What’s the first step in addressing your child’s dental emergency? How do you know if that or chipped tooth is even considered an emergency? Your Lake Orion children’s dentist, Dr. Brad Greenfield, presents several common dental emergencies, and the first steps parents should take to ease their child’s pain and anxiety.
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
Typically, a dental emergency consists of any trauma or pain involving the teeth and gums. When children experience a dental emergency, a parent should immediately contact Dr. Greenfield. If the situation is serious, take your child to the emergency room.
Common Emergencies and First Responses
There are a wide variety of dental emergencies, but the most common involve damaged or missing teeth, severe toothaches, or objects stuck between your child’s teeth. In addition to contacting Dr. Greenfield and our team at Lake Orion Family Dentistry, parents should take some quick, first steps. By following these simple tasks, parents can calm their children, as well as reduce pain and swelling.
- Toothaches: Rinse with warm water and gently floss around the hurting tooth. This ensures the cause of the ache isn’t food caught between teeth. If this is not the case, bring your child in to see Dr. Greenfield.
- Fractured or Broken Teeth: Rinse the child’s mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress. Administer the recommended dose of over-the-counter pain relievers and immediately see Dr. Greenfield.
- Knocked-Out Teeth: Do not touch the root. Hold the tooth by the crown and use running water to rinse away foreign debris. Don’t remove any tissue attached to the tooth. If the tooth can’t be placed back into the socket, put the tooth into a glass of milk and bring the child and tooth to see Dr. Greenfield.
- Objects Caught Between Teeth: Gently floss along either side of the tooth. If the particles between the teeth remain lodged, contact Dr. Greenfield.
Preventive Measures
Taking preventive measures can help decrease the chances of your children requiring emergency dentistry. If your kid is involved in any sports activity, make sure he/she wear a protective . A mouth guard reduces the chances of damaging or losing teeth. Avoid eating hard foods, such as ice or popcorn kernels. Hard foods can potentially crack teeth or become lodged between teeth.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Lake Orion Dentist
Dr. Greenfield offers and cleanings to protect your children’s teeth. Contact Lake Orion Family Dentistry today at 248-693-6213 to schedule an appointment. We proudly serve families from Clarkston, Auburn Hills, Oxford, and Rochester Hills, as well as many other areas in southeast Michigan.
