Emergency Dentistry in Highland Village

Little boy getting an emergency dental visit

Get Emergency Care on Your Schedule

At Pediatric Dental World, we know that dental emergencies are never convenient, and don’t happen on a set schedule. That’s why Dr. Clapp, Dr. Bell, Dr. Lee, and Dr. Smith are here to provide same-day and after-hours care for your little ones. Learn more about our emergency dentistry services below, or call us at (972) 317-6997 to get help right away.

Get Same-Day Care for Your Little One

We offer same-day appointments for all patients. If your child is experiencing a serious dental emergency and needs immediate help, just give us a call at (972) 317-6997 to tell us about their situation. We’ll schedule a same-day appointment for your child as soon as we can.

After-Hours Appointments Available

Some dental emergencies can’t wait until the next day, which is why we offer after-hours appointments when necessary. If you think your child may be experiencing a dental emergency outside of our regular hours, give us a call at (972) 317-6997 to speak with someone on our team. We can let you know if your child needs immediate care, and how to keep them comfortable until they can be seen.

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What Is a Dental Emergency?

Understanding What Issues Qualify

Not sure what conditions count as a dental emergency? Many different oral health problems demand emergency care, including oral injuries, toothaches, pulled-out crowns or fillings, and much more. In general, your child is having an emergency if their condition meets either of the following qualifications:

Serious Oral Pain and Discomfort

Any dental problem that is causing your child a lot of oral pain and discomfort is a serious emergency. Whether it’s a toothache, a cracked or broken tooth, or even a pulled-out filling, any condition that is causing serious pain may need same-day emergency care.

Heavy Oral Bleeding

If your child’s mouth is bleeding heavily after an oral injury and the bleeding does not slow or stop within an hour, they may need stitches to ensure their oral tissues heal properly. It’s important to see a dentist to get help, and to ensure there are no other issues like cracked or broken teeth.

How Can I Ease My Child’s Pain Until We Get to the Dentist?

Your child could be experiencing a toothache for many reasons, such as having emerging teeth, a cracked tooth, decay, infection, damage to existing fillings, or food particles that are stuck between the teeth. 

If you are experiencing significant tooth pain, this is considered a dental emergency. Healthy teeth should not be causing pain or discomfort. Here is what you should do to manage pain for the following dental emergencies until you can reach the dentist:

Toothache/Abcess - A toothache that arises without any sign of dental trauma can be a sign of an oral health problem such as cavities, tooth decay, or gum disease. Examine the gums around the tooth to look for the appearance of an abscess, which looks like a pimple.

If you notice a gum pimple and the presence of pus or swelling, the tooth is likely infected. It's important to get this treated as soon as possible so the infection does not spread throughout the body. You should rinse your mouth with lukewarm salt water to remove bacteria, reduce swelling, and reduce pain. 

You can also use an antiseptic mouthwash or a hydrogen peroxide rinse. You will likely be in a lot of pain, so take an over-the-counter pain relief medication like ibuprofen that is the appropriate dose for children. Apply ice to the area to reduce the swelling and keep your head elevated. Pain can worsen overnight from laying flat, so try to prop up your head with extra pillows.

A Knocked-Out Tooth - If your child has suffered from trauma to the teeth as a result of injury or an accident, it is important to hold onto the tooth if you can. Time is of the essence in this situation because a tooth can die within an hour of being dislodged from the socket. 

Clean the tooth in some milk or a saline solution before trying to insert it back into the socket. If your child is unable to reattach the tooth, store it in a container of milk or their saliva. Rinse the mouth with a saline solution to remove bacteria and take ibuprofen for the pain. 

Your child may experience swelling which can be reduced by applying ice to the area. If your child is bleeding, insert clean gauze at the site of the missing tooth and replace them as needed. Your child should be careful to avoid eating anything hard, crunchy, or sticky.

Broken Tooth - A cracked or broken tooth can be quite serious if the crack was extensive enough to reveal the tooth's nerves. Rinse your mouth with some warm water and then place a cold compress to reduce facial swelling.  

If your tooth has exposed nerves or dentin, your child may experience tooth sensitivity especially when drinking something cold. Make sure your child’s broken tooth isn’t very sharp and at risk for cutting the inside of their mouth. 

In the case that there is a sharp edge of your tooth pressing against your tongue, you may want to look for temporary tooth fillings that are available at the pharmacy until you can reach the dentist.

How Can I Avoid Dental Emergencies?

If you suffer from tooth grinding, you should wear a nightguard while you sleep to prevent injury such as a cracked, broken, or loose tooth. It is also advisable to wear a mouthguard while playing contact sports to reduce the risk of dental trauma. Do not use your teeth as tools and be careful when chewing if you have had a lot of dental work done. 

Toothaches caused by a dental infection, cavity, decay, or gum disease can be prevented by practicing good oral hygiene and regularly attending dental visits every 6 months. You should brush for a minimum of two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. 

Floss once daily to thoroughly remove food particles and reduce plaque buildup. Once plaque and tartar have built up in the mouth, you need to have it professionally removed through scaling and root planing at the dentist. 

If plaque and tartar are left untreated, this can lead to severe decay and infection and end up requiring a root canal or extraction. By receiving regular dental cleanings and checkups, you greatly reduce your risk of developing tooth decay or gum disease with early detection and prevention.

Book An Emergency Appointment Today

If you’ve suffered from dental trauma, have an abscess, or are experiencing significant pain, it’s important to get treated right away. Do not ignore warning signs of oral health problems. If your child is experiencing a dental emergency, contact us at Pediatric Dental World right away. We can fit you in as soon as possible with Dr. Jason Clapp, Dr. Jessica Bell, Dr. Jennifer Lee, or Dr. Natalie Smith in a same-day appointment.

Common Emergency Procedures

Wondering what procedures are common during emergency dental appointments? Here are a few of the most frequently used procedures for pediatric emergency care.

loose or bumped tooth

Tooth Splinting

If your child’s permanent tooth is knocked out (avulsed) or it’s very loose due to an oral injury, it may be splinted to the surrounding teeth to hold it in place and allow it to heal and bond to the underlying oral structures.

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Crowns and Root Canal Therapy

Crowns are commonly used to treat damaged teeth and severe cavities. Root canal therapy or a pulpotomy may also be required to treat infected teeth, and crowns are often used alongside these treatments to protect and restore the tooth.

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Replacing Damaged Dental Work

A damaged or loose crown or filling is a serious emergency, and demands immediate care. It may sometimes be possible to simply re-attach your child’s dental work, but it’s often a better option to manufacture a new crown or place a brand-new filling.

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