As a parent, you must do everything possible to keep your children safe. But sometimes accidents happen and lead to a dental emergency. Any condition or incident that causes unbearable pain or discomfort is called a dental emergency.
In that case, it is essential to seek suitable medical or dental attention from the pediatric dentist in Lincoln. Although routine dental check-ups can prevent tooth problems from arising with time, it is crucial to prepare for dental emergencies during the life of your kid.
Situations that Need Urgent Care Kids Dentist in Lincoln
Below are the common pediatric dental emergencies:
Cracked, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth
If the fracture or chips on the tooth occurs due to trauma, there is a need to visit the emergency dentist immediately. Before reaching the clinic,
- Wash your kid’s mouth with clean water.
- Place a cold compress on the cheek to reduce swelling.
- Try to find the tooth fragments and save them. Bring these fragments with you to the emergency dental clinic.
The kids pediatric dentist will repair the tooth using crowns or other cosmetic dental treatment. He/she will also give you aftercare instructions to follow at home for better care of the repaired tooth.
Tooth Pain
If your kid is complaining of soreness or pain in the tooth while brushing or flossing, it could be something serious. This could be due to food collected between the gums and teeth or trauma.
You can ask your kid to swish warm salt water solution around the mouth to eradicate the leftover food bits. It will also help to soothe inflamed gums. Even then the pain does not go away, fix an appointment with Dr. Rebecca F. Scott, DDS.
Sensitivity
Extreme sensitivity after eating or drinking very cold or very warm beverages or foods is a matter of concern. The best solution is to take your child to the kid’s dental office to resolve the tooth sensitivity problem.
Dental Decay
Dental decay is a fairly common problem in children. When left unaddressed, it turns into a more serious issue. Therefore, even if your kids’ baby teeth have cavities, do not take them lightly. Rather, let the cavities on baby teeth be addressed by fixing an appointment for a dental check-up. Doing this every six months from the start till the first tooth erupts will help you prevent dental decay for longer.
Infected Baby Tooth
Infection or abscess in the baby tooth can occur due to improper cleaning. If the infected baby tooth makes it tough for your kid to speak your chew food comfortably, seek help from the emergency kids dentist in Lincoln without delay.
To minimize pain, you can use ice packs in the area. But avoid handling the visible dental abscess on your own because it may introduce more bacteria. Also, keep the fingers of your kid away from the infected tooth.
Knocked Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth (dental avulsion) is another pediatric dental emergency. If that unfortunate event occurs to your kid, try to find the tooth and clean it with water. In case of a lost baby tooth, avoid saving the tooth. However, for the lost primary tooth, you can place the tooth in a cup of cold milk or tuck it into the socket. Then, hurry up to the pediatric dentist near you.
Dental Concussion
A dental concussion is an injury to the structures that support teeth. But the tooth has not been fractured or dislodged. It occurs most commonly in small kids. Playing contact sports like football and soccer can also cause concussed teeth. The condition typically causes the tooth to get discolored permanently or temporarily. If your kid’s tooth has turned black or dark, it raises the need for emergency dental care.
It signifies that the tooth is dying and requires root canal therapy to identify whether your kid has a concussed tooth is to tap or touch the tooth. If you find it is tender and has not displaced in the mouth, it signifies dental concussion.
The pediatric dentist at Lincoln Children’s Dentistry will take an X-ray and then perform a tooth pulp sensibility test to find whether the pulp is healthy.
Note: If you find your kid has concussion symptoms or has lost consciousness, immediately reach the nearby emergency room as soon as possible.