Kids Dental Emergency Needs Action

Many adults’ ingrained (sometimes irrational) fear of dentists usually stems from a rather messy experience as a child. Kids often have a lot of energy growing up, and they commonly use this for rough play. This is why children usually go through accidental dental trauma, inadvertently knocking out their teeth, and prompting an emergency visit to the dentist. Still, there are things that the untrained parent or babysitter can do immediately after a dental accident, while looking for a the best childrens’ dentist Langhorne has to offer.

When the Tooth Gets Knocked Out

Immediate replacement is the goal for whenever a tooth gets knocked out. Still, many pediatric dentists don’t endorse the replacement of a tooth if it is a milk tooth, or not permanent. This is because a permanent tooth will eventually grow in to replace the milk tooth, negating the need to have had a replacement in the first place.

If the child knocked out a permanent tooth, look for the tooth and bring it to the pediatric dentist. A temporary cast can be made out of the tooth, while pediatric dentists in Levittown assess if the circumstances for immediate replacement are sufficient. 

 When the Tooth gets Chipped or Fractured

Many parents don’t report a chipped tooth, particularly if it’s a small chip. Bigger chips—or even fractures—could cause serious problems, though, if not treated. Infection is one main concern, as microbes can easily penetrate any break in the gum integrity. 

When fixing a broken tooth, the first thing to do would be to rinse the child’s mouth with water. This removes most of the blood and helps you visualize the extent of the damage. Use a cold compress to reduce any swelling in the mouth. Keep the broken tooth fragment and take it with you when you bring your child to the dentist. The dentist can either round off the sharp edges of the chipped tooth, or perform tooth bonding. 

When a Toothache Occurs

Toothaches are a major source of stress, not only for the child, but for the parents as well. This is especially true for children who cannot adequately express themselves yet, and they are prone to crying their lungs out. Some young children may even develop fevers.

If he’s old enough, encourage your child to gargle warm water mixed with salt. If you think the pain warrants extra measure, over-the-counter pain medications are an option. You may also consider topical analgesics. Remember that it’s often wise to consult with your kids’ dentist in Bristol PA (or at least the pharmacist) for their take on your child’s case. While pain medications may alleviate your child’s discomfort for a while, it’s important to explore the underlying cause for the toothache.

Something stuck in-between teeth?

One of the most difficult aspect of treating children is that their methods of communication (i.e. crying, thrashing) are not often very effective. Particles stuck between the teeth can be a challenging circumstance, as these are often invisible to the parent, but is causing your child a lot of pain. It’s not advisable to use sharp objects to extract the object, however, more harm may be caused by doing that. Instead, take your child to a pediatric dentist to ensure you don’t inflict further damage.

There’s only so much surveillance a parent can do, and protecting your child from dental emergencies completely may very well be impossible. Tell your child to be careful that he doesn’t hurt his mouth, or teeth, or discourage them from excessively rough play. If you ever encounter a kids dental emergency in Buck County,  don’t hesitate in consulting a pediatric dentist, as the timing is very important. It’s good if you can find a gentle dentist , or at least one well-versed in dealing with children with dental emergencies.

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