Dental emergencies can be a sudden and frightening event, especially when they involve your littlest loved ones. At Bright Pediatric Smiles, our team is ready to provide relieving care when families need it most. Dr. Sam makes time for emergency pediatric treatment as soon as possible, If your son or daughter is struggling with serious oral pain and/or a damaged tooth, don’t hesitate to contact us in Poway, CA today!
HOW TO HANDLE COMMON DENTAL EMERGENCIES
Dental emergencies can spring up without any warning, like a sports injury or a tumble down the stairs; alternatively, they may develop at a gradual pace until it’s impossible to ignore them, like the dreaded “toothache.” Whatever the circumstances may be, worried parents can trust in Dr. Sam to diagnose the problem and provide an effective, alleviating solution. If you’re unable to reach our practice right away, here are some helpful tips for what to do when your child is faced with a common emergency:
MY CHILD HAS A TOOTHACHE
If your son or daughter is complaining about tooth pain, try rinsing their mouth with warm water and carefully inspecting the teeth – you may find that something lodged between them was causing the discomfort all along. If the discomfort continues, though, help them use a cold compress. You can also use children’s pain relievers, although make sure the medication doesn’t come in contact with the tooth or gum surfaces directly. Contact us right away for further instruction!
MY CHILD CHIPPED/BROKE A PERMANENT TOOTH
If a large fragment of the tooth has come loose, please locate it (if possible) and plan to bring it along to our Poway practice. Rinse their mouth with warm water and help them use a cold compress to reduce any facial swelling that occurs. If the tooth now has a jagged edge that’s causing pain, a piece of gauze held in place over its surface can help.
MY CHILD KNOCKED-OUT A BABY TOOTH
Knocking out a primary (“baby”) tooth isn’t a true cause for alarm. These teeth do eventually fall out on their own. If it looks like they’ve injured more than just the tooth, though, please contact Bright Pediatric Smiles for further assistance. We may want to capture some X-rays to determine if any damage was caused to the nerves or nearby teeth.
MY CHILD KNOCKED-OUT A PERMANENT TOOTH
Do you still have the permanent tooth? If so, hold it by the crown (NOT the root) rinse the crown (white) surface carefully with water (NO soap). Gently place it back into its original socket, and hold in place with clean gauze or washcloth. Otherwise, keep it in a clean container of cold milk or your child’s saliva to maintain moisture. Reimplantation may be possible, but only if we’re able to see your child within an hour or so for treatment – don’t hesitate to call us!
MY CHILD LOST A FILLING
While losing a filling isn’t considered a serious dental emergency, it can still be an uncomfortable and frightening experience for children. Because the treated tooth is now exposed to the elements, it will be more sensitive to pressure and temperature. Keep the area clean from plaque and food accumulation. Contact our office in Poway so that we can properly restore your son or daughter’s tooth as soon as possible.
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD PREVENT DENTAL EMERGENCIES
- Limit their exposure to foods that are overly sticky, tough, or hard to chew. Also, don’t let them chew on the hard ice in cold drinks!
- Make sure they wear a mouthguard (preferably a custom-made one from our office) if they’re a burgeoning athlete.
- Instruct kids to only use scissors when opening/tearing through tricky packaging, not their teeth!
- Remember to schedule biannual checkups and cleanings! These visits give our team a valuable opportunity to better understand your son or daughter’s oral health and treat any problems in their earliest, most harmless stages.
