We Offer Emergency Dental Care When the Unexpected Occurs
When an unexpected dental injury occurs, or your child is suddenly complaining of a sore tooth, these situations usually qualify as dental emergencies. During an emergency, it’s important to be able to assess the situation and take steps to protect your child’s oral health. You also need a dentist you can rely on to provide treatment as quickly as possible.
When you need help from qualified pediatric dentists in Palos Heights, IL, Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry is your source for emergency children’s dental care. Whether your child has experienced some type of accident, suddenly developed a toothache, or otherwise suffered an oral injury, feel free to call our office for same-day dental services.
Addressing A Dental Emergency
It can be frightening when your child suffers an injury of any kind, especially a dental injury. Deciding whether an injury can be treated at home, or requires a visit to the dentist or emergency room is a critical distinction to make.
If you are unsure of how to handle a dental emergency, the dedicated team at Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry is always here to help. Many worried parents have called us seeking advice, and to schedule emergency dental appointments.
How to Make an Emergency Appointment & What to Expect
If you are in the middle of a dental emergency, contact us immediately to schedule a same-day appointment. Depending on the injury that has occurred, we will typically begin by examining your child’s teeth and taking dental X-rays.
After we have diagnosed the problem, we will determine the best course of action and discuss the options with you to ensure you’re fully informed. Once we have decided on a plan of action, we will begin treatment as quickly as possible to avoid further injury.
Common Dental Emergencies & How to Handle Them
You should always seek professional attention if your child is in severe pain or at risk of losing a permanent tooth. Other situations may simply call for ice and over the counter pain medication, or a next-day appointment.
Regardless, if your child suffers a dental injury or unexpected oral discomfort, contact Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry immediately, and our team will be happy to help.
Below are some common dental emergencies you may encounter.
- Injured Lip, Tongue, or Cheek – A soft tissue oral injury can be minor or severe. Apply ice to bruised areas, and if your child is bleeding, apply gentle pressure using a clean cloth or gauze. If bleeding continues for 15 minutes or longer, or the injury might need stitches, bring your child to the emergency room.
- Broken Braces – 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. Contact your dentist for further instruction.
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Broken Tooth – Kids are active, so they often fall down and get scrapes and bruises, but it can be dangerous to their dental health if they injure their mouth. If your child’s teeth are sticking out or they simply fall the wrong way, a minor accident can result in a cracked or chipped tooth.
For any break, crack, or serious chip, you will need to schedule a same-day dental appointment. If this occurs, collect any broken tooth fragments to ensure your child does not choke, and bring them to the dentist.
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Lost Permanent Tooth – A knocked out tooth is a serious dental concern, especially if it’s an adult tooth. Pick the tooth up by its crown (the top) not the root end, and rinse the tooth, handling it as little as possible (do not scrub the tooth). Then, try to reinsert the tooth into its socket and hold it in place until you can get to the dentist for emergency treatment.
You may also bring the tooth to your dentist in a small container of milk if it can’t be reinserted, 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!
- Toothache – Very few people can say, “I’ve never had a cavity.” Unfortunately, tooth pain is one of the worst feelings a person can experience. If your child is suffering from a toothache, they may have a deep cavity that requires immediate treatment. Contact Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry as soon as possible and our team will determine the cause of your child’s pain.
- Excessive Bleeding After Losing a Baby Tooth – Using a folded piece of gauze or a clean cloth, apply pressure to the area. If the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, call your pediatric dentist near Palos Heights for advice and plan on possibly visiting the emergency room.
- Dental Abscess – A bump on your child’s gum can indicate they have an infection which has caused an abscess to form. Dental infections require immediate medical attention, and if left untreated can cause serious health issues for your child. Call our pediatric dental team immediately if your child has a bump anywhere on their gum tissue.
If any of the above situations occur, or your child experiences another type of dental emergency, the dentists at Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry are here to help. Contact us immediately to schedule an appointment in Palos Heights, Illinois.
Pediatric Emergency Dentistry in Palos Heights, IL
For everything from dental emergencies to children’s dental cleanings in Palos Heights, our team at Chicago KiDDS is committed to making every dental appointment as positive and comfortable as possible for our patients.
Contact us today at (708) 448-6700 to schedule an appointment!
