When people think of dental emergencies, most think of broken teeth but did you know, a large percentage also involve soft tissue trauma?
Mouth trauma can be confusing for parents. Who treats it? Where do we go? As long as there is no signs of head trauma, broken bones or significant systemic trauma your dentist is a good place to start.
At Children’s Dentistry, we are on call 24/7 and definitely a less expensive option compared to the emergency room. Just call our office, leave a message and someone will call you right back. Our pediatric dentists are trained to place sutures in the oral cavity and treat most oral injuries. Be careful out there but when something happens, don’t hesitate to call even after hours!
There are things that you can do for dental emergencies if rushing into the dental office right away is not an option. Here are a few common dental emergencies and the recommended care before getting to the dentist…
Clean the area of the affected tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge any impacted food or debris. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth.
If there is bleeding apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes please call our office or go to the emergency room.
Whenever possible, find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root portion, do not remove any tissue from the root. You may rinse the tooth but DO NOT clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in the socket after you have rinsed it off. Hold the tooth in place by biting on gauze, a clean cloth or tissue. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk. The patient must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.
At Children’s Dentistry, we are now able to offer pediatric teledentistry in certain circumstances. Call our office and if you are unable to come in for a physical appointment, we can determine if your child’s condition is something we can handle virtually. We are here to help in whatever way possible!
