Dental Emergencies
one third of children have dental trauma during their childhood
Few things are as terrifying as realizing that your son or daughter has suffered an injury. Especially when it involves their face or their sweet smile. Although dental emergencies might be new to you, these kinds of injuries are common. As many as one third of the children in the United States will have dental trauma during their childhood.
The entire staff at Smile Time Kids LOVES children. We enjoy their budding personalities and their constant search for answers. We are a compassionate, caring, and patient team when working with your child. Their young smiles are important to us. Call us today at 765-373-3100 with any questions you have regarding your child or stop by Smile Time Kids at 1002 Oak Drive, Richmond, IN, 47374. Smile Time Kids understand how challenging these situations can be. Which is why we will do everything in our power to resolve the injury as soon as possible.
What is Considered a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies vary in their severity. They can range from simple cuts and scrapes to full-scale jaw fractures. We want you to know that if dental emergencies in Fishers and Indianapolis are important to you, they are important to us. We will do everything we can to make you and your child more comfortable. Depending on the nature of your child’s injury, you may need to do different things. You can either contact our office for an emergency appointment, care for the injury at home, or take your child to the hospital for emergency evaluation and care.
We are a compassionate, caring, and patient team when working with your child. Their young smiles are important to us.
Call 765-373-3100 or contact our office today via online contact form. Our office is located at 1002 Oak Drive, Richmond, IN 47374. Let us help keep your child healthy together.
Hospital Care via the Emergency Room
Because dental emergencies often involve a blow to the head or face, you should take your child into the nearest emergency room or call 911 anytime they lose consciousness or if they have trouble breathing. You should also visit the emergency room if your child has either of these symptoms:
- Possible Broken Jaw- A broken jaw can affect the way your child’s teeth and jaw grow, which is why you should seek emergency care. If your little one has swelling, pain, or numbness in their jaw area after a blow to the head. Broken jaws can also cause teeth displacement, bruising, or teeth that feel loose.
- Severe Bleeding- If your child is bleeding quite a bit, do not wait to schedule a dental appointment, contact emergency responders immediately. While you wait for emergency services, apply pressure to the area with clean gauze. Instead of removing the gauze and replacing it with a clean variety, add more gauze. Switching gauze instead of adding more can pull out the clot, which will cause more blood loss.
Urgent Dental Care Versus Our Office
Fortunately, not all dental emergencies need a trip to the emergency room. If your child has a dental injury but is otherwise fine, you can contact Smile Time Kids to meet with an emergency pediatric dentist. We will focus on evaluating your child as soon as possible. Here are a few reasons to seek emergency dental care with us.
- Knocked Out Tooth- Knocked out tooth, also called dental avulsions, can seem frightening. But Smile Time kids might be able to reattach it if you are careful. If it’s a baby tooth, do not try to reimplant tooth and have area checked by one of our doctors to ensure there is no damage to adult tooth bud. If it’s an adult tooth and after you find it, pick it up by the crown, not the roots, and rinse it off with clean water to remove any grime. Keep the tooth moist by holding it in milk or water. Child will need to be seen within 20-30 minutes of trauma to tooth.
- Tooth Displacement- If your child has an accident that causes tooth displacement, try to avoid moving the teeth back into their original position. Instead, offer your child a pain reliever. Then, apply a cold compress to relieve any swelling. After evaluating the injury, our dental team can move the teeth back into place and splint the area if necessary.
- Tooth Chip or Fracture- If your child suffers a tooth chip or a crown fracture, cleanse the area with warm water. Like with tooth displacement, apply a cold compress. Again, offering a strong pain reliever could help your child to remain calm until their appointment.
At-Home Dental Emergency Care
If your child experiences mild dental trauma, you might be able to treat them from the comfort of your own home. Here are a few examples of when at-home care would be appropriate.
- Bitten Tongue or Lip- Sudden falls or sports-related injuries can lead to bitten tongues or lips, which can lead to mild cuts or abrasions. If the area is bleeding, apply some clean gauze until it stops. If your child is in pain, offer a pain reliever or apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek. These kinds of simple injuries heal within a few days.
- Toothaches- Toothaches can come from impacted food, infection, trauma, or even wisdom teeth eruptions. To keep your child comfortable, check the teeth for food and help your child to brush and floss. Look for redness, swelling, and signs of infections. If the area is infected, make an appointment for an emergency visit with Smile Time Kids. But, if the tooth is only aching because it is coming in, there is nothing to worry about.
Tips for Calming Your Child Before Their Appointment
During dental emergencies, it can be helpful to know how to keep your child calm and comfortable. Here are a few tips for improving their experience during a dental emergency.
- Familiarize Your Child With our Office- Make sure your child is familiar with Smile Time Kids. If they know our doctors and staff and feel comfortable around us, they will be more willing to visit us in case of an emergency.
- Use Reassuring Language and Actions- During an emergency, only use reassuring language and actions. Talk with your child in a soothing voice and explain that everything will be okay. Because emergencies can be frightening for your child, they may need extra hugs or cuddles.
- Bring a Comfort Toy or Blanket- If you need to visit the emergency room or come in for an emergency visit to Smile Time Kids, feel free to let your child bring along a comfort toy or blanket. Having something from home can make them feel like everything is going to be okay.
Dental Emergency? Contact Us Today
Smile Time Kids is proud to offer emergency pediatric dental care to Richmond, Indiana. The next time your child suffers a dental emergency, do not hesitate to contact our office right away.
Make an Appointment for Your Child Today!
Smile Time Kids would like to share the recommendations of The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. They suggest bringing your child in for their first dental appointment as soon as their first tooth erupts or by the time your child is one, whichever occurs first. We will work with your child and treat them like family. We love happy and healthy children. Afterwards, children should visit at normal intervals just like you would schedule your own dental checkups. Call 765-373-3100 today to make an appointment with Smile Time Kids. Our office is located at 1002 Oak Drive, Richmond, IN 47374. Let us keep your child healthy together.
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Your child should see the dentist at the age of 1 year, or within 6 months of the appearance of his or her first tooth. A quick checkup will be done and x-rays taken to ensure the baby teeth are growing properly. If your child has multiple teeth already, they'll be counted and quickly cleaned.