Do You Need Emergency Dentistry?
A dental emergency means a tooth has become chipped or cracked, or even knocked-out completely. Without treatment, this could leave smiles vulnerable to tooth decay and infection. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist would like to talk about when kids need to receive emergency dentistry.
Common Reasons for Treatment
We often see kids for damaged teeth, which can happen when they bite down on objects like pens or pencils, or ice. Injuries often happen when children play full contact sports too. Treatment is necessary as even minor cracks or chips could expose the sensitive inner tissue to bacteria, allowing cavities and infection to form. Our team can also see children suffering from sudden discomfort, or objects caught between teeth that cannot be removed with floss. Knocked-out teeth, or loose/lost crowns and fillings are also cause for concern! When these occur, give us a call, even if they happen outside of normal business hours. Our team can then arrange a time to see your little one for treatment.
Addressing Dental Emergencies
After you call, you can take steps to ease your child’s discomfort. For example, have them rinse with warm water and apply cloth or gauze to control bleeding. A cold compress or ice pack to the side of the face could help control facial swelling, and you can also offer them an over-the-counter pain reliever too. If any pieces of a damaged tooth can be picked up, then bring them with you. Likewise, if a tooth is knocked out, bring it with you. It can be placed into a glass of milk or salt water. If a restoration like a crown or filling is compromised, then you can make sure they avoid sugary foods or drinks, or items that are very hot or cold, as the exposed tooth will be very sensitive.
Protecting Your Smile
When your children arrive, we can often repair teeth in one visit with composite resin, or we can place a dental crown to restore the smile. You can also take steps to help protect your children. If they play full contact sports or martial arts, make sure they wear a mouthguard. Also, maintaining good oral health habits, like brushing and flossing, as healthy and decay-free teeth are less susceptible to damage. Now is a great time to schedule a checkup and cleaning for your children too, so they can see us before school starts. If you have any questions, then give us a call today.
Schedule a Visit with Your Dallas, TX, Dentist!
Our teak wants to prevent major complications by addressing damaged or aching teeth. If you have any questions about addressing damaged smiles, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Dental Emergencies