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What to do When Your Child has a Dental Emergency

A dental emergency can be a frightening experience, especially for a child. It is important to stay calm and follow the proper steps to ensure that your child receives the best possible care. This blog post will outline what you should do if your child experiences a dental emergency. 

Types of Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can be divided into three main categories: pain, bleeding, and trauma.

If your child is experiencing pain, it could be due to a toothache, an abscessed tooth, or teething. If the pain is severe, you should take them to see a dentist right away. For more mild pain, you can give your child over-the-counter pain medication and/or have them rinse their mouth with warm salt water.

If your child is bleeding from the mouth, it could be due to an injury or an infected tooth. If the bleeding is severe, go to the emergency room right away. If it’s not severe, rinse the wound with warm water and apply pressure with a clean cloth. You should also contact your dentist as soon as possible.

If your child has suffered trauma to the mouth (e.g., they’ve been hit in the face), look for signs of dental damage such as a cracked tooth or loose tooth. If you see any damage, take them to see a dentist right away. Even if there’s no visible damage, it’s still a good idea to have them evaluated by a professional just to be safe.

The first step is to assess the situation and determine whether or not it is truly an emergency. If your child is bleeding or in pain, it is likely an emergency and you should proceed to the next step. If it is not an emergency, you can make an appointment with your child’s dentist during normal business hours.

If it is an emergency, call your child’s dentist immediately. If you don’t have a regular dentist, finding one that offers emergency dentistry is important. Valley Smiles offers emergency dentistry services in Phoenix, AZ. Once you have made contact with a dentist, they will instruct you on what to do next.

Dental emergencies can be scary, but by remaining calm and contacting a dental professional, you can ensure that your child receives the best possible care. Always err on the side of caution and if you are ever unsure whether or not something is an emergency, call your dentist. 

If you are located in the Greater Phoenix area, Valley Smiles can assist with dental emergencies. As a caring and comprehensive dental care provider, we offer full emergency dentistry services. You contact us at (602) 899-5824

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