Emergency Dental Care
It is very important to be prepared in case your child has an emergency. Even though we wish that they wouldn’t, emergencies do happen. Being educated and knowing what to do in an emergency can be the difference between losing and saving a tooth.
What is considered emergency dental care?
If your child is facing any type of dental pain or discomfort that is interfering with their day-to-day functioning, please get in touch with us right away.
How to know if you require emergency dental care.
When the dental problem your child is dealing with isn’t getting better with self-care, it’s probably only going to get worse without prompt dental treatment. We can help with any any issues listed below:
Cracked or Broken Teeth
Cracked or broken teeth can be painful, and they may also let bacteria get inside of the tooth, leading to infection. Broken, infected teeth may eventually require emergency tooth pulling. Avoid that outcome by having damaged teeth addressed as soon as possible.
Knocked-Out Tooth
If your child’s baby tooth gets knocked out DO NOT place it back into the socket. Contact our office immediately so we can assess the area, and keep the tooth so we can determine if it is completely intact.
If an adult tooth is knocked-out, try putting it back in place and take your child to a dentist immediately. If you cannot put an adult tooth back into position, place it in milk.
Please call our office for additional advice and an appointment if you’ve lost a tooth.
Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity can be a red flag for a problem requiring fast attention, such as a crack in the tooth or an infection. If you have sudden or severe tooth sensitivity, contact us.
Pain
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil and Aleve can take the edge off until you get definitive treatment. Make sure your child does not have allergies to any of the ingredients. Contact us for treatment.
Swelling
Rinse as frequently as possible with salt water that’s as hot as your child can tolerate. Do not put heat on your child’s face. It can make things worse.
Cavities
It can be tempting to delay treatment for small cavities. Unfortunately, cavities don’t heal, and a small amount of dental decay can become serious and eventually lead to a recommendation for emergency tooth removal.
Something Caught in Teeth
Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, contact us to determine if you need to seek emergency treatment.
Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek
Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, contact us to determine if you need to seek emergency treatment.
Handle serious problems with care.
Give us a call or text at (832) 553-4433. Send us a photo to help determine if it is an emergency. If you need to go to the hospital for emergency treatment medical treatment, we can help point you in the right direction.
