Trauma is a common accident among children. Children are prone to falls and accidents at play (football, basketball, roller skating, cycling) or at home, which can affect the dental crown and/or the root. There are also situations in which the tooth can become mobile, can be pushed partially or completely into the gum, or can even be avulsed (completely out of the socket).
Parents must understand that any condition must be presented to the dentist, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Lack of treatment has serious consequences for the child's permanent dentition.
Dental trauma needs emergency treatment and must not be delayed, because both local and general complications can appear. Besides affecting function, appearance and the buds of permanent teeth (in the case of trauma to deciduous teeth), these also produce aesthetic and emotional effects for the child.
Signs that require an emergency visit to the dentist may include pain or sensitivity to hot/cold, abundant bleeding or mobility of the traumatised tooth.
In the case of avulsed teeth, the attitude parents take towards this emergency is very important:
– The tooth should be held by the crown (not the root)
– The tooth is gently rinsed with water, without using soap/brushing/drying
– If possible, the tooth is repositioned in the socket or transported in milk, saliva or saline
– Presentation at a dental practice should ideally take place within half an hour, to receive emergency care
After the specific treatment, parents are advised to ensure correct hygiene of the area, a soft diet for their child, and to notify the dentist if colour changes or painful symptoms appear in the tooth that suffered the trauma.