Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Your Trusted Partner When Accidents Happen

At Richmond Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we are here for you and your family when pediatric dental emergencies happen. We understand that accidents can be scary, but we believe that having the right tools and an action plan can make a big difference. Our goal is to make sure you know the appropriate steps to take so you feel confident in your decisions about your child’s oral health.

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Immediate Action for Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Pediatric dental emergencies can be alarming, but knowing what to do next will make you and your family feel calm and prepared. Here is what we recommend for our current patients at Richmond Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics:

  • Call Our Office: Reach out to our devoted team at (804) 741-2226 for pediatric dental emergencies. We will evaluate your situation and provide you with guidance on the best course of action.
  • What To Do If We’re Closed: If the accident occurs when our office is closed, there is an on-call dentist who will be able to assist you through our regular office number. We may not be able to see you right away, but our team will make every effort to help resolve your problem.
  • Head Trauma: If your child’s emergency involves any head trauma, especially resulting in a loss of consciousness, you should head to your local emergency room for immediate medical attention.

  • Bleeding: Any injury to the mouth may appear more critical due to blood mixing with saliva. However, if you are able to clean the implicated area and apply consistent pressure to stop the bleeding you will be able to get a better idea of the severity of the injury. After, assess the teeth, mouth and gums. We may recommend you come into our office for an X-ray to make a complete diagnosis.

Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies

The level and severity of pediatric dental emergencies vary from a chipped tooth to a broken jaw and may impact not just a child’s oral health, but also their overall health. Here are some common pediatric dental emergencies and understanding how to respond to them:

Most children will begin to lose their baby teeth around the age of six. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends you let the tooth fall out naturally on its own instead of pulling it out. Pulling a tooth before it’s ready may cause unnecessary bleeding or lead to an infection. If it is an adult tooth that becomes loose, we recommend you contact our office for further evaluation.

If your child experiences an avulsed (knocked out) tooth, the first thing you should do is control the bleeding. Apply gauze to the area to manage the bleeding and clean the tooth with water only–no soap. If a baby tooth comes out, do not worry about saving the tooth. However, if it is an adult tooth, do not touch the root of the tooth. We recommend putting it in a glass of cold milk. If this happens during our normal business hours, contact our office to be seen right away.

When it comes to pediatric dental emergencies, a chipped or cracked tooth may happen because of a lack of proper oral hygiene, but it may also result from traumatic events such as a sports injury or a fall. If your child has a chipped or cracked tooth, we suggest you have them rinse with warm salt water. Reduce any swelling with a cold compress and preserve any tooth fragments to bring to our office.

There are many reasons your child may experience a toothache. One of the more common causes is due to tooth decay, which is caused by bacteria in the mouth. This is a persistent pain, most often in the molars. Your child may also be experiencing symptoms of gum disease or grinding their teeth. However, pain or discomfort in the teeth may also come after trauma. We recommend rinsing with warm salt water, as this can help soothe the gums if they are irritated.

An injury to the tongue, lip or cheek may result in bleeding. You should stop any bleeding by applying pressure to the area. Once it is under control, try to delicately clean the area with cool water, so you can get a better look at the injury. If your child is experiencing pain, try to put a cold compress on the outside of the mouth. Following, apply an antiseptic lotion daily until the wound is healed.

A broken jaw is a very serious injury that requires immediate medical attention. If you believe your child has suffered a broken jaw due to a traumatic event, we recommend you head to your nearest emergency room.

Helping Richmond Smile

Comprehensive Pediatric Dental and Orthodontic Care

At Richmond Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we strive to deliver radiant, healthy smiles to families across Richmond, VA. Our kind and caring team is committed to providing professional, high quality service in an environment that is relaxing and fun. Our goal is to make your dental and orthodontic journey with us an amazing experience. Get started today!