pediatric dental emergencies

A pediatric dental emergency can occur at any time, with or without the presence of any symptoms. It can be scary for both parents and their children. This is especially true if the tooth is fractured or completely broken. Handling a pediatric dental emergency in Baltimore can protect the child’s dental health.

What Are Typical Pediatric Dental Emergencies?

Typical pediatric dental emergencies include a tooth fracture, knocked out teeth, infected baby tooth, persistent toothache, and dental intrusion.

1. Tooth Fracture

A fracture in the tooth affects the main function of the tooth. It can cause an unusual feeling and discomfort in the child’s mouth. It can, therefore, reduce the child’s ability to chew and eat. The child may feel pain when chewing. So, if a child complains of severe tooth pain, it is best to take the child for a dental x-ray.

2. Knocked Out Tooth

A knocked out tooth, or dental avulsion, happens when a tooth is completely knocked out of the child’s mouth. Injuries and accidents can knock out a tooth. The child can lose a baby tooth or even a permanent tooth. If a baby’s tooth is completely knocked out during an accident, it requires immediate dental attention.

3. Infected Baby Tooth

A baby tooth can become infected due to an issue with the root of the baby tooth or poor oral hygiene. A bacterial infection, for example, can cause damage to the baby’s teeth and supporting gums. If left untreated, the infection could spread to other parts of the child’s body.

4. Persistent Toothache

Tooth infection, tooth decay, and dental injury are the most common causes of persistent toothache. A severe toothache can make it difficult for the child to speak, eat, and even sleep.

Pain medications make the child’s pain less severe. It is, however, wise to let a pediatric dentist examine the child’s mouth and treat the underlying cause of the persistent toothache.

5. Dental Intrusion

A dental intrusion occurs when a baby tooth or permanent tooth is pushed into the gumline or jawbone. The tooth will appear shorter than the neighboring teeth.

Children are mostly affected by dental intrusion. This is because the child’s alveolar bones are not as hard as those of an adult.

Conclusion

Regular dental checkups can help prevent these pediatric dental emergencies and protect the child’s teeth and jaw. It is very expensive to replace a lost tooth.

Pediatric dental emergencies can affect the child’s development and ability to speak, eat, and concentrate in school. So, parents should not put off taking their children to see a pediatric dentist.

If a parent takes their child to see a pediatric dentist as early as possible, the dentist is more likely to save their child’s tooth.

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.