Great Smiles
Great Smiles

What is a Pediatric Dental Emergency? | Asheville, NC

Jan 14, 2023Pediatric Dentistry

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Have a “Pediatric Dental Emergency Near Me”?

With 5 locations throughout western North Carolina, Great Smiles might be the perfect solution to your dental emergencies. Pediatric dental emergencies are no fun – for kids OR parents! Tackling big tooth troubles can turn even the calmest adult into a stressed-out mess.

But accidents happen, and it’s important to know what to do when your little one needs emergency attention. That way, you can stay confident while getting your child the best help, safely and quickly.

This blog post will explore common dental emergencies that may arise for young children, including jaw pain, aching teeth, and mouth injuries. Not only will you be able to identify when your child needs to visit an emergency pediatric dentist – you’ll also know what dental attention to give them in the meantime! 

Dental Emergency? Get Back to Great Smiles!

Do you need emergency dentistry for your child right NOW? If you’re in Asheville, NC, it’s time to give Great Smiles Pediatric Dentistry a call. When the unexpected happens (and it comes in the form of swelling, discomfort, or bleeding), we’re here for your infant, child, or teen.

Get on the phone and contact our office immediately for the best urgent dental care in Asheville, NC, and the surrounding areas!

Common Kinds of Kid Dental Emergencies

Sometimes, a tooth injury can wait until business hours – and sometimes, you need a dental emergency room. Knowing the difference can be difficult, so we’ve put together a breakdown of the most common dental emergency conditions that we encounter with children.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Knocking out a tooth is no fun! Finding it and taking the right steps is important. First, try to find the knocked-out tooth. Always handle the tooth by the crown and not by the roots. Rinse it off gently so as not to remove any attached tissue fragments. If it appears free of fractures or chips, try to reinsert it into the socket. Have your child bite down on some gauze, especially if there is any bleeding. If you are unable to reinsert it, place it in a cup of milk until your pediatric dentist can see your little one.

girl holding mouth from tooth pain

Broken Tooth

Broken teeth are another situation that requires a dentist to immediately treat the emergency. If your child has injured a tooth, use warm water to rinse the area and then apply a cold compress. Cold compresses can significantly reduce swelling and pain. Be sure to collect any pieces of the broken tooth that you can and bring them with you to the emergency dentist.

Jaw Injury

A broken jaw is no joke! If your child has fallen (or taken a dive during a sports game), any kind of injury to their jaw can result in pain, swelling, and broken teeth or bones. If your little one is experiencing severe pain or bleeding after an impact on their jaw, contact your dentist or doctor right away!

Severe Tooth Pain

An aching tooth is a bad sign, often resulting from some kind of infection, damage, or cavities. All of these issues will need help from your dentist, so schedule an appointment as soon as you can. While most toothaches won’t need emergency dentistry, you should contact your dental office for a visit – and head to an urgent care if the pain is bad enough. A cold compress on the mouth can help with pain.

Mouth Injuries

Injuries can occur to the gums, lip, cheek, or tongue. With a cut or bruised mouth, patients can place some ice on the area or gauze on cut places. If the bleeding to the lip, tongue, or gum tissue doesn’t stop after 15 minutes, go to the ER.

Does Your Little One Need Emergency Dental Care?

Emergency dentistry is not usually necessary for dental patients, but it can be. Make sure you know when your little one immediately needs an appointment at your local Asheville emergency dentistry office. For discomfort, knocked-out teeth, and injuries, you can always count on Great Smiles Pediatric Dentistry to have you covered! Call NOW if your young one is facing a dental emergency!

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