Emergency Dental Care

What is emergency dental care?

Emergency dental care is dental care you need urgently after an injury or severe oral infection. Accidents involving the teeth and soft tissue in the mouth can happen at any time, and kids are often especially prone to them because of their active lifestyles. 

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the steps to take right after a dental emergency happens, so you can take action before you get to the dentist’s office. Taking the necessary steps in the moments after a dental emergency happens could save your child’s natural tooth and help them avoid long-term or permanent treatments. 

The team at Herrin Pediatric Dentistry teaches you to recognize the signs of a dental emergency and what to do if one happens. They also help you take steps to prevent a dental emergency from happening to your child in the first place.

When is emergency dental care necessary?

Your child needs emergency dental care in a few different distinct cases. Fortunately, if there’s a major mouth injury, you’ll know pretty quickly. You should contact Herrin Pediatric Dentistry for emergency care right away if your child experiences:

A knocked-out tooth

A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency if it isn’t a baby tooth that your child lost naturally. Knocked-out adult teeth require an office visit right away.

A broken tooth

A broken tooth is another reason your child might need emergency dental care. Deep cracks, chips, or pieces can lead to an infection if they don’t get the care they need. Your child’s dentist can repair the tooth if you bring in all its pieces. 

Bleeding from the mouth

Soft tissue injuries like biting the tongue or lip can get emergency dental care, but if the bleeding is severe enough, you should go to the emergency room instead. 

Severe toothache

A severe toothache could be a sign of a dental infection or abscess and needs attention right away. 

Stuck objects

If an object becomes lodged somewhere in your child’s mouth, like between the teeth, they might require emergency dental care to get it out. 

What should I do if my child has a dental emergency?

The Herrin Pediatric Dentistry team teaches you what to do in the event of any dental emergency. While the exact steps you need to take vary based on the type of injury or issue your child has, you should generally try to:

• Remain calm
• Make sure your child didn’t suffer a head injury
• Stop the bleeding with gauze or a sterile cloth
• Clean or rinse the area around a broken or knocked-out tooth
• Preserve the knocked-out tooth or pieces
• Use a cold compress to minimize swelling
• Call Herrin Pediatric Dentistry right away

Herrin Pediatric Dentistry keeps same-day appointment openings available for emergencies only. These are available for new and regular patients with dental emergencies needing attention right away. 

To find out more about when your child needs emergency dental care and what it involves, call Herrin Pediatric Dentistry or book an appointment online today.