We all hate to see our children in pain. If your child is suffering from a dental emergency, the Oak Landing Pediatric Dentistry team is trained to help alleviate your child’s pain and manage the crisis.
When an emergency occurs, it’s essential to seek treatment for your child as soon as possible. A quick response can help Dr. Gabe save the tooth, if possible, and reduce the risk of more extensive dental care.
Pediatric dental emergencies can include:
Below are a few common scenarios and what to do if they occur:
If your child fractures a tooth, then gather any fragments you can find and store them in a clean container of milk or saliva of the child that lost the tooth. Never use water to transport a broken or knocked-out tooth. You must visit the dentist immediately to prevent infection and other complications brought on by chipped or knocked-out teeth. If the tooth is knocked out, only touch the crown of the tooth and not the root. If an adult tooth is avulsed Dr. Gabe can advise you on the best course of action.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENSE IN THIS INSTANCE, SO DO NOT DELAY!
If your child experiences a cut on their tongue, cheek, or lip, bleeding can usually be stopped by applying clean gauze to the affected area. You can also apply ice to the site to help stop the bleed. Many times saliva mixed with blood appears to be a lot of blood! If you cannot stop the bleeding, call our office or visit the emergency room. If your child has an open oral wound for a long period of time, they can be susceptible to infection.
If your child has a toothache, then have them rinse their mouth with warm salt water to ease the pain. OTC Tylenol or Motrin are also helpful with inflammation and pain. Orajel has little benefit and often repeated use has concerns about over dose, so we recommended avoiding this for persistent tooth pain. If your child has tooth pain for more than 24 hours, not being relieved by Tylenol or Motrin please call our office to schedule an emergency visit.
