Imagine your child is happily playing, and the next thing you know, there is a terrible sound and your child is wailing. Upon inspection, you find a bit of white object on the floor or you see that your child has a sharp object stuck between their teeth. You are shocked and confused, and you do not know how to react.
Accidents can happen in a matter of moments, especially if your child is very active. Children can be involved in several accidents, including falling off a bike, slipping in the pool, and biting a candy. For parents, the entire situation of dealing with a broken tooth can be very stressful. Parents are expected to stay calm and act quickly to protect their children’s teeth.
First Steps to Take Right After the Accident
When experiencing dental emergencies, it is very important to take immediate steps to not only relieve pain but also to keep the situation from further damaging the child's mouth. Here is what you must do:
Try to Remain Calm: Children observe their parents’ behavior and feel their fear. Try to be calm and relaxed, and this will help them feel better.
Examine the Condition of the Mouth: Have a look into your child’s mouth to see whether the tooth is chipped or cracked and whether there is bleeding from the lips or tongue.
Use Water to Wash the Mouth: Ask your child to wash their mouth to get rid of any bacteria or blood present because of the injury.
Save the Fragment of the Tooth: If you happen to find the fragment of the tooth, pick it up by its crown, rinse it using warm water, and store it in either milk or saline.
Minimize Pain and Swelling: Apply ice or a cold cloth to the outer cheek of the area that has been affected.
Knowing When to Go to the Emergency Dental Specialist
When certain kinds of dental trauma occur, one should not think that it is necessary to go to an emergency room. Nevertheless, it is necessary to consult a specialist if some signs are observed in children. For example, if the bleeding does not stop no matter how much pressure has been applied for 10 minutes.
If you observe a red or pink dot on the broken tooth, it means that the nerve is exposed and therefore you must get immediate medical help since this may cause a great deal of pain or infection. Moreover, you should see a doctor as soon as possible if you note that the tooth is loose, misaligned or if you have any symptoms of a concussion such as nausea, failing to coordinate movements or confusion. Keep in mind that, according to the CDC, concussion symptoms don’t always appear right away and can take hours or even days to show up, so keep watching your child after the accident.
Ways to Treat a Child's Broken Tooth
A dentist can fix a child's tooth in several ways. For minor chips, smoothing out the tooth or using tooth-colored bonding can help restore the tooth. However, in cases of larger fractures, the child may need a porcelain crown to protect the rest of the remaining tooth.
Knowing the appropriate chipped tooth treatment for children means that your child gets the right treatment to ensure their baby teeth are in good condition and ready for the adult teeth as they come in. To ensure the proper treatment, visiting a practice for pediatric dentistry McKinney will make it easier for children to be at ease during the whole restorative process.
Simple Ways to Protect Your Child’s Smile
While it is doubtful that it will completely prevent each accident or fall, preventive measures can help with the safeguarding of the teeth of your child. A great way of ensuring that the child’s mouth stays unharmed is to make sure the child wears a custom mouthguard while playing or practicing.
It is a good idea to teach your child to avoid using their teeth to open packaging or break open tough nuts, and for more tips on making sure your kids are safe during play, you can read our guide to preventing pediatric dental emergencies.
Making Sure Your Little One's Smile Will Shine Throughout Life.
Dental issues might strike without warning. But it can be easier to remain calm at the moment of trouble if you're well-prepared, the important points are clear, and you have the contact information for the best dentist in advance.
By taking the right measures to address possible dental injuries currently, one can prevent serious dental problems later on. If your child injures a tooth or needs a routine checkup, you can count on Valley Creek Dental Care to have your family smiling confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my child breaks a baby tooth instead of a permanent tooth?
Even though baby teeth eventually fall out, they are still important placeholders for adult teeth which will in due course emerge. Nevertheless, you must take your child to a dentist to check on their chipped baby tooth so that it does not have rough edges hurting their tongue and that the underlying nerve is also fine.
Can a chipped tooth heal on its own?
Tooth enamel is not capable of regenerating or recovering once broken. However, dentists today can fix teeth in a very efficient manner using sophisticated materials and techniques to make the process as painless as possible.
Can a broken piece of a tooth be reattached?
Yes, in most occurrences! If you discover the dislocated part of the tooth, make sure it stays wet in a clean and tidy bowl in a glass of milk, and take it along to the dentist immediately.