What Is A Pediatric Dental Emergency?

A pediatric dental emergency is anything that damages the structure of a child’s tooth, causes severe pain of the teeth or mouth, or causes unstoppable bleeding in the mouth. When any dental emergency occurs involving a child, parents are understandably panicked, but it’s important to stay calm and collected.

Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies

1. Knocked-Out Tooth

   Kids love to play around, but sometimes they can play too rough. Since baby teeth are a bit looser in the jaw than permanent adult teeth, it’s not uncommon for a fall or hit to the mouth area to knock one completely out. When this happens, contact an emergency pediatric dentist immediately for an appointment. While they won’t need to try to save the tooth (it was coming out at some point anyway), they will need to check the mouth to make sure there are no pieces of tooth left in the gums and no damage to the soft tissues in the area.

2. Chipped Tooth

   Sometimes a fall or bump doesn’t knock the tooth completely out but instead breaks or chips it. Unfortunately, a chipped tooth can sometimes be more painful than losing the entire tooth, especially if the nerve attached to the tooth is affected or if the chip leaves a sharp edge. A pediatric dentist can smooth out any rough edges to prevent the child from cutting the inside of their mouth or may need to remove the tooth entirely.

3. Soft Tissue Injuries

   Many people mistakenly believe that they should only see a dentist for a tooth injury, but any injury to the soft tissues of the mouth is a good reason to schedule an appointment. Injuries to the gums, soft or hard palate, tongue, or anywhere else in the mouth can severely compromise a child’s ability to eat or talk, and can make them susceptible to infection if not cared for properly.

4. Toothache

   Toothaches can be some of the worst pain to experience, leaving the sufferer unable to talk, eat, or do anything but think about the pain. Toothaches are usually caused by deep cavities that involve the nerve attached to the tooth which are prone to infection. Often, OTC pain medications aren’t strong enough to combat the pain. If your child is complaining of a persistent toothache, schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist to investigate the cause and correct it.`

5. Broken Jaw

   Children’s bones are softer and more flexible than their adult counterparts, but that doesn’t mean their bones cannot break. When a child has a bump or fall that’s hard enough or twists their jaw bone in just the right way, the jaw bone can fracture or break. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate emergency care from a qualified pediatric dentist. Surgery is often required to correct and realign a broken jaw bone, so the dentist may need to consult with other specialties for comprehensive care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Should I call my pediatric dentist or 9-1-1 for a pediatric dental emergency?

Most pediatric dental emergencies should be addressed by a pediatric dentist during a scheduled emergency appointment or walk-in emergency clinic. However, if your child has uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, altered mental state, problems breathing, or any other symptom of a medical emergency, it’s best to call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest emergency room for immediate care.

What if my child has a dental emergency outside of office hours?

For pediatric dental emergencies that occur outside of your pediatric dentist’s office hours, call the pediatric dentist’s office or emergency line for instructions. Once again, if your child has symptoms of a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately.

Pediatric Dental Emergency Care in Hudson Valley

From Peekskill to Briarcliff Manor to White Plains, Briarcliff Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics is here to help your child with all their dental needs, including pediatric dental emergencies. Trust us to keep your child’s smile healthy and bright from their first tooth on through adulthood. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at 914-762-6260 or request an appointment online.