Most children will benefit from seeing a pediatric dentist in Greenville, SC on a regular basis for routine oral hygiene exams, and some dentists want to see the kids in their dental chairs as soon as they begin brushing independently. However, this may not be the only time when your child requires dental care.
For example, accidents can happen that could result in injury to the teeth, gums or jaw bone, and you may wonder if your child needs to see an emergency dentist in Greenville, SC. These points will help you determine the type of dental professional to call for an appointment.
The Type of Trauma
There are a wide range of traumatic events that can result in damage to a child’s teeth, such as a sports injury, a biking accident or even a slip and fall event. The tooth may chip, crack or even fall out entirely. The gum line, lip, cheek and other areas may be bruised or bleeding. The trauma from an oral injury can look frightening, but it is important to take a deep breath and to inspect the severity of the damage. A small chip, for example, is not an emergency, but a tooth that is severely chipped or cracked may be.
The Level of Pain
You can tell a lot about how severe the trauma actually is by gauging your child’s level of pain. Most children will cry after an accident for a short period of time, but the pain generally should ease after a few minutes. If your child continues to be in severe pain, it is best to contact an emergency dentist and to request a consultation.
When in Doubt
As a parent, you want to take the best care of your child that is possible, but you also may not want to take your child in for emergency dental care services unless it is warranted and necessary. Many emergency dental offices offer online or over-the-phone triage. This means that you can get your questions answered about the condition of your child’s teeth and gums up-front to determine if an appointment is necessary.
If you have any doubts about how you should proceed, it is smart to make the phone call for triage so that a professional, like the professionals at Downtown Dental, can help you to make the determination.
Source:
Handling Dental Emergencies. WebMD.
