The truth is, no parent will ever truly feel ready to handle a kids dental emergency. There may be countless books available at the bookstore or even downloaded on their computer; yet when the time comes to take action upon learning that their baby has broken teeth, swollen jaws, and/or bleeding mouths, all the information they’ve learned suddenly flies out the window.
In actuality, the occurrence of injury on the teeth of a child is very frequent. Based on studies, injuries on the teeth are the most frequently encountered trauma in children ages two to ten years old. It is imperative to remember that some injuries need urgent pediatric dentist action while other injuries do not.
When a kid gets his permanent teeth knocked out, for instance, he has about 30 to 60 minutes before the opportunity expires to keep the tooth intact. That’s very little time, considering that an abscess left untreated can cause infection to move throughout the jawbone, neck, and even into the bloodstream in a matter of days. A cracked tooth which might seem like nothing much can easily develop into a painful source of infection in no time at all.
However, beyond all this, take into consideration the emotional effects that tooth pain may have on your child. The young children cannot convey the exact place of pain and its intensity. They stop eating, cry without any apparent cause, and wake up crying at midnight. If you take your child to visit an emergency dentist, you will be helping him/her reclaim control over his/her eating habits, sleep, and interactions with others..
It is important to remember also that baby teeth play a very significant role for the future health of the child. Firstly, they provide room for permanent teeth to grow. Additionally, they make sure that the process of chewing food and speaking skills of a kid are properly developed. In this case, premature loss of milk teeth can cause serious problems that require a long time to resolve. Hence, there should be no delays and see your nearest dentist at once.
Emergency Dental Situations for Children That You Must Know About
It will do you well to know about the type of emergency dental situation you’re facing before you take any actions because different emergencies require different methods of handling.
This list will help guide you on how you should address the following types of dental issues your kids may suffer from.
Avulsion of Teeth
This is certainly one of the scariest cases of dental issues. There are instances where your kids might knock off their own tooth from their mouths.
When it is a permanent tooth, you should handle the tooth by the crown area; do not touch the root area. Gently wash the tooth using running water. However, it is advisable to attempt re-implantation of the tooth if the child is old enough and cooperative. Otherwise, you have no other option but to store it in cold milk. Do not place the tooth in any hankie or a paper napkin; moreover, make sure not to dry the tooth completely.
However, in the event of the baby tooth, you need to avoid re-implantation as it could damage the permanent developing tooth below. Still, make sure you visit the dental surgeon on the same day.
Dental Abscess and Infection
Abscess refers to an accumulation of pus resulting from infection. It usually occurs as a result of unattended tooth decay which reaches into the inner pulp of the tooth. It should be kept in mind that this procedure might happen considerably faster in kids than in adults. The reason behind this is that the enamel on kids’ teeth is thinner than adult teeth.
Abscesses are usually known to have several indicators including swelling of the gum tissue surrounding the problem tooth, development of pus-filled boils in the gums, soreness, and even sometimes high body temperatures. When your child displays swollen tissues with fever, it is considered a case of kids dental emergency.
Chipped or Broken Teeth
It’s almost a certainty that your child may end up with one chipped tooth at some point during their years of being active. A fall from a bike, being hit by a ball, or even eating something too hard might crack a tooth. Just because the crack or chip doesn’t seem to be big isn’t any reason to let your guard down – it can allow bacteria into the pulp, leading to considerable pain.
If your child cracks a tooth, it’s important to rinse out their mouth with lukewarm water. Any chips should be kept in a little bag until you get hold of the emergency dentist for broken tooth.
Painful or Acute Toothaches
If your child suddenly feels excruciating pain in his tooth, which may even cause him to wake up from sleep or make him unable to eat, it probably means that his tooth may have already been damaged by the decayed nerve or an abscess may be developing. The use of painkillers may provide temporary relief for your child’s problem, but you should go see a 24 hour pediatric dentist, or a dental facility that provides emergency services.
Do not delay going to the doctor in case your child feels too much pain.
Injuries to Soft Tissues
Injuries affecting lips, cheeks, tongue, or gums happen quite often in kids, especially in toddlers who cannot control their movements. Apply gentle pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or a bandage. Professional help is needed if the bleeding doesn’t stop within 15–20 minutes, or if the wound is deep and gaping. Even though minor injuries to soft tissues usually have good outcomes, they must be examined because the injury might have more serious consequences underneath the tissues.
When Your Child Needs Urgent Dental Attention
Generally, parents are very confused about their choices.
“Is it really a dental emergency, or am I overreacting?”
This is the indication of a dental emergency that requires attention from you.
Persistent Tooth Pain
If your child has been suffering from toothache for more than 24 hours, if it does not go away despite being treated by pediatric painkillers, and if it disturbs his sleep at night, take action now! Any lingering pain almost certainly means that there is something wrong which requires the care of a dentist.
Swelling/ Fever
Facial, jaw, and gum swellings are one of the first warning signs of a kid’s dental problem. They are usually caused by infections, which progress rapidly. A child who suffers from swelling of his face or jaw accompanied by fever requires urgent pediatric dentist treatment.
Trouble With Eating or Talking
A sudden rejection of favorite foods, biting food with one side of the mouth only, or a complaint about pain in their mouth while speaking should not be ignored. Children tend to become used to pain quite quickly and learn not to show it through complaining. Instead, they communicate this through behavioral changes.
Excessive Bleeding
There will be some level of bleeding following an injury to the mouth. But when it persists for more than 15 to 20 minutes of continuous pressure without any signs of ceasing, then this becomes an indication that you should seek immediate dental care. Incisions, perforations, or wounds near the tooth root may necessitate professional cleaning and suturing.
What To Do In Case Of A Kids Dental Emergency
The first most crucial thing during a kids dental emergency situation is keeping yourself composed in order to be able to think properly. Since children follow adults in times of emergency situations, if you panic, they would do the same. Here is an efficient way that helps in handling emergencies:
- Deep breathe, and console your kid. You should speak with a composed and reassuring voice saying something like “Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine.”
- See to it what happened. Is there any trauma, swelling, bleeding, or any other problem? Try to get hold of the situation without disturbing the child too much.
- In case of a knocked-out permanent tooth: Pick up the tooth only by its crown part, clean it gently if it is dirty, and then try to put back into place. Store it in cold milk before visiting a dentist.
- In case of gum or soft tissue bleeding: Gently press on it using some clean gauze for 15-20 minutes.
- Swelling due to the formation of an abscess means that a cold compress should be put on the cheek so as to minimize swelling. Heat should not be applied on the site; it is important for you to see a dentist in case of an emergency.
- In situations where any tooth has been broken or fractured, rinse with warm water and collect any part of the tooth in a plastic bag before seeing a dentist in case of an emergency.
- Any form of pain caused by the teeth can only be controlled with pain relievers, after which an emergency pediatric dentist should be consulted.
- If your child cannot breath or swallow, he/she should be rushed to the hospital.
This is just one thing that you should do ahead of such emergencies so that your life becomes easier when the time comes. Having the contact information of a dependable children’s emergency dentist stored in your cell phone will help save you some trouble during a difficult situation.
Choosing the Right Emergency Dentist for Severe Tooth Pain
In case you feel that you have very little time because of unbearable pain in your child’s teeth, finding any dental clinic to cater to his needs may not be enough. Picking up a suitable pediatric emergency dentist should be done well in advance by considering certain aspects.
Experience of pediatric dentistry is crucial in handling any kind of emergency involving a child patient. Dentists specialized in pediatric care have received further education on top of general dentistry so that all the issues related to children’s oral health can be managed effectively. Apart from being knowledgeable about the teeth and the mouth of a child, it is important to be able to handle anxiety issues of the child.
Availability is a very important factor in case of any emergencies. Visiting a dentist clinic providing the same-day emergency dental care including visits on weekends can mean a lot in handling such situations. It is always recommended to inquire directly from the dentist regarding emergency protocols on weekends.
Effective communication with the parents is another aspect worth considering. The whole point of such communication during stressful times is to be able to communicate to the patient’s parents what is going on and what needs to be done regarding the situation – and all that in clear language without rushing anyone.
Knox Pediatric Dentistry was founded specifically to provide just these services. No matter whether it is a kids dental emergency that happened midweek or even on a weekend, they have a staff with specialized knowledge and training in pediatrics who can offer prompt dental treatment right away. Be it a broken tooth due to falling down or facial swelling, Knox Pediatric Dentistry has the resources and knowledge necessary to treat both teeth and kids effectively.
Still, when it comes to children’s dental emergencies, planning is impossible. However, knowing that there is always a professional pediatric dentist ready to treat kids with a phone call away can bring a lot of peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be considered in choosing the right emergency dentist to treat the severe pain experienced by my kid?
It would be essential to ensure that you consult a pedodontist and not an ordinary dentist since this kind of dentist deals specifically with children. What you should consider includes a clinic capable of providing same-day emergency dental care, especially the procedures to follow during an after hour emergency. A good emergency dentist should be able to talk calmly to the child and the parents.
Does swollen face mean an emergency in the mouth?
No, but if you are suffering from a swollen face along with your jaws or teeth then you must seek immediate treatment. If there is any issue of fever or difficulty in swallowing along with swollen face and if redness is seen spreading over your face, then it is a serious case of infection that requires immediate attention.
Can one get their teeth treated at Knox Pediatric Dentistry within the same day?
Yes, at Knox Pediatric Dentistry, they realize that most of the time, emergencies for children happen when one least expects them to. This is why they concentrate on providing emergency dental care to their patients. If your child requires urgent pediatric dentist care due to an injury or any other reason, please do not hesitate to reach out to them.
Why You Need to Visit Knox Pediatric Dentistry for Your Kid’s Teeth Emergencies
What distinguishes Knox Pediatric Dentistry from other clinics is that these professionals are experienced in handling children as well as dental emergencies. They can handle different types of problems ranging from missing or knocked out teeth, to infections and other kinds of emergencies. What is more important is that they will try their best to ensure that your child remains comfortable at all times and you are informed about the whole process.
