What symptoms are surefire reasons you should bring your child to the dentist?
Parents and children are so busy today and it’s common that they ask us if they should visit ASAP, set an appointment, or wait until something else happens. When it comes to problems with the teeth and gums, prevention is always better than treatment. We can often intervene before something festers into a larger problem so if you see one of these signs and/or symptoms you should definitely make time to visit us!
Here is a short list of things that should definitely warrant a visit to our office:
1. Avulsed (knocked out) tooth
Knocked out tooth is a dental emergency. Call our emergency hotline and bring the situation to us as soon as possible – don’t delay. It could mean the difference in saving the tooth!
2. Toothache
A toothache could manifest as pain in the cheek, jaw or mouth, or as sensitivity or pain when eating something hot or cold. No matter how mild, and even if it comes and goes, we need to investigate this toothache as soon as possible so we can find out what’s causing it and treat it before it becomes something bigger.
A cracked tooth may start as a mild toothache that comes and goes, for example. It won’t be easily visible, most often. If your child is very athletic or likes to bite hard candies or ice cubes and begins complaining of these symptoms, they may require a visit to us to figure out what is causing the discomfort.
3. Unhealthy gums
Red, bleeding gums are always a sign of infection and we can help get your child back on the path to healthy tissues with a visit to our office to intervene.
4. Broken or bothersome orthodontic appliances
You or your child has braces that are bothering them or broken. This isn’t an emergency but does require a visit with one of our orthodontists during regular hours so we have the staff in place to properly repair the issue.
5. Jaw pain or difficulty chewing
This could be from discomfort with a tooth, or something that has to do with jaw alignment. If there is an acute injury, this should be promptly evaluated. If it comes and goes, it could be related to a bite misalignment and an evaluation with one of our orthodontists would be appropriate.
6. Unusually bad breath
This could mean your child has an oral infection or may be overdue for a professional cleaning and examination.
7. Mouth sores/ulcers
Hormonal changes related to growth and development can make these very common in kids and teens. We can assess and address the sore by determining the cause, especially if your child wears braces.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
