Emergency Dentistry for Children
Nothing cause panic as when a child gets hurt. Dental emergencies dayton can come up just as quickly as any scrape or bruise and knowing how to assess the situation and provide first aid when needed can help to calm anxiety.
Handling Dental Emergencies
Here, we will review the steps to take when your child experiences an injury to their mouth or teeth.
- Check the area for bleeding.
- Clean the area with a clean, soft, dampened cloth.
- Have your child gently bite on the damp cloth to apply gentle pressure, stopping any bleeding.
- Determine the severity of the injury to decide if you need their pediatric dentist or an emergency room
- Get your child to the medical professional you have decided can help you the quickest.
If you find that your child has knocked out an adult tooth, locate the tooth if you can, picking it up by the crown of the tooth. Do not touch the roots. Carefully rinse the tooth under warm water and after rinsing your child's mouth, see if you can put the tooth back in the socket. Once it is put back in place, have your child gently bite on a clean, damp cloth to hold the tooth in place while you quickly get them to the dentist. If you are unable to get the tooth back into the socket, put the tooth either into milk or salt water and get your child and the tooth to the dentist as quickly as possible.
If your child has knocked out a baby tooth, do not worry with trying to put the tooth back in yourself. Proceed to placing the tooth in milk or saltwater and continue on to the dentist with the tooth and your child. Depending on the state of the tooth and your child’s age, the dentist will determine if the tooth should go back in or may decide it is best left for the tooth fairy.
Dental First Aid Kit
Having a separate dental first aid kit stored with your regular first aid kit can help you tend to your child’s mouth or tooth injury quickly and effectively. Your kit should include:
- gauze
- mouthwash
- a small cup
- a cold compress or ice pack
- a cup with a lid to store a tooth
Taking Children for an Emergency Dental Visit
After you have taken the steps to calm your child and assess the injury, it is best to get to their Pediatric Dentist quickly to ensure proper care of the area. Most dentists reserve time in their schedule every day to see emergency patients. Call the office so they know you are coming and inform you of any wait time. If the office is closed, call anyway to get the after hours number to reach the on call dentist.
Getting your child the medical attention they need after a dental or facial trauma will ensure everything heals properly and avoid infection. Things happen and active little children are prone to accidents. Make a dental first aid kit and always know where it is. Your child and pediatric dentist will thank you!
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