What to Do If Your Child Has a Dental Emergency
Having a dental emergency with no professional nearby is quite a scary thing for the parent or caregiver and even for the child. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do in order to mitigate the situation before taking the child to an emergency dentist.
Baby's teeth
Even though these teeth are not permanent, baby teeth still require the same kind of attention given to adult teeth. When baby's teeth undergo trauma, they can damage the gum and permanent teeth growing below, causing a possible delay in their eruption. Tooth decay in milk teeth also compromises the health of the gum and the permanent teeth that are yet to shoot.
Always be prepared Infants and toddlers are famous for their zesty sense of curiosity, and sometimes, this can land them in trouble. They could fall down and injure their teeth, or hurt them in other ways. Babies who have just learned to walk are especially vulnerable when it comes to slipping and falling, during which they could hurt a tooth. According to research, about a third of toddlers and babies have suffered some kind of accidental trauma to their teeth. The ages of greatest risk are 18-40 months.
Therefore, it is important for parents and caregivers to make sure they are alert have the contact information of a good emergency dentist and know what to do when faced with emergencies of various kinds:
1. Tooth gets knocked out Usually, milk teeth can't be re-implanted, and there's nothing to be done but wait for the growth of the adult teeth. Conversely, permanent teeth can be reattached provided two hours haven't elapsed from the time of injury. If your child loses an adult tooth, place it in a clean container with milk or the child's saliva and rush to the kids' dentist immediately. If bleeding, firm pressure to the site should help stop the bleeding.
2. Tooth is broken If the child's tooth breaks and you can see right to the reddish dental pulp, you need to rush to a hospital with specialized dentistry for children services. If it was just a slight shift or push into the gum, call the dental practitioner to see what they recommend. If you notice that after some trauma the child's teeth are changing color, consult with the dentist to ensure that blood supply or the nerve network in the teeth has not been compromised.
3. Injury on the gums, lips or tongue If the child has cut their tongue and is bleeding profusely, it's important to stay calm. The injury could be less serious than it is. Unless the cut is very large, there's no need to worry as it will heal itself with time. If you notice a bruise on the gums or lips but the teeth are intact, apply some form of cold pressure (e.g. ice pack or frozen vegetables). However, if the cut is larger than Âź inch or it extends across the border of the lip, you need to take the child to your emergency dentist just to make sure that everything is okay and prevent any future complications.
ď Ź
Resources:
http://www.xpressdentalclinic.com http://ezinearticles.com/?What-to-Do-If-YourChild-Has-a-Dental-Emergency&id=8939349
Thank you for reading! Have a great day!