dentist for more details on what to do next.

The Three A’s: Assess, Act, Ask

When your kid comes home with injuries, the first thing you should do is listen to your kid. Kids are smart and will point out where they are experiencing pain so you can determine the best course of action. However, don’t discredit them just because you don’t see signs of injuries from where they are pointing; remember, some injuries can be internal and not easy to spot without special equipment.

Also, don’t forget to ask your child how they got hurt since it can help you take necessary precautions to stop it from happening again.

How to Act

We recommend taking your child to the hospital, however small the injuries may appear, since certain injuries can be harder to detect without special equipment.

Your child’s doctor will check for external and internal injuries using equipment such as x-rays. They will then compile the findings to determine the best treatment for your child’s dental problems.

Call Us at +1 276-201-1800 for Emergency Dental Care!

Children can be quite a handful when they get older and more energetic. Unfortunately, their spirit of adventure can expose them to situations that result in accidents. If your kid comes home with injuries after being outdoors, check for oral injuries. If there are any, call Kids First Dental through the phone number above to schedule a pediatric emergency appointment.