What is Considered a Dental Emergency?

What is Considered a Dental Emergency?

January 8, 2014 / in childrens emergency dentist / by FWCD-Admin
emergency dental

Your child’s day may be characterized by consuming a few jelly beans here and there – despite your telling him not to – along with doing a few daredevil bike stunts with his friends. Something as simple as a jelly bean or a bike ride, however, can lead to a dental emergency that requires the assistance of a children’s dentist – and these types of emergencies typically happen when you least expect them.

A common children’s emergency is the cavity – one of the most common causes of toothaches. A cavity forms when cavity-causing bacteria eat sugars left behind on the teeth and then convert these sugars to acid plaque, or a sticky substance. This plaque then softens a tooth’s outer layers. Although a small cavity can be simple to fix, it can cause discomfort, swelling and even an infection if left unattended.

Another common children’s emergency is a cracked or broken tooth, which can easily occur in children who are active in sports. An abscess, or an infection deep in the gum and in the surrounding tissues, can result if a cracked/broken tooth is left untreated. Although an abscess can be extremely uncomfortable, immediate care from your children’s dentist can help the discomfort to rapidly decrease.

If one of your child’s teeth is knocked out, there is a chance that the tooth could still be saved. You simply should place the tooth in a cup of milk and go straight to the dentist, as a tooth that is reset in an hour has the best chance of taking root once again.

In addition, if your child is being woken up at night due to discomfort in the mouth, experiences pain upon chewing or has pain that lasts for hours and is not relieved by over-the-counter medication, then he or she is experiencing a true dental emergency. Get in touch with our friendly and experienced dental team today to find out how we can treat your child’s emergency and restore his or her comfort right away. Call 817-569-6633 for more information.