When Your Child Needs Emergency Dental Care

It can happen anywhere or at anytime, especially when you least expect it. At your home, a park, or a friends house. All it takes is a slip or a fall and your child may need some emergency dental work. Most parents don’t even take their children to the dentist until about 3 years of age, even though it is recommended that they see a dentist within the time they get there first couple teeth. You may not know where to go, who to go to, or how bad the situation is. No matter what the incident is, the first 30 minutes after the injury are the most important. You need to react quickly to minimize damage, and save teeth.

If the tooth has been knocked out of its proper position, either forward, backward, or any other way, but is still in the socket, then you are going to have to squeeze the crown of the child’s tooth, and then adjust the tooth back into its original position.

The other teeth that sit next to it will keep the tooth in alignment while it heels. Make sure that you wash your hands before you place them into your child’s mouth to prevent any type of infection. Immediately following, you need to place an ice pack or any type of cold compress to minimize the swelling of the area. Call your dentist or a pediatric dentist immediately and they will more than likely get you in the same day.

When a tooth has been completely knocked out, and it is an adult tooth, you must place the tooth back into its original socket immediately. This will minimize the amount of nerve damage. The tooth and area may be bleeding but it still needs to be placed back in. If for some reason you are unable to get the tooth back into place, the tooth should be put in some saline solution, or in a glass of milk to protect the root of the tooth, which is vital for the tooth to re-grow back into its original place. Call the dentist immediately for assistance. If the knocked out tooth is a baby tooth, you don’t need to put it back into place, however you should rinse the mouth out. Apply ice or a cold compress in both situations to minimize swelling. You should then consult your family dentist.

In the event that a tooth is chipped, or even broken, you must try to find the missing pieces as quickly as possible. If you have the missing piece or pieces, rinse them off with cold water, and rush to a dentist, they may be able to re-adhere the pieces back onto the tooth. If the tooth is broken more than halfway, you have to be very careful because the root of the tooth could be exposed and cause major nerve damage to the tooth.

Many dental injuries can actually be avoided, especially in cases with toddlers and young children. Place gates over stairways to prevent children from falling, and don’t allow them to climb up on things. Also do not allow them to jump on beds or couches. When your child or teen is participating in sports or athletic activities, make sure that they are wearing a proper fitting mouth guard to protect their mouth and teeth with any contact that could cause damage.

Make sure that all of the adults in your household know what to do in case a child would need emergency dental care. You should also have ice packs stored in your freezer for any number of injuries, including mouth injuries. Ask your family dentist or pediatric dentist at your bi-yearly check ups who you should call, or where you should go in case of an emergency. This way you are prepared and have a better chance of repairing the damaged tooth or teeth. If the mouth looks to have sever damage beyond dental work, go to the hospital or emergency room immediately.

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