We have learned here at Kiefer Family Dental that sometimes there are dental emergencies that must be taken care of immediately. This is especially true when it comes to emergencies involving children. Kids like to play and rough-house and it is actually quite common that they wind up having some sort of dental emergency. We treat these emergencies. Here are a few of the more common situations that occur:
Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth
If a child loses a permanent tooth, it can be a scary moment for the child and parents. If this dental emergency happens, remain calm. This will lessen any anxieties. Once this happens, try and locate the missing tooth. You then want to do the following:
- Handle the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the root.
- Rinse off any dirt using just water. Do not scrub or scrape the tooth.
- If the child is older, try to position the tooth back into the socket and instruct the child to gently bite down on a piece of gauze to hold the tooth in place.
If you have younger kids, or a child that can’t handle having the tooth reinserted back into their mouth, the most important thing is to keep the tooth moist. Have the child spit into a cup and keep the tooth in the spit. Spit is the best option.
The next step is to get the child to the Kiefer Family Dental immediately, so the tooth can be stabilized. If a baby tooth gets knocked out, do not attempt to put it back into your child’s mouth. Doing this will most likely lead to infection and cause damage to developing permanent teeth.
Dealing With a Loose Tooth
If your child sustains an injury that results in a loose permanent tooth, it’s also smart to call Kiefer Family Dental.
If the tooth is just a little bit wiggly, put the child on a soft diet for 7-10 days, keep the tooth clean, and usually it hardens up again. But the dentist may still want to see the child just to rule out that there’s no root fracture.
Dealing With a Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth is not as serious as a knocked-out tooth. But it still requires a visit to the dentist. There are several types of tooth fractures. A crack in the enamel is one type. Pulp exposure is another which requires immediate attention.
If your child cracks a baby tooth and the nerve is exposed, more often than not that tooth will have to be extracted.
We at Kiefer Family Dental hope that the information about children’s dental emergencies was helpful. The office of Kiefer Family Dental provides the best in modern dentistry for individuals and families including solving all dental issues you may encounter.
Our highly-qualified dentists and gentle hygienists work hard to combine knowledge and skill with the latest in technology to give our patients the best possible dental outcomes. With services ranging from periodontal therapy, oral surgery. dental implants, dentures and even being set up for Invisalign clear braces, Kiefer Family Dental is your Evansville, Indiana A+ dental choice. Call (812) 424-9506 or use the website to book an appointment online.
