Despite a parent’s best intentions, accidents do happen. When your child suffers from a dental injury, such as a broken tooth, sudden toothache, or a chipped tooth, you need to be able to call a trusted children’s dentist near Homer Glen immediately.
Contacting Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry when an emergency occurs is the best way to make sure you properly assess your child’s situation. However, it is also best to know more about common dental injuries so that you may better identify them, and be prepared for them.
If you can assess a dental emergency when it happens, then you can properly manage the situation and determine whether or not it is serious. This will mean deciding whether or not to schedule an emergency dental appointment, treat the issue at home, or take your child to the emergency room.
Learning how to recognize dental emergencies and take proper action is vital to your child’s dental health. For additional information on common dental injuries and emergencies, continue reading.
Types of Dental Injuries and How to Handle Them
Broken Wires or Brackets on Braces
It is not uncommon for brackets or wires on braces to become loose or even break. While this is usually not much cause for concern, occasionally the broken pieces can cause pain or discomfort. You should schedule a dentist appointment for your child as soon as possible if the broken appliance(s) is causing pain or injury. You may use wax, gauze, chewing gum, or cotton to cover any sharp edges until you can make it to the dentist.
- Cut, Bitten, or Otherwise Injured Lip, Tongue, or Cheek
An injury to the lips, cheeks, or tongue, such as biting them accidentally, usually requires minor aftercare. Apply ice to bruising, and stop any bleeding by placing a clean cloth or gauze against the wound with firm, gentle pressure. If the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, you should take your child to the emergency room.
- Broken Tooth
If a child has suffered a broken, cracked, or badly chipped tooth, you should call your dentist and make an emergency dental appointment. Be sure to collect broken tooth fragments, rinse the area with warm water, and apply ice to the skin outside the injured area.
- Knocked Out Tooth
A knocked out adult tooth will require an emergency dental visit. Locate the missing tooth and pick it up by the crown, never the root end. Once you have rinsed it off, attempt to reinsert the tooth into its socket and hold it in place on the way to the dentist. If you cannot reinsert it, place the tooth in a container of milk and bring it with you to the dentist.
- Excessive Bleeding After Losing a Baby Tooth
If your child loses a baby tooth and the bleeding lasts for more than 15 minutes, it is best to visit the emergency room.
- Broken Jaw
Immediately take your child to the emergency room if you think they may have a broken or seriously injured jaw. You can help support the jaw on the way to the hospital by tying a towel or scarf around your child’s head.
A Reliable Kids’ Dentist Near Homer Glen, IL
If you are searching for a trusted, reliable kids’ dentist in Homer Glen, Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry is here for you. Contact us online or call us at (708) 448-6700 for emergency pediatric dental care services any day of the week.
