Summer break is almost here, and kids will be home from school and many will be playing summer sports. Without the right actions, the risk of an injured tooth is likely, but we have a few helpful tips. In today’s blog, Dr. Robert M. Browne talks about preventing dental emergencies during your child’s summer break.
The Common Causes of Dental Injuries
How does a child injure a tooth? For some, biting down on ice, a popcorn kernel, or other hard items could crack or chip a tooth. This could also be due to an accident. If they play sports, box, or practice martial arts, there is always the risk of a cracked, chipped, or broken tooth. Teeth could even be knocked loose or out completely! When this happens, don’t delay, let us know right away, as even minor injuries could lead to painful toothaches due to tooth decay and infection.
Emergency Prevention
One way to help prevent a dental emergency is to make sure your kids wear a mouthguard when they play sports. You can buy one from a big box store or a sporting goods store, or we could create a custom option that provides a greater layer of protection for smiles of all ages. When an injury does happen, don’t panic! Call our team and if you reach us when we are open, we will try to see your child same-day or early the next day. If we are closed, call and leave a message, and a team member will reach out quickly to discuss appointment times and tips for better protection until then.
You can stem the bleeding with cloth or gauze, and use a cold compress to prevent facial swelling. Kids can take an age-appropriate over-the-counter pain reliever. If a tooth happens to be knocked out completely, pick it up only by the crown (visible) portion, not the roots, and put it in a sealed container of milk or salt water. Bring it with you to the office.
Repairing Your Smile
Our team will examine the smile and offer care to repair it. With dental bonding, we can use lifelike composite resin to repair the tooth in only one visit. For more severe breakage or a cracked tooth, we could offer a crown to repair it and prevent complications. We can also restore knocked-out teeth to their proper place in the smile. If you have any questions about summertime emergency care for smiles of all ages, then contact our team today.
Schedule a Visit for Emergency Dental Care With Dr. Browne, DDS
Urgent care dentistry can repair injuries before they cause further pain and tooth decay. If you need urgent care dentistry, then call Dr. Robert M Browne, DDS in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585 today.