What is Involved in Dental Injury Treatment for Children?

As you probably know, pediatric dentistry is available for checkups and cleanings. However, it is also available when your child needs emergency care, such as with a dental injury.

Children can injure their teeth or mouth in the same way they can hurt other parts of the body. Playing sports, running, climbing, and being active are healthy and normal activities. They are also common ways children get hurt. Mishaps can happen, too, such as falling off of a bike or being in a car accident.

Taking care of a dental injury

If your child experiences trauma to the mouth, jaw, or teeth, take these steps:

• Check for bleeding in or around the mouth.
• Apply pressure if you find active bleeding.
• Clean the wounded area with an antiseptic rinse or salt water.
• Take your child to the doctor or pediatric dentistry facility as soon as possible.

While you are waiting for treatment, an ice pack or cold compress applied to the injured area can help with the pain. Reassure your child that health care professionals are trained to handle dental emergencies.

If a tooth is knocked out, treatment may vary. Usually, a dentist will not reattach a baby tooth. If you recover the permanent tooth, handle it with care. Try to avoid touching the root when you pick it up. The recommended way to keep the tooth safe is to gently put it back into the child's mouth. Have the child bite down on a teabag or some gauze to help hold the tooth in place.

Sometimes it is not possible for the child to hold the tooth in place. An alternative is to place the tooth in a small container along with saliva or milk. These liquids keep the tooth root wet. Bring all pieces of the tooth if it is broken. Your dentist can decide if it is possible to save all the pieces.

Common tooth injuries

Your child can experience a few types of injuries to the tooth during a fall or accident.

Tooth intrusion

You may think of getting a tooth knocked out, but did you know some accidents cause the tooth to get pushed in? Tooth intrusion is more common in baby teeth. This is because a child's tooth sockets are softer than an adult's. It can still happen to older children, though.

Cracked tooth

A cracked tooth is a common injury. It can happen while playing sports or during a fall, but it can also happen if the child bites down on something very hard.

Your child might not know about the cracked tooth by looking at it. Sometimes these injuries cause pain while eating or drinking. They can also cause intermittent pain.

Fractured root

A root fracture happens when a rupture starts at the root level and works down to the visible part of the tooth. You might not realize your child has a fractured root until infection sets in.