Dental Emergencies for Kids
St. Helens, OR
 Dental emergencies can be stressful and may leave you not knowing where to turn. If your child experiences a dental emergency, it is important to have a plan in place so that you are not scrambling to find your child quality dental care.
Our reliable group of professionals at St. Helens Pediatric Dentistry provide excellent emergency pediatric dental care. Getting your child quick emergency dental care can drastically improve the outcome of procedures and minimize your child’s discomfort.
What is a Pediatric Emergency?
A pediatric dental emergency is an event or condition that will worsen without prompt professional dental care. You can ask yourself several questions to determine if what your child is experiencing is an emergency. First, you should determine if your child suffered any trauma to their teeth or mouth. Second, you should determine if the problem requires immediate care.
If you answered yes to either of these questions, you should contact our team immediately so that they can guide you on what steps to take next. A fall causing severe tooth damage or the loss of a tooth warrants immediate dental care. Prompt care will increase the chances that our team can salvage your child’s tooth and prevent them from experiencing prolonged pain.
Just because your child did not suffer trauma does not mean that they may not be experiencing a dental emergency. Minor pain may be treated with over the counter medications such as ibuprofen. If they are experiencing severe pain or swelling, this could be a sign of an infection. Infections will not generally go away on their own and are a sign that your child needs prompt care.
Abscessed gums are a common sign of infection and require prompt dental care. An abscess will look similar to a pimple on your child’s gums and could be a variety of colors. Abscesses are a sign of a more serious problem and will likely require an extraction. Your child must not puncture the abscess because it could risk spreading the infection.
What Treatments Are Offered?
Our team offers a variety of treatments for pediatric dental emergencies. These treatments are tailored to your child’s needs and may require follow-up care. The immediate goal of emergency dental care is to save your child’s existing tooth/teeth, combat infections, and limit or prevent their discomfort.
If your child is suffering from an infection, our professionals will prescribe antibiotics. If your child is not in any discomfort, we likely will not take any additional action until the antibiotics are finished and the infection is gone. We will schedule a second visit to complete any restorative procedures.
If your child loses a tooth and it is still in good condition, we may be able to reinsert the tooth and allow it to take root. If they severely chip a tooth, we will discuss treatment options with you based on the severity of the damage. This treatment will likely involve a filling or crown.
It is important to have a team you can trust when your child needs prompt dental care. If you are concerned that your child is experiencing a pediatric dental emergency, our team at St. Helens Pediatric Dentistry can help. Contact us immediately at (503) 396-4750. |
