In the event of a dental emergency, Chicago kiDDS is prepared to see your child on short notice. Please contact us right away for an appointment.
Ouch! From time to time—accidents happen. As parents, we try our best to prevent the preventable, but not everything can be accounted for. Though you can’t stop all accidents from happening, you can prepare by learning how to assess your child’s injury on the spot.
Assessing a Dental Emergency
Whether the situation can be treated at home or requires a visit to the dentist or emergency room is a critical distinction to make. Seek professional attention if your child is in severe pain or is at risk of losing a permanent tooth. If you aren’t sure if the situation at hand quite meets this standard, feel free to contact our kids’ dentist near Lockport for help. Many worried parents have called us seeking advice, which we are happy to give!
Responding to Common Dental Emergencies
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Cut or Bitten Lip, Tongue, or Cheek
Apply ice to any bruised areas. If your child is bleeding, apply firm (but gentle) pressure using a clean cloth or gauze. Check the clock; if the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, bring your child to the emergency room.
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Broken Braces or Wires
It’s 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 plan to see a kids’ dentist near Lockport as soon as possible.
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Broken Tooth
For any break, crack, or serious chip, you will need to call for an emergency dental appointment. Before your appointment, rinse the area with warm water and apply a clean cold compress to the face in the affected area. Collect any broken tooth fragments.
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Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
Pick the tooth up from the ground by its crown (the top) and never the root end. Rinse the tooth, being careful to handle the tooth as little as possible. Do not scrub the tooth. Try to reinsert the tooth, facing the correct way, into its socket. Using a clean piece of cloth or gauze, hold it in place until you can visit a dentist. If it cannot be reinserted, you can bring it to your dentist in a small container of milk. The sooner you are able to get your child to the dentist, the more likely it is that their tooth will be saved!
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Extended 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 a kids’ dentist near Lockport for emergency attention.
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Possible Broken Jaw
This injury necessitates a visit to the emergency room. To prepare for travel, you can tie your child’s mouth closed with a handkerchief, towel, or necktie.
