Emergency Pediatric Dentist in Chino Hills, CA

Emergency Dental Care Near Chino Hills, CA

Dental emergencies usually result following minor childhood injuries, and while they are quite common, that does not mean they are not distressing for both the children and parents involved. However, if parents know how to handle them when they occur, it can make all the difference in how the injury affects your child’s dental health in the long run.

There are two significant periods of time in a child’s life where the risk of dental trauma is heightened. The first period is when environmental exploration begins as infants grow into toddlers. The second period is during preadolescence and adolescence.

Regardless of the timeframe, if and when your child suffers from a dental injury, it is important to make sure you have access to a reliable pediatric dentist you can trust who will provide quality, emergency dental care in a timely manner.

Common Dental Emergencies

Detailed below are some of the most common dental injuries, and advice on how to handle them.

• Toothache

  A toothache may be caused by impacted food, fractures, cavities, tooth trauma, wisdom tooth eruption (during adolescence), etc.In order to address your child’s toothache, you should follow the steps below:

  1. Clean the area with warm water.
  2. Check for impacted food and remove it with dental floss, a clean finger, or a toothbrush.
  3. Reduce swelling by placing a cold compress to the affected area, if necessary.
  4. Contact your pediatric dentist.

• Knocked Out Tooth (Dental Avulsion)

  A knocked out tooth is a serious dental injury- However, when it is a baby tooth, the potential complications are usually less concerning. In cases of dental avulsion, you should contact your pediatric dentist immediately. Reimplantation is usually not necessary or recommended for baby teeth, however, a knocked out adult tooth requires immediate attention.In matters of adult teeth, a pediatric dentist will attempt to reimplant the missing tooth, unless surrounding trauma has made it impossible. In order to improve the chances of a successful implantation, the adult tooth should be reimplanted no more than an hour after the injury. It is also important to follow the steps listed below:

  1. Locate the missing tooth and hold it by the crown, never the root.
  2. Clean the tooth with water, avoid scrubbing the tooth and be gentle.
  3. Try to reinsert the tooth into its socket, or encourage your child to hold the tooth in their cheek pouch if you cannot place it in its socket. You may also submerge the tooth in a glass of milk or saliva (this may be best for children who are too young to attempt reinsertion, or who cannot hold the loose tooth in their mouth without risk of swallowing it).
  4. Do not allow the tooth to dry out. It is critical that it is kept moist.
  5. Visit your pediatric dentist or the nearest hospital emergency room immediately.

Please note, even in cases of losing a baby tooth, it is wise to have your children’s teeth examined as a precautionary measure to ensure the injury did not impact surrounding teeth or those that have yet to erupt.

• Dental Intrusion (Tooth Pushed into Jawbone)

  Dental trauma sometimes has the capacity to force teeth into the jawbone. When this happens, the affected tooth’s ligament is often damaged, as well as the socket. In cases of dental intrusion, you should contact your pediatric dentist immediately. They will either suggest waiting for the tooth to descend on its own, or perform a root canal.Follow the below steps in cases of dental intrusion:

  1. Have your child rinse their mouth out with cold water.
  2. Use ice packs to reduce swelling.
  3. Provide acetaminophen (such as children’s Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief.
  4. Contact your pediatric dentist immediately, or your local hospital.

• Tooth Displacement

  Tooth displacement is when an injury leads to a tooth protruding at an unnatural angle. The jawbone may be fractured, and the tooth may or may not be partly removed from its socket. Baby tooth extrusions usually heal themselves without medical intervention. However, if displacement is suspected, it is vital that you contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible to avoid infection or possible tooth loss.Steps to take if your child has suffered tooth displacement:

  1. Place a cold, moist compress to the affected area.
  2. Provide acetaminophen (such as children’s Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief.
  3. Contact your pediatric dentist immediately.

• Broken, Cracked, or Chipped Tooth

  In situations where a child’s tooth is cracked, chipped, or otherwise broken, you should schedule an emergency dental appointment. Before the appointment, collect any tooth fragments, rinse the area with clean, warm water, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling, and provide acetaminophen (such as children’s Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief. Depending on the severity of the trauma, you may need to bring your child to the emergency room.

• Injured Soft Tissue – Cheek, Lip, or Tongue

  If your child bites or cuts their cheek(s), lips, or tongue, you should apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding, and apply ice to reduce swelling. If bleeding does not stop after fifteen minutes, you should proceed to the nearest emergency room or call a medical professional immediately.

• Broken Jaw

  If you think your child has a broken jaw, take them immediately to the nearest emergency room. You may tie a scarf gently around your child’s head to keep their jaw still and supported.

• Excessive Bleeding After Losing a Baby Tooth

  If your child loses a baby tooth and bleeding seems excessive, or bleeding lasts for more than fifteen minutes after applying pressure to the area, seek emergency medical treatment.

• Head Injury/Head Trauma

  If your child suffers a head injury, take them to the emergency room immediately. Even if they seem all right and retain consciousness, it needs to be determined if there is the chance of a delayed concussion or internal bleeding, by medical professionals.

Contact Kids Dental Specialist for Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Knowing how to handle a dental emergency is the first step to making sure your child stays safe and their smile stays healthy. Additionally, when accidents happen, you need a reliable emergency dentist in Chino Hills to be there when you need them. Kids Dental Specialists is proud to offer emergency dental care to all our patients, as well as general dental treatments such as cleanings and exams.

Do not hesitate to contact us immediately during a dental emergency. We will assess your situation and determine if you need to schedule an appointment for your child, and what the next steps are to ensure you protect their dental health.