Emergency Dental Care You Can Count On
When an unexpected dental injury occurs, or a dental issue arises, often these situations can be qualified as dental emergencies. During these emergencies, you need a dentist you can rely on to address the issue(s) as quickly as possible.
Chicago kiDDS Pediatric Dentistry is your source for emergency pediatric dental care in Palos Heights, IL. Whether your child has experienced some type of accident, suddenly developed a toothache, or otherwise acquired an oral injury, we are here to help.
Addressing A Dental Emergency
It is frightening when your child suffers a dental injury of any kind, but you can best prepare by learning how to assess dental injuries on the spot.
Whether the situation can be treated at home, or requires a visit to the dentist or emergency room is a critical distinction to make. Always seek professional attention if your child is in severe pain or at risk of losing a permanent tooth. If you are not sure if the situation at hand meets this standard, feel free to contact our team at Chicago kiDDS for help. Many worried parents have called us seeking advice, which we are happy to give!
Responding to Common Dental Emergencies
- Injured Lip, Tongue, or Cheek
Apply ice to any bruised areas, and if your child is bleeding, apply gentle pressure using a clean cloth or gauze. Check the clock; if the bleeding continues for 15 minutes or longer, or the injury seems quite severe (i.e. may need stitches), bring your child to the emergency room.
- Broken Braces or Wires
If your child has traditional braces, it is not uncommon for brackets or wires to occasionally come loose; if there is no pain or discomfort, a same-day visit may not be necessary. If the broken appliance can be easily removed, remove it and bring it along to the dentist. For appliances that are painful to remove or have become lodged, use wax, cotton balls, gauze, or chewing gum to cover protruding edges and visit your dentist as soon as possible.
- Broken Tooth
For any break, crack, or serious chip, you will need to schedule an emergency dental appointment. Before your appointment, rinse the area with warm water and apply a clean, cold compress to the affected area of the face. Collect any broken tooth fragments to ensure your child does not choke, and bring them to the dentist.
- Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
A knocked out tooth is a serious dental concern, especially if it is an adult tooth. Pick the tooth up from the ground by its crown (the top) and never the root end, then rinse the tooth, being careful to handle it as little as possible (do not scrub the tooth).
Try to reinsert the tooth into its socket, then, using a clean cloth or gauze, hold it in place until you can visit a dentist for emergency treatment. If it cannot be reinserted, you can bring it to your dentist in a small container of milk, provided your appointment is not far off. The sooner you are able to bring your child to the dentist, the more likely it is that their tooth will be saved!
- Excessive Bleeding After Losing a Baby Tooth
Using a folded piece of gauze or a clean cloth, apply pressure to the area that is bleeding. If the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, call your pediatric dentist for advice and plan on possibly visiting the emergency room.
- Possible Broken Jaw
This injury necessitates a visit to the emergency room. To prepare for travel, you can gently tie your child’s mouth closed with a handkerchief, towel, or necktie.
Your Pediatric Emergency Dentist in Palos Heights, IL
Dental emergencies are not fun for anyone, but the team at Chicago kiDDS is committed to making the dental appointments that follow as positive as possible for our patients. If you are in the middle of a dental emergency right now, call our office immediately to arrange a same-day appointment with our office.
