Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Adults and children do not have the same oral health care needs. This is why many parents choose a children's dentist for dental maintenance. Parents may not know which situations should be treated as dental emergencies. An emergency may arise due to mouth trauma. There are also situations where poor oral hygiene can lead to oral complications. The following points identify a few situations that should be treated as dental emergencies.  

Abscessed Teeth

An abscessed tooth might seem to appear overnight. However, these oral infections happen over time and eventually become more obvious. The child may complain of having a bad taste in their mouth. Abscesses occur when tooth roots get infected. The gums may be red and swollen. Eventually, a pus-filled sac may appear on the gums in the area of the infected tooth. Abscessed teeth are considered an emergency because the infection can spread and enter the bloodstream. Facial swelling may also occur if the infection spreads. A fever and tooth pain are telltale signs that a child is having serious complications from an infected tooth.

Orthodontic Injuries

Some children who wear braces are actively engaged in sports. If they do not wear mouthguards during contact sports, there is a risk of mouth trauma. Children who get into fights or auto collisions may also experience mouth trauma. The wires from the braces push against sensitive cheeks and lips and can cause painful lacerations and bruising. These injuries should be treated as emergencies. The orthodontic appliances need to get checked for damages, and the child's mouth will need to be examined to determine the extent of the injuries. Pain medication can be given as part of the pediatric dental maintenance and recovery plan.

Loose Dental Work 

Children who experience tooth decay or damage such as chipped teeth may have dental fillings or dental crowns. This dental work has to be monitored closely to preserve teeth and prevent future complications. Routine dental exams are an integral part of children's dental maintenance. They can aid in discovering loose dental work, but it is possible for fillings and crowns to loosen between appointments. They may also fall off of teeth. Loose dental work is a dental emergency because teeth will no longer be protected, which could lead to tooth infections or worse decay.

A children's dentist is a good resource to use when parents are uncertain whether their children are experiencing dental emergencies. Many pediatric dentists have after-hours phone numbers where they can be reached. At a minimum, they will likely have an answering service that can act as an over-the-phone triage to assess what the child is experiencing and determine whether the issue is an emergency.

Speak to a children's dentist to learn more.