Rinse the child’s mouth with cool water. Place ice packs around affected areas to reduce swelling. If possible, contact the pediatric dentist or go to the emergency room. First, gently clean the area with water.
Then apply a cold compress to the affected area to control and minimize swelling. If the area is bleeding, apply light pressure with a clean piece of gauze or cloth. This is a dental issue that requires more intensive treatment than your pediatric dentist’s emergency team can offer. The best part of my day is when a child likes to come to their dental appointment and leave with a smile.
I completed another 3 years of pediatric residency and earned an MS in oral and craniofacial sciences from UCSF. I have my approval for oral awareness sedation and am working closely with a state-certified pediatric anesthetist for dental restorations under full general tubation anesthesia. It can therefore be particularly difficult to observe toothaches, broken teeth, or other dental emergencies in them. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Pediatric Dentists, and the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry.
While in Bangalore, she set up her own practice Bright Smiles Pediatric Dentistry to provide specialist pediatric dental care for children. During my dental studies, my love for pediatrics was not yet known, which is why I began my military service as a general dentist in the summer of 2002 and was assigned to a dental department in Germany. After finishing dental school, I worked as a general dentist in the Bay Area for four years before I decided to pursue my interest in pediatrics. Still, it’s important to get your child to the nearest hospital emergency room as soon as possible.
If your child has suffered a severe blow to the head, there is also likely to be dental trauma. I received my doctorate in dental surgery from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Not only is a loose tooth a painful experience, immediate dental care can also reduce the risk of infection or permanent tooth loss. If you know how to identify a dental emergency, your child will be treated quickly to protect their dental health.
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) can help make dental treatments more pleasant and enjoyable for children.