When children take a tumble, their teeth could be at risk, so it’s crucial to be prepared and know what to do next. After an accident, your first priorities as a parent are to comfort your child, chart your course of action, and most crucially, remember that time is of the essence. According to the team at Pediatric Dental Group in Honolulu, speed can make an enormous difference in the outcome of emergency procedures, so it’s crucial to bring your child to a pediatric dentistry office as quickly as possible.

Here are three examples of pediatric dentistry emergencies and what you can do to handle them: 

• Chipped Tooth: If your child has chipped a tooth, whether it was a baby tooth or permanent tooth, use a cold compress to minimize swelling. If you see the chipped part of the tooth, grab it and place it in cold water to bring with you to the dentist. The dentist may be able to bond it back to the tooth for the most natural-looking solution. 
• Displaced Baby Tooth: Though baby teeth are meant to be replaced, premature loss can cause infection or damage to incoming permanent teeth. A pediatric dental care expert can guide you through this process and may need to reposition the remaining baby teeth to minimize long-term damage.
• Displaced Permanent Tooth: In the case of a lost permanent tooth, find the tooth, wash it off if necessary, and try to place the tooth back in the socket as soon as possible to minimize lasting damage. (If this doesn’t work, transport the tooth to the dentist in a cold glass of milk.) Give your child some gauze to bite down on to hold it in place as you make your way to the pediatric dentistry unit.

To learn more, call Pediatric Dental Group in Honolulu at (808) 593-8828 or visit their website.