Emergency Dental Care For Children

Posted July 3, 2023

When your child experiences an injury to one of their teeth, it can be quite an upsetting event. Fortunately, knowing how to respond in these moments can accelerate receiving care and relieve the pain that they feel. If your little one cracks or dislodges a tooth, we could provide emergency care to help restore their smile.

At your Dallas, TX pediatric dental practice, we encourage you to visit right away for any children’s smile injury. Any event that breaks the seal of their enamel can increase your child’s risk of developing a cavity or infection, so do not ignore the harm to a baby tooth.

When Should You Visit The Dentist Immediately?

We consider any serious injury to your child’s tooth or gums to be an emergency that requires immediate treatment. If you believe the injury to be life-threatening, head straight to the nearest emergency room or call 911 before considering visiting the dentist. These events could include chipped or cracked teeth. Sometimes physical trauma can knock out a tooth completely. Another form of injury occurs when a restoration causes swelling or becomes dislodged. In these moments, we should see your kid right away to repair their crown or filling. By receiving emergency care, you can prevent an injury to a tooth from progressing into a cavity or dangerous infection. Because little smiles are still developing, losing a tooth before it is intended to come out can jeopardize the proper development of their jaw.

Taking Steps To Reduce A Child’s Pain

As you prepare to attend your emergency appointment, there are steps you can take to calm your child and begin to relieve their symptoms. After a physical injury, help your child clean the affected area and rinse it with warm water to clear debris. You can help them stem bleeding by applying gauze or a cold compress. This can also help reduce inflammation and soreness after an injury. Consider giving your child an over-the-counter pain pill to help them treat their pain as they await their dental visit.

If your child knocks out one of their teeth, you should attempt to save it for placement back in their smile. Gather the tooth by its root and place it into a saltwater bath or jar of milk. Remember to never touch it by its crown, as this can damage the tooth. For broken teeth, gather any loose pieces in the same manner and store them in a bath for transport to our office.

Call Your Dallas, TX Pediatric Dentist Now For Your Dental Emergency

Responding to your child’s emergency can help them save injured teeth and prevent future complications to their smile. To learn more about our emergency services or to schedule an appointment for your child, then please contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.