Page 8 - Behind The Smile - Spring 2016

Dental Trauma – What you should know
By Dr. Elizabeth Prada
As summer approaches, our children will spend more time outside playing and enjoying the great outdoors. Whether they are riding bikes, swimming at the pool or participating in team sports, bumps and bruises are a given. These heal quickly and are a rite of passage. However, dental trauma can be a
di erent story. Trauma to primary and permanent teeth can have life-long consequences, and timely management can ensure a positive outcome for your child and his or her oral health.
We are always available to evaluate your child if a bump
to the mouth or fall occurs
at home, sports practice or school. We understand that injuries do not always occur during regular o ce hours. Fortunately, our o ce always has an “on call” dentist to an- swer questions after hours and to determine whether immediate
treatment is needed. You can help to prevent dental trauma by encouraging your child to wear a mouth guard for all contact sports. When the unexpected happens, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible.
We will evaluate your child with a clinical exam and possibly take x-rays to diagnose frac- tured teeth and trauma to the lips, tongue and gum tissue. In some cases, the jaw bones and nerves within teeth can also be a ected. If an adult tooth has been knocked out of its socket, you can gently replace it in the socket with clean ngers. Alter- natively, you can place the tooth in milk or a “Save a Tooth” kit as soon as possible. Do not place
watch for changes in the teeth and mouth. These changes are the body’s way of telling us that a tooth may require attention. You can remember these with a simple acronym: CAMP.
C – Color Change. Look for teeth that turn gray, yellow or pink.
A – Abscess. Look for swelling or a pimple on the gum tissue next to a traumatized tooth.
M – Mobility. Look for teeth that are abnormally “wiggly” relative to their neighboring teeth.
P – Pain. Ask your child if he or she is experiencing discom- fort or temperature sensitivity in the mouth.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. We are accepting new pediatric dental patients and encourage you to tell your friends and neighbors! We look forward to seeing you soon, and wish you a safe and relaxing summer.
it in water or allow the tooth to remain dry. Baby teeth can be given directly to the Tooth Fairy!
In the weeks and months after dental trauma, we will ask you to
Page 8 __________________________ Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic ••• Behind the Smile eMagazine ••• Spring 2016