Pediatric Dental Emergencies: 3 Instances When Your Child Should Be Taken To The Dentist Immediately

If you have a small child, you may not be certain of what constitutes a pediatric dental emergency. Here are a few instances in which your child should be taken to the dentist immediately:

A Severe Toothache

Sometimes, your child may experience some discomfort from dental sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages. However, if a toothache is persistent and is not alleviated by brushing the teeth, using dental floss or rinsing the mouth thoroughly, the pain may be associated with something more severe than particles of food lodged in the teeth. If your child is experiencing tooth pain that is not easily resolved, it is best to have the child's mouth assessed by a pediatric dentist as soon as possible.

A Dislodged Tooth

The dislodging of a primary tooth may not be an emergency, but if your child has dislodged a permanent tooth, he or she needs emergency dental treatment to preserve the tooth.

If your child's tooth is knocked out, be sure to only hold the tooth by its crown. If the dental root of the tooth is contaminated, the tooth may not connect properly to the soft tissues in your little one's mouth. This could cause the tooth to be unsalvageable.

In addition to avoiding the root area of the tooth when handling it, be sure to avoid scrubbing the tooth or cleaning it with soap.

After gently rinsing any foreign debris from a dislodged tooth, you can reinsert it in your child's mouth. The tooth can be held in its socket by having your child bite down on a piece of gauze. In some instances, a tooth may not be easily reinserted. For those cases, the tooth can be placed in a small container of milk or held in the pocket formed by the inner cheek of your child.

Still, emergency dental treatment is likely needed to salvage the tooth.

A Chipped or Cracked Tooth

If your child chips or cracks his or her tooth, the child's mouth should be thoroughly rinsed and an ice pack or cold compress should be applied to the outside of the mouth to help lessen swelling.

If you are able to retrieve the broken piece of tooth, you should bring it along to your dental appointment. If the tooth does not receive prompt treatment, an infection could develop that will require more intensive dental care.

To learn more about dental emergencies that require immediate pediatric dental care, consult with a pediatric dentist in your area for more information.

Share