Pediatric Dental Trauma

We all know that a lot of children have no fear. Because of this, they like to test gravity, and sometimes they end up suffering the consequences. Dental trauma is one of the most common consequences when it comes to things like this. If your child has experienced dental trauma, we can assist you here at A+ Dental. We have many years of experience in the industry. We know how worrying it can be to see your child hurt and in pain. We also know that your child may be feeling nervous and scared. We will do everything in our power to make sure you both feel at ease during this difficult period. Read on to discover more about pediatric dental trauma and you will also find our contact details at the end of the guide if you are looking for a dentist to assist with this issue in the Houston area. 

Information about dental trauma in children

Dental trauma tends to occur most often in children between the ages of eight and 10-years-old, as well as toddlers, i.e. those between two and four-years-old. Of course, trauma can happen at any age. However, these ages are most common because pre-teens like to take part in activities, such as sports, and they are not often as coordinated as their older counterparts. When it comes to toddlers, well, they like to toddle and fall down! Getting in touch with a dental clinic is the best approach if something like this happens, rather than taking your child to an emergency dentist. Most dental clinics today will offer emergency care, so all you need to do is give them a call.

 

It can be difficult to get distracted by the obvious injury when it comes to situations like this. However, it is important to make sure that you fully assess your child’s condition. It is always best to start with the area that looks the worse first, and then move to the next worst, and so on. A lot of dental injuries are going to be isolated. Nevertheless, it is still important to make sure that there is not any evidence of trauma that could be more significant, for example, mid-face instability or hemotympanum. 

Contact us today for more information about pediatric dental trauma

If you would like more information about pediatric dental trauma, or you would like to book a dental appointment for your child, please do not hesitate to get in touch. All you need to do is give us a call to find out everything you need to know about our practice in Houston. You can reach us on 832-241-3434. We also have a contact form on our website, which you can use in order to request an appointment. We are open five days a week. Our opening hours are between 11 am and 7 pm Tuesday – Friday, and 10 am until 2 pm on Saturday. 

As a parent, your child’s safety is always going to be your number one concern. If your child is going to be receiving dental sedation, you may be concerned regarding their safety. It is important to recognise that dental anesthesia is safe for children, so long as it is carried out correctly, of course. Dentists can often recommend sedation for procedures that are complicated and lengthy. This also may be recommended if your child is extremely nervous and will not sit still for the procedure. Below, we will reveal more about the safety of pediatric dental anesthesia in Houston so that you can get a better understanding. 

The current guidelines regarding pediatric dental anesthesia

It is important to recognize that there are currently rules and regulations in place regarding pediatric dental anesthesia. As per the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and American Academy of Pediatrics and their guidelines, which were updated in 2019, there are set requirements in place when it comes to providing general anesthesia or deep sedation to children. This includes the fact that there must always be two people in the room that have the training to provide advanced life support problems in case there are any issues. Of course, the chances of this are very low. However, it should give you peace of mind knowing that extra precautions will be taken. One of these individuals is going to be the oral surgeon or dentist that is providing the procedure, whereas the other will be an independent observer. The independent observer needs to be a dentist anesthesiologist, a second oral surgeon, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, or a physician anesthesiologist. 

The different types of anesthesia and sedation used on children

There are a number of different types of pediatric dental anesthesia and sedation that can be used on children. The solution used will be chosen based on the procedure being carried out and how your child is feeling/reacting to the prospect of treatment. General anesthesia is when your child will be asleep and will not experience any sort of pain. However, there are a few other options too. This includes deep sedation, moderate sedation, mild sedation, and nitrous oxide. The latter is the least invasive; it is a mild sedative that is commonly known as laughing gas. It helps children feel relaxed, and so it is sometimes used when they are feeling nervous. 

Contact us today for more information about pediatric dental anesthesia

If you would like more information about pediatric dental anesthesia or you would like to book a dental appointment for your child, please do not hesitate to get in touch to find out everything you need to know. We are open five days a week. Our opening hours are between 11 am and 7 pm Tuesday – Friday, and 10 am until 2 pm on Saturday. You can reach us on 832-241-3434. We also have a contact form on our website, which you can use in order to request an appointment. 

A+ Dental knows how scary and heartbreaking it can be when your child has a dental emergency. It’s absolutely essential you know what steps to take so that you can ensure the best possible result for your child.

First Steps To Take

The first thing you’ll want to do is keep your child calm and make them feel safe. When you are confident and calm, they will mirror you even if they are in distress. You probably want to freak out right along with them, but they need to see you being calm right now. Get them to a dentist as quickly as possible. You may need to call an emergency dentist. If the problem is more serious, it might be better to call 911.

Relieving pain is also a good idea but there are only so many ways you can safely do this. If they are swollen, you can help them ice the area. You may also want to see if you can remove debris from around the tooth. Don’t rub painkillers on the gums as they can make them bleed.

You also want to try to save the tooth if it is no longer in their mouth, or part seems to have broken off. If it is an adult tooth, you can do this by putting it in water or milk. It needs to stay moisturized.

If you did not see the exact incident that caused the issue with your child’s tooth, you‘ll want to make sure your child does not have a more serious injury.

Emergency pediatric dental care is so important if your child seems to have had an incident that is affecting their dental health. Next up, we’ll look at finding the right place in Houston.

 

Know Where To Go

It’s also crucial to know where you are going to go for your emergency pediatric dental care.  Some dental practices do not do emergency appointments. Make sure that the dental practice you visit  has a great reputation for keeping patients at ease, and that they are kid friendly.

What Constitutes A Dental Emergency?

• Abscess (swollen tissue that has accumulated pus)
• Dental injury like a knocked out tooth or tooth fracture
• Swollen gums
• Bleeding
• Severe pain, especially in the wisdom teeth

 

Preventing A Dental Emergency In The Future

Knowing how to deal with a dental injury is one thing, but you’ll also want to know how to avoid them in the future. Be sure of the following:

• Your child wears a mouth-guard and protection gear when playing sports.
• Teach them not to use their teeth as tools.
• Don’t let children run around with objects in their mouths.
• Reduce trip hazards in your home.
• Use gates to block stairways and dangerous areas in your home.
• Visit the dentist every 6 months to make sure the teeth are healthy and strong.

 

A+ Dental Pediatric Specialists can provide emergency dental care for children in the Houston area. If you are in need of emergency dental care, please call our office at 1-832-241-3434 or visit us at 6500 North Freeway #124, Houston, TX 77076.