What to Expect if Your Child Needs Emergency Dental Care

Most parents want to prevent their children from harm or pain. Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible and your child may face a dental emergency at some point in his development. Dental emergencies can occur at any time and under a number of circumstances. Dr. Yury Slepak, an American Board Certified Pediatric Dentist in Brooklyn, New York, offers emergency dental care for your little one, if the need should arise.

 

What are some emergencies that might occur?

 

Dental Avulsion (Knocked-out Tooth)

 

Since children have a tendency to play more vigorously than adults, they have a higher risk of losing a tooth. If your child’s tooth is knocked-out and it’s a primary tooth, your dentist will likely not try to re-implant it. However, if it is a permanent tooth, every effort will be made to save it, if at all possible.

 

If such an emergency should occur, recover the tooth. Do not hold it by the root, but rather by the crown. Rinse the tooth off. Do not scrub it. With an older child, place the tooth back in the socket. If the child is too young, place the tooth in milk. Do not try to insert the tooth in a very young child’s mouth or he may swallow it. Keep the tooth wet during transportation.

 

Dental Intrusion (Tooth Pushed into Jawbone)

 

Another emergency that occurs in children is dental intrusion, where the teeth are forced upward into the jawbone. Take your child to his dentist immediately if this happens. The dentist may wait for the tooth to descend naturally, or he may perform a root canal to preserve it.

 

If your child experiences a dental intrusion, rinse the child’s mouth with water and apply icepacks to reduce swelling. You may give your child Children’s Tylenol to help with the pain. Then see your dentist as soon as possible.

 

Crown Fracture (Broken Tooth)

 

This is perhaps the most common type of dental emergency your child may encounter. Since the crown is the most visible part of the tooth, often tooth injuries involve a breaking of the crown. Some small breaks can be fixed with the use of sealants, but more severe breaks might require pulp therapy (root canal) to save the tooth.

 

If your child is a victim of crown fracture, rinse his mouth with warm water. Place a cold compress on the area. Pack the tooth with a material that will prevent the jagged edge from cutting your child’s mouth. Children’s Tylenol can be given to alleviate pain until you can see the dentist.

 

These are just a few emergencies that your child might face. Dr. Slepak recommends parents stay calm and utilize these tips until a dentist is able to see your child. Accidents happen, but with the appropriate knowledge, parents can help their children recover quickly.