Everything seemed to be fine–and then that eerie silence was broken by a loud cry from one of the kids.
While my husband and I were taking some measurements and planning for our upcoming move, the kids had discovered a kitty cat door in another room and decided to try going through it. When our 3-year old daughter got stuck her older brother–wanting to help and get her unstuck as quickly as possible–tried to push her through the door from behind. But because she didn’t anticipate it, she didn’t brace herself with her hands and fell right on her face.
She had a couple of spots on her lip that were bleeding, but thankfully her teeth appeared to be fine. So we consoled her, talked about how the door was for cats and not kids and went about our evening. When she complained about her teeth hurting some time later, I took a closer look and noticed that she had a couple of tiny chips in her two front teeth.
We didn’t know what to do.
It was Friday night, the dentist’s office was closed, and my daughter had a dental emergency. Did I need to find the pieces? Try to put them in milk? Was there anything that could be done? What if there was something I didn’t know I was supposed to do?
Dental emergencies can happen so quickly. Especially when your kids are active. Here are some common pediatric dental emergencies and what you should know:
Toothache
If your child has a toothache, be sure to clean the area around the affected tooth first. You can do this by having your child rinse with warm water or use dental floss to clear the area of any food debris. If there is any facial swelling, put a cold compress or ice pack on it and call your dentist immediately.
Knocked-Out Teeth
For a knocked-out permanent tooth, time is of the essence. If possible, find the tooth and handle it by the crown while avoiding the root. You can rinse it with water only, but do not use any soap to clean it or handle it too much. If there aren’t any fractures in the tooth, you can reinsert it in the tooth socket and have your child hold it in place by biting down on a piece of gauze. If the tooth is fractured or can’t be reinserted you can put the tooth in a cup with your child’s saliva, or a small amount of milk. Then call your dentist IMMEDIATELY.
For a knocked-out baby tooth, call your pediatric dentist. Trying to reinsert a baby tooth can cause damage to the permanent tooth that is developing below the gumline. In most cases no treatment is necessary, but it is important for your child to be seen.
Chipped or Fractured Teeth
Contact your dentist immediately. When it comes to a chipped or fractured tooth, time is critical to reducing the risk of infection or future dental procedures. Your child can rinse their mouth with water and you can apply an ice pack for swelling. If you’re able to find it, bring the broken piece with you to the dentist.
Possible Broken/Fractured Jaw
Take your child to the nearest emergency room.
The Good News
Thankfully, most pediatric dental emergencies just need to be monitored. In my daughter’s case, it was important for her to get x-rays to make sure there weren’t any unseen fractures in her teeth. I felt a lot of relief knowing her teeth were okay and knowing what I needed to look out for. Injured teeth always have a chance of developing an infection–even long after the initial trauma. It also helped to know that her teeth could become discolored, which is a very common occurrence.
Call Dr. Bob
Whatever happens, Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist is here for you! As a small boutique practice, Dr. Bob is able to customize the care they provide to each patient. And in addition to their regular office hours, Dr. Bob is available around the clock for dental emergencies. So helpful, right?! They’re committed to providing the exceptional care your child deserves for routine non-emergency visits, too.
Dr. Bob Pediatric Dentist follows the strictest protocols for cleanliness and has incorporated increased safety measures to ensure your child’s safety. So don’t delay. Call the office at 305-397-8214 or click here to schedule an appointment today!
For questions about shark teeth and other common, non-emergency dental issues in kids, check out this post.
