Any emergency Tampa dentist visit with your child can be a stressful and fearful time. Your child is in pain, and as a parent that can be particularly hard to deal with. While we often make plans for medical emergencies, sometimes your emergency comes unexpectedly and requires an immediate visit with your Tampa dentist. When creating a medical emergency plan for your family, it is important to have an emergency pediatric dentist on your list of contacts. So what is considered a dental emergency and what should you expect?

Why You Need Pediatric Dentist

Chipped or Fractured Teeth

If your child has injured themselves to the point where a tooth has chipped or fractured, seek out an emergency pediatric dentist in Tampa. This can cause serious pain and discomfort and can cause injury to other areas of the mouth if left untreated.

Pain from Wisdom Teeth

If your child is slightly older, they may have already begun to experience the pain that comes from wisdom teeth. These teeth come in behind the molars and can cause significant pain in the mouth and jaw. If the pain becomes too much for your child, consult your emergency pediatric dentist to see what can be done. They may recommend removal of the wisdom teeth to prevent additional pain or movement of any permanent teeth.

Knocked out Tooth

If your child has a tooth that has been knocked out, whether by a sports injury, roughhousing, or other means, call your emergency pediatric dentist. This is more serious when the tooth is a permanent, adult tooth. If possible, save the original tooth and bring it in to the dentist. If handled properly and quickly, they may be able to save the tooth.

Oral Bleeding

While some bleeding in the mouth from a cut on the tongue or cheek is not an emergency, if the bleeding has not stopped after 10 minutes, seek emergency care.  Apply pressure to the area to stop as much of the bleeding as possible, and tell your child not to touch it. Serious bleeding could be signs of a deeper injury than expected.

If you think you have a dental issue that is serious enough for urgent care, it is important to know what would actually be considered an emergency. Knowing the difference between something that can be treated during normal business hours and something that needs an emergency pediatric dentist can save you hundreds, if not thousands, in medical bills.