Smile Emergencies: A Photo Guide

It’s time to start enjoying summer, right? It’s only just a few days away.

Not to rain on your proverbial parade or anything, but just imagine this: You step outside on a Saturday morning, pleased as punch to greet a beautiful blue sky.

As you go about your day, either relaxing or running errands or (probably) a little bit of both, it can be easy to slip into a false sense of security.

Indeed, all it takes is tripping on the carpet or over a toy your child neglected to put away, and, should you land just the wrong way, you hit the ground, smile-first. Or, in the case of your child or adolescent, hearing the screams coming from the yard that indicate the pickup [INSERT SPORT HERE] game went awry.

Tooth Avulsion Doesn’t Care What Day of the Week It Is

Unless you’re this guy, a smile-crushing pratfall probably won’t tickle your funny bone. Even less so if it’s a child or adolescent who has injured their smile. (Which is why a custom athletic Mouthguard designed by your Burke dentist is a good idea no matter what time of the year it is. Even Mr. Chaplin would approve.)

Wait: What Was That Word Again?

Tooth avulsion is just a five-dollar word for getting a tooth knocked out by blunt force trauma. It’s Whether you’re 8, 80, or somewhere in between, it is one of the most painful things a person can experience.

The trauma of the event can cause you to panic, but today, panic isn’t in your vocabulary.

See Your New Burke Dentist Right Away

While you probably don’t have access to a sweet ride like the one above, the point remains: Get yourself and your little one into my Burke, VA dentist’s office right away.

This is a good opportunity to ease your child’s fears. Answer their questions positively, avoid going into any graphic or gory detail, and – most importantly – tell them that their pain will be over once they see the dentist.

All the while, my team and I will move heaven and earth to bump your little one to the top of the list, because emergencies don’t wait for anyone. (That’s kind of what makes them emergencies, after all!)

The Importance of Remaining Calm

Just look at this little girl: She is either about two seconds away from a full-blown freakout, or is coming down from one.

If your child is so upset that they won’t be able to sit still in my dentist’s chair, then it will obviously be difficult to get them the treatment they need as quickly as they need it.

That’s why it’s so important for you to set a calm example for them every step of the way.

Your Favorite Step: Relax

Once your child is in my team’s capable hands, you can take a deep breath, hold it, then release it.

Congratulations! The rest of the heavy lifting will be happening in my operatory, where the damage to your little one’s smile will be controlled, and a restoration plan will be put into place or begun outright. It just depends on the nature and the extent of the damage.

Make a Plan for Next Time

Preventing a smile emergency isn’t rocket science.

With a mouthguard, you can dramatically reduce the likelihood of a debilitating smile injury, and help prevent these kinds of traumatic events in the future.

Or, better yet, come down to see me for a professional teeth cleaning and dental examination so that I can already have a record of your family’s smile on file, thereby accelerating my ability to give you quality treatment at a moment’s notice.

Now Give Us a Call!

Okay, okay – you got me: President Obama hasn’t called us (yet), but he’s already got some of the best coverage in the nation.

If you don’t, or simply don’t want to trust a random Burke dentist to deliver high-quality oral healthcare in the nick of time, then please reach out to us before it’s too late.

You can call me at 703-978-5253, or you can make your appointment with us online by filling out this easy questionnaire.