We understand that experiencing a dental emergency is not easy for both parent and child. We do our best to minimise any further pain and distress your child might be experiencing in a dental emergency situation. If your child has dental pain, dental injuries or a facial swelling from a dental infection, contact us and we will address this as a priority and offer you an appointment ASAP.
Common causes of toothache include deep decayed teeth, chalky teeth, tooth fractures and dental trauma.
Sore teeth with food impaction can be removed using a soft tooth brush or dental floss. If pain persists, contact us to arrange an appointment. If your child develops facial swelling, fever and constant pain, you should seek care at your local children’s hospital emergency department.
It is important that all dental trauma be assessed immediately by a dentist. General advice following dental trauma-Complete the course of antibiotics if prescribed and maintain a soft diet for 1-2 weeks. Brush with a soft tooth brush after every meal and if chlorhexidine has been recommended use this instead of tooth paste for the next week.
The most common causes for dental trauma in children are falls and sports. Dental trauma that results in broken, displaced, or lost teeth can have significant negative functional and aesthetic effects on children. Immediate dental assessment and care are essentially required for all dental injuries in children by a dentist. We are well trained in providing emergency and follow up management for children’s dental trauma.
If your child knocked out a primary (baby) tooth, do not replant them! There is risk of damaging the underlying developing permanent tooth when replanting the primary tooth. Take your child to see dentist for an evaluation to ensure that there is no other oral injuries.
If your child knocked out a permanent (adult) tooth, time is critical in saving the traumatized tooth! The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth! Locate the tooth and handle it only by the crown. Try to place the tooth back in the socket immediately and hold in place by gently biting a gauze or tissue. Alternatively, place the tooth in an appropriate storage medium (milk or saliva). Your child must then see a dentist immediately for emergency management.
Keep the injured area as-clean-as possible. Use of Chlorhexidine mouthrinse can prevent infection and promote faster healing. Watch for darkening of traumatized teeth. This is a common result following trauma and could be an indication of a dead nerve (non-vital pulp). Ice should be administered during the first 24 hours to keep the swelling to a minimum. Antibiotics or pain killers may be prescribed as required. Maintain a soft diet for two to three days, or until the child feels comfortable eating normally again.
Attending ongoing follow up reviews for the traumatized tooth are crucial! Complications on the traumatized primary and permanent tooth are not uncommon in children and can occur anytime after the trauma. These complications include the traumatized tooth becomes “discolored” or “dead” or infected.
For more information, please visit https://iadt-dentaltrauma.org/patients-toothsos/