It is highly stressful for a parent when the child breaks their tooth! Be it a quarrel at the playground, a tumble at home, or just a hit during a sports activity, dental emergencies involving kids require the fast thinking and instant response of every parent. What you do in the first few minutes of an emergency might just be the difference between a tooth being saved or lost and hence the retention of your kid’s precious smile.
In this blog, we are discussing some essential emergency tips for parents, telling parents what to do when their child has a broken tooth, and discussing just when professional help should be sought immediately from an Emergency dental clinic in Edmonton, such as Mainstreet Dental Clinic.
Why Children Are Prone to Dental Injuries
Small kids are always active and buzzing with curiosity. An accident might just grab hold of a child going up or down a hill, climbing trees, playing sporting activities, or dancing in the rain. Common causes of dental trauma in children include:
- Slipping or falling
- Sports injuries (especially contact sports)
- Biting into hard foods or objects
- Playground accidents
- Car or bicycle accidents
Primary (baby) teeth and permanent teeth can both be affected, and each type of injury requires specific care.
Types of Dental Emergencies in Children
Not all dental emergencies are the same. A child’s broken tooth can fall under one or many categories:
- Chipped Tooth
A tiny chip or crack might not bother the person, but it should be taken care of by the dentist so the break damage does not increase or the person does not become sensitive.
- Fractured Tooth
A higher degree of fracture usually brings about more pain, bleeding, and sensitivity as the exposure of their inner pulp occurs. Immediate treatment would be necessary.
- Knocked-Out Tooth (Avulsed Tooth)
Permanent tooth can probably be saved if they’re properly handled and re-implanted immediately. Usually, baby teeth aren’t reinserted.
- Loose or Displaced Tooth
If a tooth has been moved out of position because of trauma to it, the dentist may have to stabilize it.
- Cracked or Broken Tooth with Pulp Exposure
If this break reaches the nerve or pulp, a pulpotomy or even restorative treatment may be required for your child.
First Aid Steps If Your Child Breaks a Tooth
If a tooth of a child is fractured or chipped, timely action is encouraged. Here is how:
- Step 1: Stay Calm
Children, too, go not need any sort of emotional support and hence, expecting adults to exhibit calmness gives them security and clarity to think of what to do.
- Step 2: Rinse the Mouth Gently
One rinses the mouth with lukewarm water in an attempt to clean it from dirt or blood coming from the site of injury. Never use hot or cold water as that will aggravate the pain or cause sensitivity.
- Step 3: Apply Pressure to Stop Bleeding
Hit with pressure of a cloth or piece of gauze on the site of bleeding.If the blood continues to flow for more than 10 minutes, the patient requires immediate transportation to the emergency room.
- Step 4: Look for Tooth Fragments
In case pieces of the tooth break off, all efforts should be employed to find them. Place fragments in a clean container filled with milk, saliva, or saline solution. This helps preserve the fragment until you reach a dentist.
- Step 5: Apply a Cold Compress
To keep the swelling from occurring and prevent pains, a cold compress wrapped inside cloth should be placed on the outside of the mouth or cheek.
- Step 6: Avoid Giving Hard Foods
Until a dentist has examined your child’s mouth, avoid giving them solid food. Stick to soft or liquid foods and instruct them not to chew on the injured side.
When to Visit an Emergency Dental Clinic
Some injuries may take about a day or two to heal and may not be given too much importance, while others require immediate attention. Take your child to an Emergency dental clinic in Edmonton if:
- The tooth is completely knocked out
- There is severe pain, swelling, or bleeding
- A large portion of the tooth is broken
- Your child is unable to eat, talk, or close their mouth properly
- You suspect damage to the jaw or surrounding teeth
Why Choose Mainstreet Dental Clinic for Emergency Pediatric Care?
If you’re in Edmonton South and need Emergency dental care, Mainstreet Dental Clinic is here to help. We provide:
- Gentle care with warmth and compassion
- Emergency appointments available the same day they are requested
- General and restorative dental services
- Child-friendly environment, with an experienced staff
If your child has chipped a tooth, lost a tooth, or is in great pain, our clinic can tend to your urgent dental needs effectively.
Primary (Baby) Teeth vs. Permanent Teeth
Treatment and care for the baby tooth will be different from the treatment and care for the broken permanent tooth.
Baby Teeth
- If a baby tooth chips or breaks and is not causing pain, then it usually does not require emergency care.
- Reinserting a knocked-out baby tooth is not encouraged as doing so may damage the underlying permanent tooth under development.
- The dentist may smooth the rough edges or apply crowns.
Permanent Teeth
- Immediate treatment is required for a tooth that is chipped, broken, or knocked out.
- Here, time is of essence; ideally, a permanent tooth knocked out should be saved by being reimplanted within 30 to 60 minutes.
- The dentist may either restore the tooth by bonding or restore it with crowns or even root canals, depending on the extent of damage.
Home Remedies for Temporary Relief
In preparation for your dental appointment, these recommendations may temporarily mitigate the pain that your child may be enduring:
- Give him a dose of children oral analgesic such as ibuprofen if he fits the age requirement.
- Place a cold compress outside his mouth.
- The swelling can be relieved if the head is raised.
- Give him a soft food diet- yogurt, mashed potatoes, even smoothies will be all right.
- Stay away from extreme hot or cold temperatures for food or drink.
Dental Trauma Prevention Tips for Parents
While you can’t protect your children from bumps and falls, there are things you could do to reduce the risk of dental injuries:
- Use Mouthguards: A mouthguard custom made for your child is a genuine must if he plays any sort of contact sport with hockey being the prime example, followed by soccer and basketball.
- Childproof Your Home: Get safety gates installed. Install corner bumpers for hard cornered furniture.And do consider slipping resistance mats for slippery flooring.
- Avoid Hard Foods: Hard-to-eat substances like candy and ice can chip a tooth easily. So, better keep an eye out for such foods.
- Regular Dental Checkups: Visit your dentist twice a year every time without fail so that his oral health gets monitored and any potential issue identified and addressed at an early stage.
- Teach Safe Play: Induce safe manners to be adopted on playgrounds for safer playing conditions while discouraging rough play that may lead to injury.
Common Questions Parents Ask About Broken Teeth
- Can a chipped tooth be repaired?
Certainly! Minor ones can be often smoothed over or built back with composite resin. Larger breaks may need a crown.
- What happens if I can’t find the broken tooth fragment?
No problem-the tooth can be rebuilt with restoratives.Bring your child for check-up as soon as possible.
- Is it safe to wait a few days before seeing the dentist?
Not generally. With a broken tooth, the pulp may get exposed, allowing bacteria to infect. The infection might then evolve into an abscess or a tooth might just be lost. So try to go for treatment in 24 hours.
- What if my child refuses to open their mouth?
Keep calm, never force a child, gently coax them to open their mouth. Let the child have something to help with the swelling and to lessen the pain-from ice chips to any cold drink really.
Final Thoughts: Act Fast and Stay Informed
Taking care of dental emergencies is tricky. Add in highly energetic kids running around. Being prepared will ease all the anxiety and protect the child’s oral health. The situation might make more of the difference in terms of knowing what to do when a child has broken a tooth and where to go for help.
If you want trusted Emergency Dental Care in Edmonton, Mainstreet Dental Clinic is indeed the place to be. Our caring and devoted staff intend to give pain, comfort, and hope to children with restored healthy, confident smiles.