{"id":203859,"date":"2020-05-19T20:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T20:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wemakekidssmile.net\/?p=203859"},"modified":"2022-11-25T17:37:06","modified_gmt":"2022-11-25T17:37:06","slug":"10-kids-dental-emergencies-and-what-to-do-right-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wemakekidssmile.net\/10-kids-dental-emergencies-and-what-to-do-right-away\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Kids’ Dental Emergencies and What to Do Right Away"},"content":{"rendered":"

Common Dental Emergencies Seen in Children<\/h1>\n

You watched your child’s teeth grow since infanthood. That’s why it can be especially difficult to see them experience a toothache, fractured tooth, or any other dental emergencies.<\/p>\n

When time is of the essence, you need to know what to do and who to contact.<\/p>\n

To help empower you in a moment of crisis, we’ve put together a list of 10 common issues that might occur, along with the steps to take in the moments that follow. Read on for how to handle a range of kids\u2019 dental emergencies for the best outcome possible.<\/p>\n

1. Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek<\/h2>\n

There’s nothing like chomping down hard on your tongue, lip, or cheek mid-bite. Though usually minor, this incident can elicit some major shrieks from even your oldest children. If it happens, stay calm.<\/p>\n

First, clean the area gently with water. Then, apply a cold compress to the affected area to help control and minimize any swelling. If the spot is bleeding, apply gentle pressure using a clean piece of gauze or cloth.<\/p>\n

In severe cases, pressure alone isn’t enough to control the swelling. In this case, contact your pediatric dentist<\/a> for an emergency visit.<\/p>\n

2. Knocked-out Baby Tooth<\/h2>\n

In many cases, a knocked-out baby tooth is not considered an emergency.<\/p>\n

Still, a call to your dental office might be required. Though you don’t have to keep this tooth moist as you would a permanent tooth, it’s still helpful to save it and bring it to the appointment with you.<\/p>\n

3. Knocked-out Permanent Tooth<\/h2>\n

If your child has their permanent teeth in and one or more is knocked out, this qualifies as an absolute dental emergency.<\/p>\n

First, check your child for other, more serious injuries. In some cases, knocked-out teeth can be a side effect of head trauma. Upon examination, call 911 if necessary.<\/p>\n

If you’re able to locate the tooth, handle it by the crown only, and avoid touching the root. The most important thing to remember at this juncture is that the tooth needs to stay moist. If you can position it back into the socket, have your child hold it in place by biting down on a piece of gauze.<\/p>\n

If you cannot reposition the tooth, it still needs to stay moistened. Rather than submerging it in water, place it in a container of milk or saline solution. Or, have your child hold it in their mouth against their cheek. Then, visit your dentist immediately if there is no sign of other injuries.<\/p>\n

4. Potentially Broken or Fractured Jaw<\/h2>\n

If you believe that your child’s jaw might be potentially broken or fractured, it’s important to exercise extreme caution. Gently apply a cold compress to help control the swelling and try to keep their jaw from moving.<\/p>\n

Then, make an immediate call to your dentist for an emergency visit.<\/p>\n

5. Severe Blow to the Head<\/h2>\n

If your child has experienced a severe blow to their head, there will likely be some form of dental trauma involved, as well. Still, it’s critical to get your child into the nearest hospital emergency room as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

This is one dental issue that will require more intensive treatment than your pediatric dentist emergency care team can provide. The same applies to the following conditions:<\/p>\n