Dental emergencies require immediate attention, especially for kids. If your son or daughter has a dental emergency, it is important to know what to do, stay calm and compassionate, and quickly get them the help they need. Kids and teens are always looking to adults to take control of uncertain situations and provide clear guidance. Here at Dental Town Chicago, we are equipped and experienced when it comes to working with younger patients. We have equipment designed to help patients of different age ranges, and we have a staff that is trained to provide compassionate care, especially when patients are experiencing a dental emergency. And because we have twelve different offices, we can always help you find the closest office that has availability.
How To Handle Your Child’s Dental Emergency
As we said before, the most important thing to do when a child has a dental emergency is to remain calm and be decisive. Kids need their parents, teachers, coaches, and other adults to clearly understand what to do, so they do not panic. The most common dental emergencies for kids are sudden toothaches or injuries to the mouth while playing at recess or as part of a sport. If a teen or child loses an adult tooth, it may be possible to put the tooth back in its place. Many first aid kits have a tooth-saving solution, which is a saline mix that a tooth can be submerged in to protect it temporarily. Alternatively, milk can also be used. You should never submerge a lost tooth in water, since this can cause the living tissue to die. Additionally, if your child is in pain, has swelling, or is bleeding, you should use gauze and pressure to stop the blood flow, and a cold compress to help with pain and swelling while you are on the way to the dentist. For toothaches, it can be helpful to check and see if your child has anything stuck between their teeth. Sometimes a hard piece of food gets wedged between teeth, which can lead to pressure and pain.
What To Look For in an Emergency Dentist in Chicago
Emergency dentists need to be equipped to help you with your specific needs. First and foremost, they need to be able to provide same-day dental services. Some practices do not provide emergency services because they primarily focus on routine care, cosmetic/restorative dentistry, or other procedures. An emergency dentist can usually help you find a gap in their schedule for same-day treatments. Likewise, a dental office that works with other local practices can sometimes provide recommendations if their schedule cannot accommodate you. Additionally, it is important to know if the practice you are going to can help with your specific problem. For example, if you have an issue with a bridge or crown, you need a dental office that provides bridges and crowns. Likewise, if you need help with an implant, you need a dentist that provides dental implants. Here at our Avondale location, we don’t provide implants, but we can recommend nearby offices that do.
Schedule Emergency Dental Care in Chicago
If you or a member of your family needs immediate help with emergency dental care, please contact our team or give us a call at (708) 766-7614. We would be happy to help you get the care that you need.