What Is a Dental Emergency and How Can You Handle One?
Taking your child to the dentist is not an event that people tend to associate with an emergency. However,
dental emergencies do exist
, and they can often be upsetting or challenging to handle without access to the proper help. If your child encounters a dental issue, you may wonder how to deal with it, to whom you should speak about it, and
what is a dental emergency
. Let's get down to answering all these questions and more.
What Are Dental Emergencies?
Some oral health conditions require patience to deal with, as they can go without treatment for a short period. They either go away on their own, or you can resolve them with home care. But dental emergencies are not the sorts of issues that can wait. And when they occur in children, time is of the essence.
A dental emergency is any oral health condition or injury that threatens your life or long-term health. They typically require immediate attention, like performing a
tooth extraction
, to address them properly and without further complications. However, not every dental emergency is considered life-threatening at first or in need of an immediate visit to a dental office. But, these conditions still require urgent care to prevent them from becoming worse as time progresses.
Handling a Dental Emergency
If your child is experiencing the symptoms of an oral health condition that threatens or interferes with their quality of life, the most important thing is keeping them calm. Stress and anxiety can produce reactions that can worsen some conditions, and it's challenging for children to communicate fully when they are upset, in pain, or scared. Do your best to assure yourself and your child that things will be okay.
The first step is to contact an emergency dentist as soon as possible, especially in cases involving infection of the soft tissues or uncontrolled bleeding. These problems will not only worsen with time, but they can also spread to affect other parts of your body. When speaking to a dentist, make certain to accurately describe any symptoms and when you first noticed them. Also, inform the dentist of any mouth, jaw, or facial injuries your child may have sustained and the circumstances under which they occurred.
Most likely, the dentist will advise you to bring your child in for an emergency evaluation. General pediatric dentists tend to keep normal office hours. However, emergency dentists offer extended business hours to their patients, likely including nights and weekends. This is a critical distinction because dental emergencies can occur at any time. In addition, if you schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist, they will almost always make it a same-day appointment.
Common Dental Emergencies
It's not uncommon for children and adolescents to experience adverse oral health conditions. After all, they lead very active lifestyles and are fond of sugary drinks and snacks. In fact,
according to the CDC
, over half of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years will develop at least one cavity in their permanent teeth.
However, not every oral health issue your child experiences will be as simple as a cavity gained from too many bowls of cereal. It's vital to know what conditions or situations qualify as dental emergencies in your child. The most common dental emergencies include the following:
Toothaches
Toothaches are the most common oral health issue adults and children face. However, while many toothaches only require proper oral care at home to resolve, some are more severe. They have many causes, and there are times when a toothache is indicative of a more complex underlying condition. A toothache can be considered an emergency if:
- There's also swelling of the gums, face, jaw, or neck that a cold compress will not alleviate.
- It increases in intensity over time.
- Your child develops a fever or earache.
Uncontrolled Bleeding of the Soft Tissues
Your child may experience occasional gum irritation or minor bleeding, particularly after a dental cleaning. However, if the bleeding doesn't stop or is accompanied by pain and swelling, it will require a trip to an emergency dentist. A continuous open wound in the mouth can lead to an infection if there isn't an infection already present.
Knocked-Out Teeth
Children and gap-toothed smiles go hand in hand. However, while it's natural for kids to lose teeth over time, it's usually due to baby teeth making way for permanent adult teeth. When a sudden trauma forcibly removes teeth from their socket, that is an emergency situation.
Lost teeth on their own are not life-threatening. But if you still have your child's tooth, it may be possible to reinsert it if you take action and schedule an emergency dental appointment quickly. Thirty minutes or less is the ideal length of time in which to visit a dentist with a knocked-out tooth.
Abscessed Tooth
An abscess is a serious condition
in which bacteria from the tooth find their way into other parts of your child's mouth, causing an infection. This infection can easily spread through the soft tissues or even the facial and jaw bones, leading to fever, swelling, gum inflammation, severe pain, and difficulty swallowing or opening the mouth. If your child develops an abscessed tooth, it's critical to take them to an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Broken Orthodontic Appliances
Braces and retainers are commonly used to help straighten and realign children's teeth. These appliances consist of metal, plastic, or ceramic parts that work to slowly move teeth into the correct position. However, these parts are not indestructible. Sometimes, a wire or bracket on your child's braces can snap, presenting an urgent situation.
In addition to greatly reducing the effectiveness of the braces or retainer, any metal parts that break could potentially stick out or create a hazard of poking, scratching, or cutting the soft tissues in your child's mouth.
Experience the Sweet Tooth Difference
It's vital to make your child's visit to the dentist a pleasant and caring experience, especially in an emergency. And when you need an emergency dentist in the Overland Park area, you need a dental office with the skill and knowledge to handle any situation with compassion. That's the Sweet Tooth difference. We work with you and your child to provide personalized attention and comfort for all of our little patients.
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