Επείγουσα Οδοντιατρική σε Παιδιά
Treatment
Rapid, specialist emergency dental care to protect your child's teeth and comfort when every minute counts.
About the treatment
A pediatric dental emergency is any sudden injury or condition affecting a child's teeth, gums, or mouth that requires immediate professional attention. Common scenarios include a tooth knocked out during play, a fracture from a fall, a severe toothache that disrupts sleep, or soft-tissue lacerations inside the mouth. Because children's teeth and jaws are still developing, these situations demand a different clinical approach than adult emergencies, and the window for successful intervention is often much shorter. The first 30 to 60 minutes after a dental injury are frequently referred to as the golden hour. For a knocked-out permanent tooth, reimplantation within this window can mean the difference between saving the tooth for life and losing it permanently. For fractures that expose the nerve, prompt treatment prevents infection from spreading to the root and surrounding bone. Even injuries that appear minor, such as a small chip or a slightly wobbly tooth, can mask deeper damage that only shows up on X-ray. Children face a higher risk of dental emergencies than adults for several reasons. Their coordination is still developing, they are naturally active and curious, and the enamel on newly erupted permanent teeth is not yet fully mineralised. Sports, playground falls, cycling accidents, and even rough play at home are the most frequent causes. Dental emergencies can also be non-traumatic: an untreated cavity that suddenly abscesses, a broken filling, or swelling from an infected baby tooth all require urgent care. Στο BestDent, our pediatric emergency team is trained to manage both the clinical and emotional aspects of these situations. We understand that a dental emergency is frightening for the child and stressful for parents. Our protocols prioritise rapid pain relief, clear communication, and a calm environment so that your child receives the best possible outcome with the least possible distress. If you are unsure whether a situation qualifies as an emergency, call us. We would always rather reassure you than have you wait and risk a worse outcome.
We can make your smile look great
Rapid, specialist emergency dental care to protect your child's teeth and comfort when every minute counts.
Keep your teeth healthy
When you call BestDent with a dental emergency, our team immediately assesses the situation over the phone. We guide you through critical first-aid steps, such as how to store a knocked-out tooth in milk, how to control bleeding, and whether the child needs to go to a hospital emergency department first. This ensures the best possible outcome before you even arrive at the clinic.
The benefits of our dental treatments
- Rapid triage and treatment by a specialist pediatric dental team experienced in childhood emergencies
- Child-friendly emergency protocols that address fear and pain simultaneously
- High success rate for tooth reimplantation when patients arrive within the golden hour
- Low-dose digital X-rays for fast, accurate diagnosis with minimal radiation exposure
- Pain management techniques tailored to children, including topical anaesthetics and nitrous oxide
- Post-trauma monitoring programme to track healing, nerve vitality, and root development over time
- Clear, step-by-step guidance for parents on what to do at the scene before reaching the clinic
- Psychological support strategies to reduce the risk of lasting dental anxiety after a traumatic event
- Coordination with oral surgeons and orthodontists when complex follow-up care is needed
- Comprehensive written aftercare instructions so parents feel confident managing recovery at home
Who is it for?
- Children who have had a permanent tooth completely knocked out (avulsed)
- Children with a broken, cracked, or chipped tooth from a fall or impact
- Children experiencing sudden, severe toothache or facial swelling
- Children with cuts, lacerations, or bleeding inside the mouth or lips
- Children whose tooth has been pushed up into the gum (intruded) or displaced sideways
- Young athletes with sports-related dental or jaw injuries
- Children with a dental abscess causing pain, swelling, or fever
- Children who have bitten through the lip or tongue requiring assessment
- Children with a lost or broken filling or crown causing discomfort
- Parents who are unsure whether their child's dental injury needs urgent care
Treatment Process
Telephone Triage and First-Aid Guidance
When you call BestDent with a dental emergency, our team immediately assesses the situation over the phone. We guide you through critical first-aid steps, such as how to store a knocked-out tooth in milk, how to control bleeding, and whether the child needs to go to a hospital emergency department first. This ensures the best possible outcome before you even arrive at the clinic.
Rapid Clinical Assessment
On arrival, the pediatric dentist performs a swift but thorough evaluation of the injury. We assess the type and extent of damage to teeth, gums, bone, and soft tissues. The child's pain level and emotional state are also assessed so that we can tailor our approach. Every effort is made to keep the child calm and informed throughout.
Diagnostic Imaging
Low-dose digital X-rays or, when necessary, a small-field CBCT scan are taken to reveal damage that is not visible to the naked eye, such as root fractures, bone injuries, or displacement of developing permanent tooth buds beneath a traumatised baby tooth. Imaging guides the treatment plan and provides a baseline for future follow-up comparisons.
Pain Control and Stabilisation
Before any intervention, we ensure your child is comfortable. Depending on the severity, this may involve topical anaesthetic gel, local anaesthetic, nitrous oxide sedation, or in rare cases referral for conscious sedation. Bleeding is controlled with gentle pressure and haemostatic agents, and any loose or displaced teeth are temporarily stabilised.
Definitive Emergency Treatment
The specific treatment depends on the injury. A knocked-out permanent tooth is reimplanted and splinted to adjacent teeth. Fractures are repaired with bonding material or temporary crowns. Displaced teeth are repositioned and stabilised. Soft-tissue lacerations are cleaned and sutured if necessary. For baby teeth, treatment focuses on protecting the developing permanent teeth underneath.
Post-Emergency Parent Briefing
Once the immediate treatment is complete, the dentist sits down with the parent to explain exactly what happened, what was done, and what to expect over the coming days and weeks. You receive written aftercare instructions covering pain management, dietary adjustments, oral hygiene around the injury site, and warning signs that should prompt an earlier follow-up visit.
Structured Follow-Up Programme
Dental trauma healing is not always straightforward. We schedule follow-up appointments at one week, one month, three months, six months, and one year post-injury to monitor healing, check nerve vitality with pulp testing, and assess root development in younger patients. This structured programme catches complications such as root resorption or infection early, when they are most treatable.
Long-Term Restoration and Prevention
Once healing is confirmed, any temporary repairs are replaced with permanent restorations. If a tooth could not be saved, we discuss options for maintaining the space until the child is old enough for a definitive replacement. We also provide custom-fitted sports mouthguards and preventive advice to reduce the risk of future injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child knocked out a permanent tooth. What should I do right now?
Pick up the tooth by the white crown only, never the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly under clean water without scrubbing. Try to gently push it back into the socket and have your child bite on a clean cloth to hold it in place. If you cannot reinsert it, place it in cold milk or saline and get to a dentist within 30 minutes. Time is the single most important factor.
Should I try to reimplant a knocked-out baby tooth?
No. Baby teeth should not be reimplanted because doing so can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. However, you should still visit the dentist promptly so they can check for bone or soft-tissue injuries and determine whether a space maintainer is needed to hold the gap for the adult tooth.
How do I know if a chipped tooth is a real emergency?
A small chip with no pain or sharp edges can usually wait a day or two for repair. However, if you can see a pink or red spot in the centre of the break (the exposed nerve), if the tooth is very sensitive, or if there is significant bleeding, seek treatment the same day. Save the broken fragment in milk if possible, as it can sometimes be bonded back.
My child has severe tooth pain and a swollen face. Is this an emergency?
Yes. Facial swelling combined with tooth pain usually indicates an abscess, which is an infection that can spread if left untreated. Contact BestDent or your nearest emergency dentist immediately. While waiting, you can give age-appropriate pain relief and apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling.
What should I keep in a dental first-aid kit?
A good dental first-aid kit includes sterile gauze pads, a small container with a lid for storing a knocked-out tooth, a cold pack, saline solution or a tooth preservation product, age-appropriate pain relief medication, and the phone number of your pediatric dentist. Having these items ready can save valuable time during an emergency.
Will my child develop a fear of dentists after a dental emergency?
It is natural for children to feel anxious after a traumatic experience. Our pediatric team uses age-appropriate communication, positive reinforcement, and a calm environment to minimise this risk. Following up with routine, pleasant dental visits soon after the emergency helps rebuild positive associations. If anxiety persists, we can recommend additional support strategies.
Can a dental injury affect my child's permanent teeth that haven't come through yet?
Yes. Trauma to baby teeth can affect the developing permanent teeth beneath them, potentially causing discolouration, enamel defects, or disrupted eruption. This is one of the key reasons why even seemingly minor injuries to baby teeth should be professionally evaluated. Follow-up X-rays over the following months help monitor the permanent tooth development.
How can I prevent dental injuries during sports?
A custom-fitted mouthguard is the single most effective way to prevent sports-related dental injuries. Over-the-counter boil-and-bite guards offer some protection, but a professionally made guard from your dentist fits better, stays in place, and provides superior shock absorption. Mouthguards are recommended for any sport involving contact, falls, or flying objects.
What if a dental emergency happens at night or on a weekend?
Contact BestDent's emergency line. We will advise you on immediate first-aid steps over the phone and arrange an urgent appointment as quickly as possible. For severe injuries involving uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, or suspected jaw fractures, go directly to the nearest hospital emergency department first.
How long does follow-up monitoring last after a dental injury?
For most dental injuries in children, we recommend monitoring for at least one year, with check-ups at scheduled intervals. Some injuries, particularly those involving immature permanent teeth with open root tips, may require monitoring for several years until root development is complete. Regular follow-ups ensure complications like infection or root resorption are caught early.
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This information is for general informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Please consult your dentist for treatment options.
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