It’s easy to plan your child’s next six-month dental appointment, but it’s impossible to predict when a dental emergency will strike. This is why we have a 24 hour dental emergency line for our patients.
Your child could bite their tongue during a game of tag, break a tooth as they fall off their bike, or even knock their tooth out during a wrestling match. Whatever the emergency may be, it’s important to react quickly and call your Wheaton emergency pediatric dentist right away.
Though your first instinct may be to panic, most kids’ dental emergencies are manageable with the proper techniques. Here are some important tips for the most common types of dental emergencies kids experience.
If your child’s tooth is hurting, apply a cold compress to alleviate pain and swelling. Look carefully at the tooth causing pain for signs of food or debris. If something is stuck between the teeth, rinse with warm salt water and gently floss. If the pain doesn’t subside, call DPD Smiles for advice.
If your child’s tooth-colored filling breaks or falls out, use a piece of sugarless gum or dental cement to cover the empty space. Call our emergency dentist or schedule an appointment as soon as possible to replace the filling.
Broken braces and wires can be very painful! Cover the sharp area with dental wax or cotton gauze to prevent any cuts in the mouth. If a wire becomes lodged inside the gum, don’t attempt to remove it. Instead, call our office for orthodontic emergencies immediately.
Keep your child’s fractured or broken jaw still using a towel, then head straight to the emergency room. A broken jaw is a serious problem that can’t be treated at home.
It’s normal for the gums to bleed after a baby tooth falls out, so don’t be alarmed. Fold and place a clean gauze or cloth over the bleeding area and have your child bite firmly for 15 minutes. If the bleeding doesn’t stop soon after, call our pediatric dentist for further assistance.
It’s possible to save a permanent tooth if it’s knocked out of the mouth, as long as you act quickly! DPD Smiles offers Save-A-Tooth kits, which are FDA-approved to preserve a tooth for up to 24-hours after it’s knocked out. Pick up your child’s tooth by the crown, not the root, and place it in the Save-A-Tooth kit, screw the cap on tight, and see your dentist immediately. If you act quickly, your child’s dentist may be able to replant the tooth!
If you don’t have a Save-A-Tooth kit, try to reinsert the tooth into your child’s mouth. If all else fails, place the tooth in a cup of milk and call your pediatric dentist immediately. Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.
If your child cuts or bites their tongue, cheek, or lip, apply ice to the area, along with firm but gentle pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. Bleeding should stop after 15 minutes. If it doesn’t call your dentist or take your child to the emergency room.
DPD Smiles is your go-to emergency dentist in Wheaton. As soon as you realize you’re facing a kid’s dental emergency, call our 24-hour emergency line number: (630) 403-8478. Our team is committed to helping you navigate any type of dental emergency so that your child can receive the best treatment possible.
