Dental emergencies often happen to children. By nature, children are active, and damage to teeth are not uncommon. A tooth can be knocked out while the child is playing on the playground. It can be knocked out if a ball strikes his face while he is playing in a ball game. Whatever the cause, if a tooth is knocked out or knocked loose due to an accident or trauma, you should contact our Baltimore emergency dental office right away.
Even if the tooth affected is a baby tooth, you should take your child to our office right away so that we can evaluate your child’s condition. We can see if there is risk of an abscess developing in the injured gums. We will help reduce the pain that your child may be feeling. We will give you advice on how to manage the condition of the injured site in the immediate days following the injury.
If the tooth knocked out is a permanent tooth, you should take your child to see us right away so that we can save the tooth and replant it. Before you come, rinse the tooth very carefully of dirt without washing off any of the tissues on the root. Touch only the crown and not the root. If you can, gently reinsert the tooth back into the socket. Place a piece of gauze on top of the tooth and instruct your child to bite down gently on it to keep the tooth in place. If your child is too young to do this, or if your child is too upset to follow your instructions, put the tooth in a cup of milk to preserve it. If a cold compress is available, apply it to the outside of his face to control pain and swelling. Call us and we will see your child right away.
Aside from trauma, if your child experiences a toothache for any reason and the pain persists, give us a call. There may be a hidden infection that needs to be treated. Do not assume that the pain will go away on its own. Early treatment can save your child from bigger problems.
We understanding that children can be fearful of the dentist. Our highly trained staff knows how to mitigate the fear that your child may feel when he comes to our office. We will do everything possible to reduce the pain and help your child feel more comfortable. We will take the best care of your child as we work to treat the dental emergency.
Any time when there is damage to your child’s teeth, or when your child experiences pain or swelling in his gums, call us immediately. We can handle all kinds of dental emergencies and will provide your child with the highest quality of care.