Dental Emergencies
Page Children often have dental emergencies but, if a problem isn’t obvious, kids don’t always know how to explain what they’re going through, or parents may not be sure if their child really needs to see the dentist immediately. Short answer: If you’re worried about your child’s oral health, call Kid Grins in Edina, MN, immediately. It’s better to talk to a member of the dental team and be seen than allow a problem to get worse.
If you have a dental emergency, contact us now at (952) 234-2200.
Types of Dental Emergencies for Kids
Kids trip, slip, fall, and collide with tables, chairs, toys, and the ground. They get hit in the mouth while playing a sport or fall off their bike face-first or try to bite into hard foods without success. Some of the most common dental emergencies for kids include:
- Chipped tooth
- Cracked tooth
- Lost filling or crown
- Severe tooth pain
- Loosened tooth
- Dislodged tooth
- Knocked out tooth
- Bitten lip
Is It a True Dental Emergency?
Only a dentist can say for certain if a child is experiencing a true dental emergency. In some cases, it may be possible to wait a day or so before being seen, but the following signs are good indications that professional help is needed right away:
- Dislodged or knocked out tooth: Any tooth that is knocked out of place requires emergency dental care, stat.
- Toothache: Any toothache is a sign there is a problem within a tooth, like tooth decay, a cavity, a piece of stuck food, or an infected wisdom tooth. Allow the dentist to decide the best course of action. A true toothache will never go away on its own.
- Abscess: If a child has mouth pain accompanied by a pus-filled blister, they could have an abscess. This infection is serious and, left untreated, may spread beyond the mouth and cause serious health consequences.
- Wiggly tooth: Teeth come and go for 10 to 12 years in children. However, a wiggly permanent tooth is a dental emergency. The only acceptable wiggly teeth are baby teeth, and then it’s important to make sure a baby tooth isn’t lost too soon.
- Excessive bleeding: There are so many tiny blood vessels in the mouth. A bitten lip or cut gum can produce copious amounts of blood but may not be an emergency. Call your dentist to explain the circumstances and get advice about how to proceed.
Prevention of Dental Emergencies
There are several very easy things to do when it comes to preventing dental emergencies in kids:
- Maintain at-home oral health care: Help your child brush and floss every day and ensure that they get in and around every tooth in their mouth.
- Seek regular professional dental care: Take your child for a dental check-up and thorough teeth-cleaning every six months.
- Act: If you fear a dental emergency with your kid’s teeth, see the pediatric dentist right away and have problems tended to immediately.
- Prevent problems: A child who plays sports needs a bite guard to avoid injury. A child who grinds their teeth needs a nightguard to prevent destruction.
Pediatric Dentist for Dental Emergencies in Edina
Dr. Mitchell Loeb at Kid Grins is a dual-certified pediatric dentist and prosthodontist. He gently and carefully tends to dental emergencies in kids’ teeth and carries out major and minor repairs, from tooth-colored fillings to reconstruction, to save beautiful, young smiles.
Dental emergencies are inconvenient, often occur without warning, and do not go away on their own. Don’t wait until your child’s next appointment to get help. Contact Kid Grins right away to find out if same-day emergency dental care is needed.
