This post is sponsored and written by Sweet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry.
As a parent, one of the most alarming experiences you can face is your child suffering from a dental emergency.
At Sweet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry, we understand the urgency and concern that comes with such situations. In collaboration with the Kansas City Mom Collective, we’re here to guide you through these stressful times with expert advice and compassionate care.
1. What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency
Understanding what qualifies as a true dental emergency can be challenging. The most common issues include severe toothaches, chipped or broken teeth, and knocked-out teeth. Each of these scenarios requires different responses and levels of urgency.
Not every dental emergency is considered life-threatening at first or in need of an immediate visit to a dental office. But, these conditions still require urgent care to prevent them from becoming worse as time progresses.
2. Remain Calm & Positive
In any dental emergency, the first step is to stay calm and reassure your child. Stress and anxiety can produce reactions that can worsen some conditions, and it’s challenging for children to communicate fully when they are upset, in pain, or scared. Do your best to assure yourself and your child that things will be OK.
3. Even If You Don’t Need Immediate Attention, Always Call Your Dentist
From there, we recommend contacting a pediatric dentist. Even if you don’t need to get an appointment at that very moment, it’s good to get on the schedule as soon as possible and hear any advice your specialists may have.
When speaking to a dentist, make certain to accurately describe any symptoms and when you first noticed them. Also, inform the dentist of any mouth, jaw, or facial injuries your child may have sustained and the circumstances under which they occurred. Text or email pictures or video of the affected area.
The dentist may suggest bringing your child in for further examination to get a better grasp on the situation. It’s important to follow any guidelines your dentist sets following any dental work. Make sure to listen and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
4. Prevention and Preparation
Preventing dental emergencies is key. Regular dental check-ups, proper brushing, and the use of mouth guards during sports can significantly reduce the risk of dental injuries. It’s also wise to have a dental emergency kit at home and to keep your dentist’s contact information handy. Don’t put things off till it is too late.
Make sure to listen to your children if they bring up any discomfort when chewing, drinking, brushing, etc. While it may seem like a small issue at first, tooth pain or discomfort can turn into an emergency if not properly taken care of.
5. The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Toothaches
Toothaches are the most common oral health issue adults and children face. However, while many toothaches only require proper oral care at home to resolve, some are more severe. They have many causes, and there are times when a toothache is indicative of a more complex underlying condition. A toothache can be considered an emergency if:
- There’s also swelling of the gums, face, jaw, or neck that a cold compress will not alleviate.
- It increases in intensity over time.
- Your child develops a fever or earache.
Knocked-Out Teeth
Children and gap-toothed smiles go together like peanut butter and jelly. While it’s natural for kids to lose teeth over time, this is typically due to baby teeth making room for those permanent adult teeth. When a sudden event forcibly removes teeth from their socket, that is an emergency situation.
Lost teeth on their own are not life-threatening. But if you still have your child’s tooth, it may be possible to reinsert it if you take action and schedule an emergency dental appointment quickly. Thirty minutes or less is the ideal length of time in which to visit a dentist with a knocked-out tooth.
Chipped or Fractured Teeth
This can result from falls, sports injuries, or biting down on something hard. Depending on the severity of the fracture, treatment can range from smoothing out a minor chip to more complex procedures for a severe fracture.
Abscessed Tooth
An abscess is a serious condition in which bacteria from the tooth find their way into other parts of your child’s mouth, causing an infection. This infection can easily spread through the soft tissues or even the facial and jaw bones, leading to fever, swelling, gum inflammation, severe pain, and difficulty swallowing or opening the mouth. If your child develops an abscessed tooth, it’s very important to take them to a dentist as soon as you can.
Broken Orthodontic Appliances
Braces and retainers are commonly used to help straighten and realign children’s teeth. These appliances consist of metal, plastic, or ceramic parts that work to slowly move teeth into the correct position. However, these parts are not indestructible. Sometimes, a wire or bracket on your child’s braces can snap, which can cause an urgent situation.
Other than reducing the effectiveness of your child’s braces or retainers, broken metal parts could potentially stick out and poke, scratch, or cut the soft tissues in your child’s mouth. It’s important to make sure that any oral appliances are in proper condition and not causing any issues.
Experience the Sweet Tooth Difference
Understanding how to effectively handle dental emergencies can make a significant difference in the experience for your child. Remember, Sweet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry is here to support you and your child through every dental journey, emergency or not. Feel free to reach out to us for more information or to schedule a regular check-up.
Our mission is to provide timely, affordable, and outstanding pediatric dentistry and orthodontic care in a fun, safe, and warm environment that the whole family can enjoy.
Sweet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, providing exceptional treatments with locations in Shawnee, Overland Park, Olathe and now open in the Northland! Book those summer appointments now!
