Emergency Dentist for Children
Children are active and all of that wonderful energy always causes some scrapes and bruises. Unfortunately, their little mouths are not exempt when it comes to injury! We usually know how to take care of the scrapes and bruises but dental injuries are a little different. Knowing what to do when your child has a dental mishap will put you both at ease.
How to Handle a Dental Emergency
Here are a few steps to take in the event your child experiences a facial or valparaiso dental emergency:
- check for bleeding
- clean the area
- apply pressure to the area to stop bleeding
- determine the severity of the injury
- get your child to the dentist as soon as possible
If your child has knocked out an adult tooth, rinse the tooth off being very careful not to touch the root, instead holding it by the crown. Rise the tooth and your child’s mouth and place the tooth back in it’s socket if you can. Have your child gently bite down on a damp piece of gauze or even a wet tea bag to help hold the tooth in place. If you are unable to put the tooth back in, put the tooth in milk or salt water and get it and your child to the dentist as soon as possible.
If a baby tooth was knocked out, skip trying to put it back in yourself but put the tooth in the milk or salt water and let the dentist decide if the tooth needs to be replanted. Depending on your child’s age and the state of the tooth, the dentist may not see need for the tooth to be replaced.
Preparing a Dental First Aid Kit
Dental first aid kits are a handy thing to have around! Many of these items can be found in a standard first aid kit with a few additional items. Your kit should include:
- gauze
- mouthwash
- a small cup
- a cold compress or ice pack
- a cup with a lid to store a tooth
Store your dental kit with your first aid kit where you can get to them quickly and make sure they are clearly labeled.
Taking Children for an Emergency Dental Visit
When your child experiences a facial or dental trauma, consulting their Pediatric Dentist to make sure everything is alright is the next step. Getting your child the professional care they need as soon as possible can be the difference between saving the tooth and a lost cause. You also need to make sure to prevent infection.
Acting quickly can help make sure your child gets the care they need and that they don’t experience anymore trauma than whatever accident cause the initial facial or dental trauma. Keep your dental emergency kit handy and make sure it is always stocked!
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