Common Dental Emergencies for Kids & Teens...What to Do and How to Prevent?

Our kids should be active and enjoy playing whether it be organized sports, riding bikes or just enjoying flash-light tag with the neighborhood gang.  Summer is the best, but along with the running and jumping comes the occasional trip or fall resulting in an accident.  Mouth injuries in children and teens tops the list.  Here are a few common dental injuries that impact children and teens and some suggestions of how to prevent them and what to do in the case of dental trauma.

Common Dental Injuries and How to Handle

Chipped or Broken Teeth
·        Cause - Falls, Sports Injuries or Hard objects or food
·        Signs - Missing tooth, missing piece of tooth, visible crack and sensitivity
·        Treatment - Rinse mouth with warm water, save any tooth fragments and see a dentist as soon as possible.

Knocked Out Tooth (Avulsion)
·        Cause - Impact from a fall or blow to the face
·        Treatment - For a permanent tooth, handle it by the crown not root, rinse gently do not scrub and re-insert the tooth.  If that is not possible, place tooth in milk or salvia and go immediately (within 30 min) to a dental professional.
·        For primary teeth, do not re-insert.  Contact your pediatric dentist or family dentist.

Tooth Displacement (Luxation)
·        Cause - Mouth trauma that mis-aligns the tooth either sideways, into the gums or partially out.
·        Signs -Bleeding, unable to close mouth, misalignment
·        Treatment - Contact your dentist immediately to allow for repositioning and stabilization.

Fractured Roots
·        Cause - Falls or Forceful impact due to sports
·        Signs - Pain when biting or chewing but the tooth appears intact.
·        Treatment - Contact your dental professional for a dental x-ray to evaluate the integrity of the tooth. 

Soft Tissue Injuries
·        Cause - Accidental biting of the lips, cheeks or tongue due to falls or blows to the face
·        Signs - Bleeding, bruising and swelling of the lips, cheeks or tongue.
·        Treatment - Cleanse the area and apply cold compress to the area. Seek medical assistance is bleeding is excessive and will not stop.

Injuries with Orthodontic Devices
·        Cause - Orthodontic appliances can cause or complicate an injury due to a fall or sport contact
·        Treatment - Contact your orthodontist to evaluate the injury/appliance and determine treatment options.          

Jaw Injuries
·        Cause - High impact falls from biking accidents, skate boards, skiing or sports collisions
·        Signs -Tenderness or pain when opening of closing one’s mouth, misalignment of bite and swelling.
·        Treatment - Seek emergency care!  A fractured or dislocated jaw needs immediate attention.  

Preventative Tips
·        Wear mouthguards during sports (especially contact or high-speed sports).|
·        Avoid chewing hard items (ice, pens, hard candy).
·        Child-proof your home to reduce falls for younger children.
·        Educate teens about safe behavior in high-risk situations.
·        Regular dental check-ups help monitor for subtle signs of trauma or stress on teeth.

Children and Teens are naturally active people…they are meant to be!  Healthy bodies, healthy minds are cornerstones of development and growth.  By knowing the most common dental injuries and the best treatment options you will be prepared in the event of an emergency.  Plainsboro Dental Careis a full-service family dental practice, available to partner with you if the need arises.  Call today (609)799-4422 toschedule an appointment.