If you have a child at home, you already know that despite your best efforts, emergencies can happen at any time. Unfortunately, this is true for their teeth, too. If your little one is showing or expressing signs of a toothache or has just had an injury, it’s natural to panic. You don’t want to see them hurting and know you need to act fast- but who do you call? Is it best to head to the nearest emergency room or is it better to contact their pediatric dentist?
If your child has had a dental emergency and you’re not sure of the best next steps, keep reading to learn more!
What is a Dental Emergency?
When you’re trying to decide what kind of help your kid needs, it’s good to know what constitutes a dental emergency. Some common reasons they might need urgent assistance can include:
- A severe toothache
- A cracked or chipped tooth
- An abscess or infection
- A partially or fully dislodged tooth
- A severe soft-tissue injury (like a lacerated gum or cut lip)
- Painful swelling or inflammation of the gums
If your child has experienced any of these, you should reach out to their dentist. That said, if they’ve sustained an injury to the face, are bleeding excessively, or their life is at risk, then you should head to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Why Can’t I Take My Child to the ER for Dental Issues?
It’s natural to want to take your kid to get help the moment they show signs of a problem, even if it’s with their mouth. If you were to take them to the ER for an oral issue, however, there’s a good chance they’ll be referred to their pediatric dentist anyway. Doctors who provide urgent care aren’t necessarily equipped to handle dental dilemmas, especially for children. Growing grins require special experience and equipment that only their pediatric dentist has available. In many instances, it’s even illegal for anyone other than a dentist to perform an emergency procedure like an extraction, root canal, or other service to save their smile.
Besides, when your kid is in the middle of a dental emergency, time is of the essence to preserve their teeth or protect their grin. You won’t want to waste it going somewhere that isn’t able to quickly diagnose the damage and provide fully individualized solutions to address it.
Now that you know more, you can see why it’s so important to contact your pediatric dentist the moment you notice your child has a sudden oral problem!
About the Practice
At Capezio Loiben Pediatric Dentistry, your child benefits from two dentists who provide a full array of services specifically geared toward still-developing smiles. Whether they’re an infant or getting ready to graduate from high school, they’ll receive top-quality care in a friendly and welcoming environment to help them feel calm throughout their visit. Their compassionate team understands that everyone has unique needs and is experienced in handling even the most complicated cases successfully. If your little one has an urgent situation, you can schedule a same-day visit so they don’t have to wait for relief. You’re welcome to request an appointment on the website or by calling (847) 652-9997.