Concussion Injuries/Dental Trauma
Children are active at play and in sports. That sometimes puts them at risk of a concussion injury or dental trauma. Dental trauma in kids may have long-lasting consequences. Right after the accident or injury, you may need an emergency visit, but remember that hospitals aren’t equipped for dental injuries. You need to schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist at Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry — in Woodbridge, New Jersey, Harlem and the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Don’t wait for symptoms; call right away.
What Are Concussion Injuries in Kids?
A concussion injury is a blow to the head that may cause a loss of consciousness, a head injury and damage to teeth or the soft tissues of the mouth. A concussion injury may involve other medical problems and demand immediate medical treatment.
Concussion injuries in kids require emergency attention because of the delicate nature of a child’s skull. Children are at a critical stage of development, so any head injury may have devastating and long-term effects if not treated quickly. The same can be said of dental injuries, given how teeth develop in children.
At the nearest Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry office — whether in Manahattan or in Woo- dbridge, New Jersey — the experienced team of board certified dentists treats a wide range of childhood dental issues and injuries. The dentists quickly assess if a concussion injury has caused dental problems and then create a treatment plan for your child.
What’s Dental Trauma in Kids?
Dental trauma refers to a severe injury to any part of your child’s mouth. The injuries may affect multiple parts of a child’s mouth, including:
Severe dental trauma for a child requires emergency and urgent care by a trained pediatric dentist. At the dental practice in Harlem, the Lower East Side or Woodbridge, NJ, the team uses the latest medical equipment to handle dental emergencies and prevent future complications. In the event of a concussion or dental trauma, seek treatment in an emergency room, but then call your child’s dentist.
Emergency & Urgent Care
What Are the Types of Dental Injuries in Kids?
When diagnosing a concussion, the best pediatric dentists give your child a thorough exam, deferring to medical doctors if the concussion symptoms are severe enough. After a serious accident, your child may suffer different kinds of dental injuries, including:
Damage to teeth. Damage to a tooth’s crown or a fracture of its root beneath the gums is both painful and dangerous.
Tissue damage. Dental trauma may affect both soft and hard tissues supporting the teeth and gums.
Subluxation injury. An injury that causes the tooth to become loose in its socket may lead to an extraction of the tooth.
Intrusion or extrusion injury. This dental injury causes the tooth to sink deeper into the socket or move partially out of the socket.
Avulsion of the tooth. A dental injury in which the child’s tooth comes out of its socket completely may be repaired.
If your kids need extra protection against dental cavities, talk to your dentist about dental sealants. The preventive dental procedure may even prevent other oral problems, such as halitosis. Contact your dental sealant specialist at Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Woodbridge, NJ or in Manhattan on the Lower East Side and in Harlem.
What Are the Symptoms of Dental Trauma in Kids?
Fractured, missing, cracked, chipped or out-of-place teeth
Pain or stiffness when trying to open or close the mouth or jaw
Misaligned or crooked teeth
Swelling in the tongue
Bleeding from soft tissue around the mouth, including the gums, cheek, tongue or lips
A sharp pain around the mouth
A loose or broken tooth after the accident
Swelling and tenderness of the lips or jaw
Your pediatric dentist examines the symptoms and listens to your child explain what’s wrong. Sometimes, your child needs further tests to determine the extent of damage. The findings help the dentist develop an individualized treatment plan.