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Emergency Dentistry Specialist

Pediatric Dentistry in Rochester, NY

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Emergency Dentistry services offered in Rochester, NY

Whether your little one is starting to explore their surroundings or joining a competitive soccer team, accidents can happen at any time. At Greece Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in Rochester, New York, board-certified pediatric dentist Abrahim Caroci, DMD, understands that dental emergencies are distressing for children and their parents. That’s why Greece Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics offers comprehensive emergency dentistry for children. To learn more, call or book an appointment online today.

Emergency Dentistry Q & A

What is emergency dentistry?

Emergency dentistry is a type of oral health care that focuses on time-sensitive injuries and dental concerns. While you can’t predict a dental emergency, choosing the right pediatric dentist ensures that you have a team of experienced dental professionals on your side if one does occur.

The team at Greece Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics can provide the right care, treatment, and dental education to help support you and your child in the event of a dental emergency.

At what age do children need emergency dentistry?

Emergencies can happen at any age, but there tends to be two peak periods for children: 

Toddler years

Between ages 18-40 months, your little one is likely starting to explore their surroundings on their own. Chewing on objects they shouldn’t, bumping into hard surfaces, and accidents are common risk factors for dental trauma.

Preadolescence/adolescence

Once your child is old enough to play and participate in sports, mouth injuries are extremely common. That’s why the team typically recommends sports guards in children to prevent sports injuries to the mouth.

What are the most common reasons children need emergency dentistry?

The most common dental emergencies in children include:

Toothaches

Toothaches, or pain that spreads to the tooth root, are especially common when food particles lodge in between a child’s teeth. Sometimes, you can dislodge impacted food with dental floss, a clean finger, or brushing your child’s teeth, but not always. 

After scheduling an emergency appointment with the team at Greece Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, clean the area of pain with warm water, check for impacted food, and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.

Knocked-out tooth

A knocked-out tooth, or dental avulsion, occurs when force dislodges a tooth from its socket. Whether your child loses a baby tooth or a permanent tooth, try to locate it. If you can, gently rinse the tooth and reimplant it into the socket (for older children). You can also submerge the tooth in a glass of milk or saliva for reimplantation at your emergency visit.

Dental intrusion

Teeth that push into the jawbone from trauma or extreme force require immediate attention. After calling the team, rinse your child’s mouth out with warm water, apply a cold compress, and offer Tylenol® to reduce pain until your appointment.

Fractures

There are two types of fractures: crown (above the gum line) and root (below the gum line). Applying a cold compress and offering Tylenol is typically the best course of treatment for a root fracture before your emergency visit. For crown fractures, try to locate the missing tooth and bring it to your appointment.

The team at Greece Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics treats all types of dental emergencies. For more information on emergency dentistry, call or book an appointment online today.