Steps to Take Before Seeing an Emergency Pediatric Dentist

Going to an emergency pediatric dentist can give your child immediate dental needs. Treating urgent dental issues can provide relief right away. It can also prevent complications. Here are the necessary steps that you can take even before the drive to your emergency pediatric dentist.

Reassure the child and stay calm

Showing distress will only intensify the child’s anxiety. This will make it more difficult for the emergency pediatric dentist to provide the necessary care. The child will likely be in pain during a dental issue. Some bleeding may cause panic. Guardians or parents must remain calm at this point.

Understand the common emergency tooth injuries in kids

Kids are more prone to oral or facial accidents because of falls or rough play. Knowing the different dental emergencies in children can help the guardian or parent decide when to drive to an emergency pediatric dentist. This will make it easier to determine what to do. The following are the common dental injuries in kids that often need an emergency pediatric dentist:

• A fractured or chipped tooth may occur after a facial or oral injury. A fractured tooth’s damage goes beyond the enamel layer. A chipped tooth’s damage is confined to the tooth’s enamel layer.
• Soft tissue dental injuries involve damage to the tongue, gums, or lips. These injuries can cause pain and bleeding.
• Displaced or loosened teeth can result from trauma.
• An avulsion or knocked-out tooth happens when the tooth detaches partially or completely from its socket.

Evaluate the injury

Assessing the child’s injury will provide an idea of how severe it is. See if the child lost or injured a tooth. Doing so will tell the parent or guardian what to do next. This will include whether the child will need the help of an emergency pediatric dentist or schedule a regular dental appointment.

Manage the damaged tooth

The chipped or fractured tooth will be prone to dental infection. It is important to keep the tooth clean. Rinse the child’s mouth with warm water. Recover any dental fragments and soak them in milk. Then, bring the child to the emergency pediatric dentist.

Take care of the knocked-out tooth

There will be bleeding after a tooth is knocked out from its socket. Place a sterile gauze on the area and have the child bite gently to apply pressure. Find the tooth and handle it by its crown. Rinse it gently with some milk and place it in a small container of milk. This will keep the tooth alive and moist. Have the child hold a cold compress on the cheek near the area of injury while driving to the emergency pediatric dentist.

Tend to the displaced or loose tooth

Trauma can also cause a tooth to loosen or partially dislodge from its socket. Refrain from touching the loose tooth. Gently place the displaced tooth back into its original position. Place a cold compress on the cheek near the injured tooth. This will reduce the swelling and pain. Giving the child an over-the-counter pain reliever can also provide relief until the child arrives at the emergency pediatric dentist’s clinic.

Preparing before going to an emergency pediatric dentist can provide faster relief

Research shows that children are prone to facial or oral injuries. Falls, contact sports, or biting into something hard can result in dental damage or missing teeth. Knowing what to do before going to the emergency dental clinic can provide some relief to your child right away. Working with your emergency pediatric dentist can prevent complications.

Request an appointment here: https://www.smiling-kids.com or call Myriam Cerezo, DMD, Pediatric Dentist at (215) 867-8243 for an appointment in our Holland office.

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