Care for Dental Injuries/Emergencies
You’re watching your child play baseball. It’s his turn at bat. The pitcher throws a fastball and… whack! It hits your son right in the mouth, knocking out one tooth and badly chipping another one. What do you do?
Or… Your two-year old is playing outside. She sees her daddy walking towards her so she runs to greet him and falls flat on her face, on a concrete walkway, and knocks out one of her front teeth. What do you do?
Or… maybe your three-year old is jumping on the bed. How many times have you told him not to do it? But he’s three, so… what do you expect? All of a sudden, you hear him scream. He’s hit the headboard with his chin and his teeth have gone right through his bottom lip. There’s blood everywhere! What do you do?
Dental Emergencies Require Immediate Action
Dental injuries have a habit of taking us off guard, and panic sets in – especially when a young child is involved. In addition, many sports contribute more than their fair share to dental emergency care. It can be a frightening experience to have a tooth knocked out, but acting rationally and obtaining immediate treatment provide the best opportunity to save the tooth and avoid costly tooth replacement surgery later on.
If you experience a dental emergency, call SeaPort Dental to get the appropriate advice and instructions.
Ways to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
Some common dental emergencies include:
- A Permanent Tooth is Knocked-Out
The tooth has the greatest chance of survival if it is re-implanted within 30 minutes of being knocked out.- Call us immediately to alert us so we are ready for your arrival
- Pick the tooth up by the crown (top part), not by the root.
- Rinse the tooth with milk or saline solution; use tap water only if it is the only thing available. Tap water often contains chlorine which can damage the root.
- If the child is old enough, have them hold the displaced tooth in its socket; if not, place the tooth between your cheek and lower gum or in a glass of milk.
- Come immediately to our office or, if we are not available, go to the nearest emergency room.
- A Baby Tooth is Knocked Out
A baby tooth cannot be re-inserted into its socket. Apply gauze, soaked in cold water, to the affected area to stop the bleeding.
- There’s an Injury to a Child’s Gums or Teeth
If there’s bleeding, soak gauze in cold water and apply direct pressure to the affected area. Let the child suck on something cold if swelling is present (i.e., an ice pop). The doctor will probably want to see the child to check the teeth for proper alignment or to remove a very loose tooth. A space maintainer may be required to hold the space for the permanent tooth.Continue to watch your child for signs of infection or abscess and notify our office if the child’s gums become swollen at the injury site or if fever develops.
Keep in mind that prompt action is always the name of the game when it comes to a dental injury. It’s always better to err on the side of caution and seek the advice of a professional whenever an accident or injury involving the teeth or gums occurs! Time is of the essence, so call us immediately so we can attend to your emergency as soon as you arrive at our office!
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