Handling your child’s dental care is always unique, and this extends to dental emergencies. We hope you never encounter them with your kids, but it’s important to be prepared just in case. Today, the Children’s Dental Center will give you some tips on how to handle your child’s dental emergencies.
Types of Dental Emergencies
We want to preface this by saying that if the emergency or injury is especially severe, you should call 911 or visit your nearest emergency department. In these situations, the Children’s Dental Center can help provide follow-up care after the initial emergency is addressed.
Let’s cover some of the potential dental emergencies your child can experience and a few of the approaches to help you when they occur. Remember that it’s important not to panic. Dr. Rowland, Dr. Selecman, Dr. Daniel, Dr. Greene, and Dr. Church, as well as our team, are all experienced with these types of emergencies.
1. Knocked-Out Tooth:
- Primary Tooth (aka Baby Tooth): If a baby tooth is knocked out by an external force, do not ever attempt to reinsert it. Call your dentist to determine if further treatment is needed. We will check for any damage to the underlying permanent tooth, which may not be obvious initially.
- Permanent Tooth: If a permanent tooth is knocked out, you should take a slightly different approach. Gently rinse it with water (do not scrub or remove any attached tissue). If you can, replace the tooth back into the socket or store it in a container of milk or saliva (yes, really!). In this scenario, seeking emergency dental care immediately is especially important, as time is crucial for saving the tooth.
2. Chipped or Broken Tooth:
- Treatment: Start by rinsing your child’s mouth with warm water to clean the area thoroughly. Use a cold compress to reduce swelling and salvage any tooth fragments if possible. Contact our office to determine the next steps, which can include bonding or placing a crown to restore the tooth.
3. Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek:
- Treatment: Clean the area with warm water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If bleeding is severe or doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of applying pressure, we recommend seeking emergency medical attention.
4. Object Stuck Between Teeth:
- Treatment: You can begin by gently removing the object with dental floss and being extra careful not to cut the gums. Avoid using sharp objects like toothpicks, which can make matters worse. If you can’t remove the object, contact our nearest office.
5. Broken Braces or Wires:
- Treatment: This is technically an orthodontic emergency, but our office can still be contacted to help should it occur. If a wire from braces breaks or protrudes, you can try to push it back into place with a cotton swab carefully. If that’s not possible or you don’t want to risk worsening the damage, cover the sharp end with orthodontic wax until you can get to us. Never attempt to cut the wire yourself. Contact your orthodontist for further advice and repair.
6. Abscess or Swelling:
- Treatment: An abscess is classified as a painful, swollen area on the gum that might be filled with pus, indicating an infection. We recommend rinsing your child’s mouth with mild saltwater several times a day to help ease the pain and draw out the pus. Always seek immediate dental care if you suspect your child has an abscess, as it can lead to more serious infections if they aren’t addressed promptly.
7. Severe Toothache:
- Treatment: Avoid giving your child aspirin or placing it on the aching tooth. If there’s swelling, use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek. Once you visit our office, we will be able to diagnose the source of the pain, which could range from a cavity to a more serious cause, like an infection.
8. Dental Intrusion (Tooth Pushed into Gum):
- Treatment: Sometimes, a tooth can be pushed into the gum due to some force of trauma, which we call a dental intrusion. You should find emergency dental care immediately. Our team will determine the best course of action, which may involve manually repositioning the tooth or allowing it to re-erupt naturally.
Being Prepared is Key
We understand that any of these experiences can be jarring for parents. But once again, please be assured that Children’s Dental Center offers singular care to kids in Memphis. If you’ve been looking for dental care for your child in Arlington, Collierville, or Midtown, look no further.