What Should I Do if My Child Chips a ToothSuffolk, VA

Does your child feel any pain?

After chipping a tooth, your child may not be in pain or extremely uncomfortable. The level of pain depends on the extent of the chip, where the tooth was chipped and which tooth was damaged. Some people, for example, lightly chip a tooth when eating something overly hard or crunchy. If it is small, the chip may go unnoticed until your child brushes and flosses his or her teeth. If your child is in pain, you need to call our dental office in Suffolk, VA immediately. Pain is the body's way of alerting your child to a problem. We can prevent further damage and infections by restoring the tooth.

Are your child’s teeth bleeding?

We encourage you to visit our dentist practice immediately if you notice that your child's tooth has become chipped and is also bleeding. This could be an indication that your child has suffered more dental damage than you are currently aware of. Rinse your child's mouth out with warm salt water and come to our office if the bleeding persists.

Other information we need to know about your child

As a pediatric dentist serving the Suffolk and surrounding areas, we treat children of varying ages. We need to know the age of the patient who suffered tooth damage since this will directly influence our treatment recommendations. One treatment method may not be the best treatment option for your child. By knowing the entire story behind the accident and seeking treatment right away, we can make sure your child is properly taken care of. Children tend to be more sensitive to discomfort, so it is wise to have any damage restored on the same day as the accident.

Steps to Take After Chipping a Tooth

If you have ever wondered what to do after your child chips a tooth, this information is good to keep in your back pocket. We always welcome your calls, questions and visits to our dental office in Suffolk. This guide may be an informative reference point, but ultimately, your child should still visit the dentist.

Step #1
Rinse your child's mouth with warm saltwater. This will help remove debris, any surface blood and reduce the chance of developing an infection.

Step #2
Place a piece of gauze or a cool rag in your child's mouth and press on the area that is bleeding. Applying light pressure may also help ease any discomfort caused by the tooth being chipped and the dentin being exposed. We have found this to be particularly useful for helping our young patients take their mind off the discomfort.

Step #3
You can purchase dental cement at many drugstores and use it to temporarily cover the damaged tooth. We would prefer to simply treat your child's tooth and restore it immediately. However, if you are traveling, have a busy day at work or simply cannot find the time to come in, this is a useful temporary solution. Just be sure to visit Fun Park Pediatric Dentistry, the next day.

Step #4
Call our office at 757-767-2767 and schedule an appointment to be seen right away. We will do our best to work around your schedule so your child can have his or her tooth restored immediately. We provide emergency dental services and have try to keep room in our schedule for last-minute appointments.