Try as you might, it’s impossible to protect your child from every dental emergency. They may be perfectly healthy one day and then find themselves with a bad toothache or broken tooth the next. It can be alarming and overwhelming when your little one needs urgent dental care, so it’s important to know where to go ahead of time. While certain emergencies should be handled at your local ER, many others can be quickly and comfortably addressed by your Pelham emergency dentist. Read on to learn more about where your child can get the best care during a few common dental emergencies.
Why You Should Call Your Emergency Pelham Dentist
It’s common knowledge that medical emergencies should be treated at an ER right away. However, where should you go if your child has a painful, broken, or knocked-out tooth? While ER staff will be able to stabilize most dental emergencies, they often won’t have the training or tools to fully correct the issue. Instead, they’ll need to refer your child to a dentist after helping manage their pain.
On the other hand, visiting your Pelham dentist first can save you time, money, and hassle. Your children’s dentist will likely be able to see your little one much sooner than a busy medical professional at your local ER. He or she will be able to get your son or daughter out of pain, repair their precious smile, and restore their oral health. On top of it all, a pediatric dentist has the experience and training needed to help keep your little one calm and comfortable throughout this scary situation.
Dental Emergencies to Bring to Your Children’s Emergency Dentist
It may seem obvious, but only a dentist can perform dentistry. Skip the ER and call your dentist first if your child has a:
- Intense toothache: Dental pain should never be ignored. If your little one has a severe toothache, they may need antibiotics, root canal therapy or a tooth extraction.
- Chipped or broken tooth: Slight damage to the teeth can usually be corrected with dental bonding, but a broken tooth will need to be repaired with a dental crown.
- Lost filling or crown: Lost restorations like fillings and crowns need to be replaced right away to prevent further damage or decay.
- Knocked-out tooth: A knocked out permanent tooth needs to be addressed by a dentist within 20-30 minutes for the best chances of successful reattachment.
Dental Emergencies That Should Be Treated at the ER
Of course, there are several situations that should be taken to your local ER right away, including:
- Broken or dislocated jaw.
- Bleeding in the mouth that hasn’t stopped for 10 minutes.
- Any injury you believe may have caused a concussion.
If you are unsure whether your child needs urgent dental care or not, call your dentist anyway. He or she will be able to assess your situation over the phone and provide personalized first-aid advice.
About the Practice
The dedicated team at Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is passionate about serving the growing smiles of Nashua, Pelham, and the surrounding communities. The combined talents of our in-office orthodontist, general children’s dentist, and board-certified pediatric dentist enable us to provide the highest-quality care for your little one’s precious smile. While we always strive to help prevent dental emergencies, we have the specialized treatments needed to restore your child’s oral health. To learn more, feel free to contact us online or at (603) 635-1166.