Treatment For An Accidental Injury
When a little tooth is accidentally injured, this means there is an increased risk of your child developing tooth decay or an infected tooth. Fortunately, we can address damaged smiles, often in one visit, with emergency dental care. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about our approach to dental emergencies.
The Causes of Injuries
The causes of a dental emergency could vary. Often they involve accidents, such as while playing sports or just playing. A child could also bite down on a hard piece of food that damages a tooth, or could chew on objects such as a pencil. Teeth grinding could damage a tooth, too. No matter the cause, when your child has an injury to a tooth, attention is necessary. Even minor cracks or chips could expose the sensitive inner portions of a tooth to harmful oral bacteria, leading to cavities or even an infected tooth.
Warning Signs of Danger
How do you know when your child needs to see the dentist? If they sustain an injury to the mouth that is serious but not life threatening, then give us a call right away. We can schedule a time to see you, even outside of normal business hours, and offer repair to protect their oral health. Even if no damage is visible, consider a checkup as fractures could be nearly invisible to the naked eye. A child complaining about persistent aches or sensitivity when eating or drinking could also be an indicator that a tooth is decayed or damaged.
Addressing Discomfort
When a child injures a tooth, have them rinse with warm water and use cloth or gauze to stem the bleeding. A cold compress or ice pack to the side of the face could help prevent major swelling. If a piece of the tooth can be recovered, bring it with you to the office. An over-the-counter pain reliever can help ease discomfort too. If a tooth is knocked out completely, pick it up the crown, never touch the root. Gently rinse away any dirt, and place the tooth in a glass of salt water or milk. Bring it with you to the office.
Treatment
We will examine the smile and choose the most appropriate treatment option. For some, this could involve lifelike composite resin, repairing minor damage in one visit. We could also use a stainless steel or NuSmile zirconia crown. If you have any questions about how we treat emergencies in little smiles, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Any Questions About Emergency Dentistry?
We are here to help treat an injured tooth and protect the smile from worsening pain and complications. Set up an appointment with us by contacting your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Dental Emergencies