Five Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies And What To Do About It
You can never be prepared for a dental emergency because they occur at any time. Seeking emergency dental treatment in Bloomfield, CT, immediately after the accident occurs, is recommended. This is because it increases your chances of saving your teeth and preventing further dental complications.
When the dental accident strikes, how you handle them will determine the success of the treatment. Here are five common dental emergencies and how to manage them.
- Knocked out teeth
The teeth can get partially or entirely dislodged after an accident or a fall. The first aid you use to address the avulsed teeth will depend on the type of tooth affected.
Partially knocked-out permanent teeth can be pushed back into the socket. Therefore, try placing the teeth back to the socket using the crown and not touching the root.
Do not try to pull the teeth; only the dentist can determine if the teeth can be extracted or not.
If the teeth are completely knocked out, placing them back in the socket will not work. Instead, pick the tooth and put it in milk to keep it from moist.
Do not push the baby or primary teeth back regardless of whether they are partially or completely knocked out. Remember, the baby teeth’ primary purpose is to hold space for the permanent ones. Putting the teeth back in the socket will affect the gums and impair how the permanent teeth come out.
Visit an emergency dentist near you within the first 45 minutes of the accident. This will make it easy for the permanent teeth to be replanted back. Though the primary teeth are not replanted, it is important to carry the tooth with you for assessment.
- Cracked or broken teeth
It is crucial to visit our pediatric dentist in Bloomfield, CT, for treatment, whether it is the baby or permanent fractured teeth. As you come for assistance, here is what to do to handle the cracks and chips:
- Use warm water to clean your child’s mouth and save the pieces of teeth that you find. The dentist can reattach them if they are in good condition.
- Place these fragments of teeth in milk to keep them alive and moist.
- Floss your teeth and gums to remove any pieces left
- Give your child a gauze pad if there is bleeding.
- Place a cold compress to reduce swelling. Do not apply direct heat to the gums or cheeks of the affected area.
- You can use pain relievers to ease the pain, but first, consult a pediatric dentist near you on the right pain medications to use.
- Toothache and sore gums
Tooth pain is common in children and rarely occurs without a cause. Some of the causes of toothache include decay, trauma, and tooth fractures.
- Examine the teeth for any decay or cavities
- Remove any impacted food with a floss
- Apply a cold compress on the affected area to reduce swelling
- Cleanse the mouth with warm water
If the pain persists, visit our pediatric dentist in Bloomfield, CT.
- Abscessed teeth
If a child has a bacterial infection in the mouth, the body tries to fight it out and produces pus in the process. When the pus does not drain properly, it accumulates in the gums, forming the abscess.
Teeth abscess needs urgent treatment; otherwise, the infection could spread to the surrounding tissues and weaken the teeth.
Although the dentist may give you antibiotics to treat the infection, you can ease the pain using warm, salty water.
- Soft Tissue Injuries
The soft tissues in the tongue, cheeks, lips, and palate can get lesions after an accident or break the metal braces. Cleaning the mouth with warm water and biting a gauze pad to control the bleeding will ease the pain.
Final Thoughts
Pediatric dental emergencies can occur at any time, and it is crucial to know how to handle them to ease the pain and control the bleeding.
If you doubt or do not know an urgent dental emergency and non-urgent ones, visit Bloomfield Pediatric Dentistry for more information.