What Is a Dental Emergency?

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Knowing when to visit an emergency pediatric dentist can help your child avoid preventable pain, ease your worry, and even save you money in the long run. As the top kids’ dentist in Greenville, NC, Wilson Pediatric Dentistry can provide rapid assessments and care for various timely situations like knocked-out teeth, abscesses, or swelling. Learn when to visit your emergency dentist in Greenville and rest easy.

What Is an Emergency Pediatric Dentist?

An emergency pediatric dentist addresses sudden, painful, and urgent dental needs within a 24-hour window, giving your children quick relief and treatment and preventing conditions from deteriorating. At Wilson Pediatric Dentistry, we have a designated emergency hotline specifically for scheduling and getting your children in as quickly as possible.

Emergency dentistry covers a wide range of different ailments and situations, ranging from abscessed, impacted teeth to sports accidents. It also encompasses damaged or lost crowns, loose fillings, and chips. It can also be highly preventative, as chipped or cracked teeth could develop dangerous and painful abscesses and require root canals or total extraction.

When to See an Emergency Dentist in Greenville

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s oral health, we encourage you to get in touch. Our team can help determine what sort of care they need and whether an emergency appointment is necessary. Our priority if your care, and every case is different. There are, however, some situations that almost certainly require emergency care.

Chipped Teeth

Cracked or chipped teeth can be initially painful, but the real danger with damaged teeth is that bacteria can get into the crack and form an infection. Intensive dental care is often required when this happens. If your child chips or cracks their tooth, give us a call. We will be able to fully assess the situation and determine whether immediate dental care is required.

Missing Teeth

While chips and cracks happen occasionally, knocked-out teeth are a much more traumatic experience and can be more painful for your child. If possible, it’s essential to find and keep the tooth and contact our team immediately. Put the tooth in some milk to preserve it for as long as possible while waiting for your appointment.

Swollen Jaw

Swelling can be problematic and often constitutes a dental emergency. If your child experiences a facial injury, is having trouble talking, chewing, or moving their mouth, or has a lot of swelling, it’s time to give us a call.

Abscess

Abscesses are oral infections that generally manifest themselves in swelling and pus. They can be very painful for your child and require immediate emergency dental care. Abscesses can form from untreated chips and cracks and can worsen if not immediately treated by our team.

The Top Choice for Pediatric Dentists in Greenville

Get in touch if your child has dental pain, swelling, or missing or cracked teeth. Our team will answer any questions, talk you through treatment, and get your child an appointment as soon as possible if appropriate. For peace of mind and excellent care, call Wilson Pediatric Dentistry at 252-291-4300.

Treating Your Child’s Cavities

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Maintaining your child’s dental health is essential to their overall well-being, and cavity prevention is a critical aspect of dental health. Need some help keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy? Here are some tips from your pediatric dentist in Greenville on cavity prevention, as well as information on where you can go if you need a cavity filling for your child.

Encourage Brushing and Flossing

The first line of defense between your child and tooth decay is good habits with brushing and flossing. Ensure that you provide a good-quality toothbrush and a dentist-recommended toothpaste to provide the foundation your child needs for good dental health. Your pediatric dentist can help you find the right products. As your child ages, you might consider adding mouthwash to their routine.

Make sure your child is dedicating around two minutes to brushing twice a day, both in the morning and in the evening. You should also help them work on their brushing technique to ensure hard-to-reach areas, such as around the molars at the back of the mouth, are being cleaned.

Make Water the Drink of Choice

Sodas, energy drinks, juices, and other sugary drinks are one of the leading causes of tooth decay. This is especially true for children, who many of these products are marketed towards. Limiting your child’s consumption of sugary drinks such as these is one of the best steps you can take toward preventing cavities.

Encourage your child to drink water on a regular basis as a way to promote good dental health. Soda and other sweet drinks might be alright for an occasional treat, but it’s important to limit the amount your child consumes by making sure it isn’t their usual go-to drink.

Eliminate Sugary and Processed Foods

Your child’s diet has a major impact on their dental health. More and more, our supermarkets are dominated by processed foods that are high in sugar and other harmful ingredients. While the convenience and ease foods like these offer make them easy to choose to save time and effort in our busy lives, it’s important that you don’t let these foods become the primary staple of your child’s diet.

Shop for fresh produce and other wholesome ingredients for your meals. Home-cooked meals don’t have a high sugar content and other factors that will negatively impact your child’s dental health. As an added bonus, sitting together for tasty home-cooked meals will also give you time to enjoy some quality moments together, sharing memorable meals.

Get Cavity Filling from Your Pediatric Dentist in Greenville

Need more information on pediatric dental health or any treatment for your child? Our experts are standing by to provide everyday treatments, fillings for cavities, and all your pediatric dental health needs. Schedule an appointment with our caring staff to keep your child’s smile as bright as their future.