Dental emergencies such as loose teeth or cracked teeth are painful and scary for both children and adults. This year, for Children’s Dental Health Month, Golden Gate Dental will examine some of the most common pediatric dental emergencies, and help you understand what to do when your child has a dental emergency.
The Most Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Children usually suffer from the same dental emergencies as adults, but the causes are often a bit different. Here are some of the most common problems you may encounter.
- Toothaches – If your child is not brushing properly, or has not seen the dentist regularly, they may develop a toothache. A serious toothache could be an indicator that the tooth is infected and decaying.
- Knocked out tooth (dental avulsion) – Knocked out teeth are common among children. Children may trip and fall, and knock their mouth or head against solid objects, resulting in an avulsion. Knocked out teeth may also happen when kids are playing with each other, or during contact sports.
- Dental intrusion – A dental intrusion occurs when the tooth is “impacted” and pushed back into the gumline or jawbone. A dental intrusion can be caused by a fall, such as a toddler falling and knocking their teeth against a coffee table or another hard object.
- Broken or cracked tooth – Cracked or broken teeth are common among children. Slips and falls can often break the enamel and cause a mild chip or fracture. More serious impacts may break the “crown” of the tooth, which is a serious dental emergency.
What To Do In A Dental Emergency – What You Need To Know
No matter what dental emergency your child may be facing, the first thing you should do is schedule an emergency dentist appointment. Most dental emergencies require immediate care, usually within 8-12 hours. Fast, professional treatment is of utmost importance for saving the tooth and minimizing the pain your child is experiencing.
After you have contacted an emergency dentist in San Francisco, such as Dr. Inessa Sosis of Golden Gate Dental, it’s time to treat pain, swelling, and bleeding until it’s time for your child’s appointment.
Bleeding can be treated with cotton balls or sterile cotton gauze. Bleeding should stop within 15-45 minutes. If bleeding does not stop after an hour, you should take your child to an urgent care facility, or the emergency room.
Swelling can be treated with a cold compress applied to the outside of the mouth. Over-the-counter medications like Tylenol can be used to treat pain, as long as the proper children’s dose is provided.
Come To Golden Gate Dental For All Of Your Dental Emergencies!
Whether your child suffers an accident while skateboarding or horsing around with friends, or you damage your tooth and suffer a dental emergency, Dr. Inessas Sosis of Golden Gate Dental is here to help. She is the best emergency dentist in San Francisco, and treats both adults and children with flexible emergency appointments.
Contact us today for an appointment. Whether it’s after hours or on the weekend, we will do our absolute best to accommodate you, and give you and your child the treatment you need to get your lives back to normal.
Call now at 415-891-0273, or come to our office for a walk-in appointment at 3200 Fulton St., San Francisco, CA 94118.