What Is A Pediatric Dental Emergency?

If you are a parent, do you know what to do when a dental emergency strikes? Most require immediate action, especially when your little one is in pain. Knowing what to look for and what to do in these moments can not only help you to remain calm, but it can help your child to remain calm, too. 

So, what is a pediatric dental emergency and what should you do if you are dealing with one? Let’s talk about it. 

Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Kids play hard which can result in all types of dental emergencies due to sports, falls, poor hygiene, and more. Below are a few of the most common pediatric dental emergencies. 

Soft Tissue Injuries

When you have active kids, accidents are going to happen. Sometimes this leads to an injury involving the tongue, cheek, or lip. The first step to take is to apply pressure to the area with a clean cloth. 

You may want to gently rinse off a lip or rinse the mouth. Do not be aggressive and do not scrub the wound.

For the most part, this will heal up without issue. However, if the injury is severe or the bleeding will not stop, contact your pediatric dentist right away. 

A Knocked-Out Tooth 

Knocking a tooth out can be a scary situation. What do you do in this instance? Remain calm and find the missing tooth. 

If it is a permanent tooth, pick it up by the crown and give it a quick rinse without touching the root. Then, if possible, place the tooth back in its socket. Or, place the tooth in a glass of milk or in saliva to keep it moist.

Contact your child’s dentist immediately. The faster you can seek treatment, the greater chance you have of saving the natural tooth. 

For a lost baby tooth, do not try to save it. 

Severe Toothache

Toothaches can come on unexpectedly for many different reasons. Most of the time they occur due to tooth decay or debris stuck between the teeth and in the surrounding gum. 

If your child is suddenly complaining of tooth pain, take a look in their mouth. Do you see any food or debris around the area where the pain is? If so, try using floss to remove it. Do you notice a hole or discoloration? This could be a sign of tooth decay. 

If you are unable to remove anything with floss, give your child’s dentist a call. In the meantime, over-the-counter pain relievers can help to reduce the level of discomfort. 

A Broken Tooth

If your child breaks a tooth, take the following steps — and then contact your pediatric dentist. 

• Gently rinse inside the mouth. 
• Place a cold compress on the cheek where the tooth is to reduce swelling.
• Place the fragment of the tooth in milk or saliva and bring it with you to the dentist. 

Your dentist may be able to repair and restore the tooth. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Emergencies 

Should I take my child to the ER for a toothache? 

It is best to contact your child’s dentist when it comes to a toothache as most ERs do not staff dentists. However, if your child’s pain is severe, there are signs of a fever, difficulty breathing, or swallowing, seek emergency medical attention right away. 

How do you treat an abscessed tooth? 

How an abscess is treated will vary. Most of the time antibiotics will be given to help clear up the infection and reduce swelling before treating the tooth. Sometimes an incision is made to drain the abscess. Once it is starting to heal, treatment will begin. This often requires a pulpectomy or even an extraction. 

Pediatric Dental Emergencies in El Paso

At El Paso Family Dental, we understand that dental emergencies can happen at any time, day or night. We treat emergencies with urgency to give your child the relief they need while doing everything possible to save their natural teeth. 

If you are having a pediatric dental emergency, contact us at 915-585-2020.