Know when to go directly to the emergency room and when to call us for diagnosis and treatment.
Topics Covered on This Page:
» How to Handle Toothaches
» Facial Swelling
» Facial or Oral Trauma
Learn How To Care For Your Teeth
Toothache
When children complain of pain in their mouths the parents usually think of toothache. Toothache pain is usually from an abscessed tooth. There are many causes of oral pain. This information will give you understanding in managing complaints like this.
Discern what is causing the pain. Look inside the child’s mouth with a flashlight. Ask your child to put his or her finger inside and touch where it hurts. Look for swelling, redness, bleeding, large cavities, broken teeth and ulcers. All these problems are best cared for professionally and it is best to call for an appointment immediately if you find them.
Know when to call after hours. Here are some tips on making a decision. First consider the intensity and duration of the pain.
Pain that keeps the child up all night crying needs immediate attention—swelling of the gums or face around a large cavity also. Profuse bleeding or deeply broken teeth should be taken care of quickly.
A small mouth ulcer, chronic redness of the gums that bleeds when brushing the teeth, pain on eating certain foods which goes away quickly or a shallow break in a front baby tooth are problems that can wait until regular business hours.
Know when to go to the emergency room. If you are out of town and do not know a good dentist where you are or if you cannot reach us here at Pediatric Dentistry of East Texas for some reason go to the emergency room at your local hospital for help with severe oral pain that does not go away quickly.
Call us for diagnosis and treatment of oral pain. We are there to help you. Call 936-634-6119. If it is after hours call Dr. Guy at home at 936-634-6213. If Dr. Guy is not home another number will be given on the answering message.
Facial Swelling
This could be a very serious and even life threatening problem. Call us anytime, 24/7, for help. If you are out of town or cannot reach us go to a local emergency room.
Do not use hot or cold applications on the face where there is infection. Cold can be used for recent trauma. If you see swelling in the mouth around a tooth with a large cavity you can rinse the mouth with warm salt water. After a while pus may drain into the mouth and pain from the pressure of the swelling may subside.
Give Tylenol for pain and fever.
Make sure the child takes lots of fluids in spite of the oral discomfort to prevent high fever from dehydration.
Call us for diagnosis and treatment of facial swelling. We are there to help you. Call 936-634-6119. If it is after hours call Dr. Guy at home at 936-634-6213. If Dr. Guy is not home another number will be given on the answering message.
Facial or Oral Trauma
Facial trauma is common in children. Here is what you need to know and do in an emergency like this. Know when to go directly to the emergency room.
Watch for signs of brain concussion. These are vomiting, loss of consciousness, sleepiness, and other neurological signs. If these occur go to the emergency room.
Damage to the eyes, ears or nose requires an emergency room visit.
Otherwise call us as soon as possible for blows to either jaw including lacerations, bruises and broken teeth.
Emergency rooms generally do a poor job of handling these problems. Your child may need dental x-rays to check for broken jaws and teeth. Suturing may be needed. Teeth may have to be repositioned and stabilized. Broken teeth may need repair. The sooner the better.
Call us for diagnosis and treatment of trauma to the jaws. We are there to help you. Call 936-634-6119. If it is after hours call Dr. Guy at home at 936-634-6213. If Dr. Guy is not home another number will be given on the answering message.
