Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Regarding Dental Emergencies
As a parent, it is not always easy to determine when a child needs immediate attention. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us and call us at Dr. Khullar Dental clinic.
Pain
Dental pain can range from minor gum irritations to severe tooth infections. As a general rule, pain needs to be addressed quickly if it happens spontaneously, keeps your child awake at night, or doesn’t respond to pain relievers.
Knocked-Out PERMANENT Tooth
- Handle the tooth by the crown, not by the root.
- Briefly rinse the tooth with water to remove dirt.
- DO NOT clean the tooth with soap or handle it unnecessarily.
- Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it appears whole, try to reinsert it into the socket. The tooth should displace the blood clot relatively easy.
- If excessive force is needed, do not continue to reinsert the tooth.
- Have your child bite on gauze to hold the tooth in place.
- If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing MILK or your child’s SALIVA.
- Time is a critical factor in determining the long-term outcome for the tooth. So You have to rush to your family dentist in first 6 hrs.
Knocked-Out PRIMARY (Baby) Tooth
- DO NOT try to reinsert the tooth.
- You may apply cold compresses to injured areas to help control swelling and bleeding.
- Baby teeth are not reinserted because of the potential for damage to developing permanent tooth buds. Usually this type of injury does not need immediate follow-up.
- Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, or if your child sustained other injuries.
Chipped or Fractured PERMANENT
Tooth
- Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.
- Locate any broken tooth fragments, place them in milk, and bring them with you to the dentist.
- Contact us as soon as possible.
- Not all fractured permanent teeth need immediate attention; however, the outcome for a tooth with a complicated fracture can significantly improve with prompt treatment.
- Chipped or Fractured PRIMARY (Baby) Tooth:
- Small fractures of primary teeth are very common.
- This is particularly true when children are learning to walk.
Severe Blow to the Head or Broken Jaw
If your child loses consciousness or experiences vomiting contact the nearest hospital emergency.