If your child has a terrible toothache or dental injury, the last thing you want is to waste time in a waiting room. That being the case, visit our office for top-tier emergency dental care. We at Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry will book you for an immediate visit and provide quick relief. That way, your little one’s smile will return to normal in little time. Of course, we’re happy to tell you more about our process. Just keep reading to learn the details or call us over the phone.
Why Choose Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry for Emergency Dental Care?
Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments Available
Friendly Dental Team & Sedation Services
Happy to Serve Children with Special Needs
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
Maybe your child hasn’t had urgent oral care before. Even so, don’t worry; we’ll give you a quick rundown of how it works. To that end, here are a few things to expect from an emergency dental visit:
A Same-Day Appointment – Once you’ve contacted us, we’ll book your child for the earliest available appointment (it may even be a same-day visit!). Our staff can also provide first-aid tips over the phone during the wait.
An Emergency Exam –This assessment lets us learn the source and extent of the problem. It also confirms how we can best relieve your child’s pain.
A Review of Findings – Following the exam, our dentists will share their preliminary findings with you. They’ll even suggest potential services for your child. Based on your feedback, our office will then draft a suitable treatment plan.
Top-Quality Care – Once the treatment plan is drafted, our team will quickly address your child’s issue. After all, they’re highly trained and experienced! Whether the solution is a filling, crown, or pulp treatment, we’ll get the job done right.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
While dental emergencies can vary, some are more typical than others. That’s why your child should see us right away for care: our practice knows how to deal with common-yet-urgent oral issues. With our assistance, your little one’s smile will get back on track. So, do make sure to contact us if they experience any of the following issues (click the icons for more information):
Once teeth have erupted, they shouldn’t hurt. If your child suffers from a toothache, don’t ignore their symptoms—the problem could be a cavity. Untreated cavities can seriously impair a child’s ability to focus and perform well in school, socialize, eat food, and feel self-confident. Instead, have our team look at the tooth and resolve the issue quickly so that they can get back to being a kid.
Look at your child’s teeth to make sure there isn’t a piece of stuck food that could be pressing against the tooth. If there is, gently floss around the tooth. Should the discomfort persist, give us a call.
How You Should Handle Your Child's Toothache
After calling our office for an emergency appointment, you may give your child an over-the-counter pain reliever. To minimize any potential swelling, you may also place a cold compress on their face for about 20 minutes at a time, which will also help numb the area. If your child needs to eat, encourage them to avoid using that space in their mouth to avoid pain, and have them rinse their mouth with warm salt water to keep the area clean.
How We Treat Toothaches in Children
Supposing that the source of your child’s toothache is a cavity, we will give them a local anesthetic to take away their discomfort and remove the infected portion of the tooth. If necessary, we may perform pulp therapy or root canal treatment, which treats much deeper tooth decay, to fully clean out the tooth before we restore it with either a filling or a dental crown.
There are many types and severities of dental emergencies, so the cost of your child’s care will depend on their unique situation. That said, it’s always better for their health and your wallet if you see us quickly—the problem will get fixed before it worsens and needs extensive work. Plus, we’re happy to accept many dental plans and offer low-interest financing. Such options mean this type of care can be fairly affordable.
When it comes to treating dental emergencies there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Each case has to have a unique approach. For instance, two young patients may both have toothaches, but they may require different procedures to fix the problem. One may be treated with a tooth-colored filling, but the other may need a dental crown after a pulpectomy. Dr. Patrick will examine your child to see the extent of the damage done to their smile and discuss the treatment options available to you. Just remember that we’re here to help get your child out of pain and fix the cause of whatever is off with your child’s oral health!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Your insurance coverage will depend on your plan. However, most benefits include common treatments for dental emergencies. In many scenarios, insurance covers about half of the cost of treatment, perhaps more for less invasive procedures. After we know what treatment your child needs, our team can answer your questions and help you understand how insurance works. We can verify your insurance benefits and let you know exactly how much you’ll be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
Taking Care of Your Child’s Smile Can Save You Money
Do you want the know the most affordable way to deal with a dental emergency? Prevent it to begin with! When your child takes the proper care of their teeth and gums, you can avoid the need to spend money on fixing damage. For instance, coming every six months for checkups is a great way to catch little cavities before they develop into big trouble. If your child isn’t doing so already, they need to be brushing and flossing their teeth daily to remove little bits of plaque and bacteria. Wearing a mouthguard also protects against chips, cracks, and knocked-out teeth. As you can see, a little bit of prevention can help you save big bucks on treatment down the road.
Every Emergency Situation is Different
When it comes to treating dental emergencies there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Each case has to have a unique approach. For instance, two young patients may both have toothaches, but they may require different procedures to fix the problem. One may be treated with a tooth-colored filling, but the other may need a dental crown after a pulpectomy. Dr. Patrick will examine your child to see the extent of the damage done to their smile and discuss the treatment options available to you. Just remember that we’re here to help get your child out of pain and fix the cause of whatever is off with your child’s oral health!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
Your insurance coverage will depend on your plan. However, most benefits include common treatments for dental emergencies. In many scenarios, insurance covers about half of the cost of treatment, perhaps more for less invasive procedures. After we know what treatment your child needs, our team can answer your questions and help you understand how insurance works. We can verify your insurance benefits and let you know exactly how much you’ll be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
Taking Care Of Your Child’s Smile Can Save You Money
Do you want the know the most affordable way to deal with a dental emergency? Prevent it to begin with! When your child takes the proper care of their teeth and gums, you can avoid the need to spend money on fixing damage. For instance, coming every six months for checkups is a great way to catch little cavities before they develop into big trouble. If your child isn’t doing so already, they need to be brushing and flossing their teeth on a daily basis to remove little bits of plaque and bacteria. Wearing a mouthguard also protects against chips, cracks, and knocked-out teeth. As you can see, a little bit of prevention can help you save big bucks on treatment down the road.
How to Prevent Pediatric Dental Emergencies
As your child grows, it is normal for them to experience minor bumps and bruises. No matter if they are learning to walk, playing their favorite sport, or simply fall off their bike during an afternoon ride, accidents and injuries are a part of growing up. However, should your child experience a serious dental accident, Dr. Patrick and his team are here to provide the necessary emergency dentistry for kids in Wash Park. But wouldn’t it be nice to avoid these types of injuries from the start? If you would like to learn what you can do to better protect your child’s teeth and gums from serious harm, review the following information below. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
If you’re only taking your child to see us when something is wrong, you aren’t taking full advantage of our care. Every six months, your child needs to come in for a checkup and cleaning appointment. Not only can regular professional cleanings remove cavity-causing plaque, but we can identify problems as early as possible - before they have a chance to hurt your little one. During these visits, your child should also be getting fluoride treatments, which fortifies tooth enamel. As soon as their permanent molars start to come in, you can consider getting dental sealants, which can prevent up to 80 percent of cavities in older kids!
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
From the moment your child’s first tooth erupts, harmful plaque and acid will attempt to break down the tooth enamel and cause cavities. This is why we suggest implementing a proper oral hygiene routine even while your child is still an infant. By starting at an early age, you can help your child develop positive oral habits that will carry with them well into adolescence and adulthood. As parents, you will need to brush their teeth for them, especially those hard-to-reach areas (premolars and molars). Because of their minimal dexterity, it can be difficult for them to clean these areas. If neglected, plaque and harmful acids can burrow into the pits and grooves of these teeth, causing cavities to form. But as your child grows, you will need to continue monitoring and guiding their oral habits to ensure they are effectively brushing and flossing all surfaces both in the morning and at night.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
While it’s not uncommon for children to crave sweets and fruit juices, the truth is that these products contain dangerous amounts of sugar and acid, both of which can eat away at tooth enamel and cause cavities as well as increase their risk for childhood diabetes. Also, allowing your child to eat hard, crunchy foods places additional pressure on their teeth, which can potentially cause breaks, fractures, or chips in their tooth enamel.
To avoid a trip to the emergency dentist, make sure your child is drinking plenty of water and/or milk and eating healthier foods like vegetables, fruits, cheese, and protein.
Wear a Mouthguard
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends all youth wear a mouthguard while participating in organized sports. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation (NYSSF) estimated that without a proper mouthguard, a child is 60 times more likely to experience a sports-related injury.
According to the AAPD’s policy for the prevention of sports-related orofacial injuries, which was compiled using multiple references and resources from professional dental and sports-related organizations, the AAPD strongly encourages “mandating the use of properly-fitted mouthguards in other organized sporting activities that carry a risk of orofacial injury”.
If your child enjoys playing sports, it’s important that you equip them with the best protection possible. By asking your child’s pediatric dentist in Wash Park about a custom mouthguard, you can ensure their teeth and gums are better protected against broken, chipped, or knocked-out teeth as well as soft tissue lacerations.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Teeth
As an adult, you may not realize that using your teeth to open a package or container can be dangerous for your smile. Should your child see you doing this, they may be tempted to do the same. Teeth are not meant to perform the same tasks as traditional tools. They are designed for eating and chewing purposes only. Excessive wear and tear can lead to a breakdown of the tooth enamel, resulting in serious dental emergencies in the future. Should you see your child attempting to open a package with their teeth, stop them immediately, and use scissors or another appropriate tool to complete the task.
Visit Your Pediatric Dentist Regularly
If you’re only taking your child to see us when something is wrong, you aren’t taking full advantage of our care. Every six months, your child needs to come in for a checkup and cleaning appointment. Not only can regular professional cleanings remove cavity-causing plaque, but we can identify problems as early as possible—before they have a chance to hurt your little one. During these visits, your child should also be getting fluoride treatments, which fortifies tooth enamel. As soon as their permanent molars start to come in, you can consider getting dental sealants, which can prevent up to 80 percent of cavities in older kids!
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
From the moment your child’s first tooth erupts, harmful plaque and acid will attempt to break down the tooth enamel and cause cavities. This is why we suggest implementing a proper oral hygiene routine even while your child is still an infant. By starting at an early age, you can help your child develop positive oral habits that will carry with them well into adolescence and adulthood. As parents, you will need to brush their teeth for them, especially those hard-to-reach areas (premolars and molars). Because of their minimal dexterity, it can be difficult for them to clean these areas. If neglected, plaque and harmful acids can burrow into the pits and grooves of these teeth, causing cavities to form. But as your child grows, you will need to continue monitoring and guiding their oral habits to ensure they are effectively brushing and flossing all surfaces both in the morning and at night.
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
While it’s not uncommon for children to crave sweets and fruit juices, the truth is that these products contain dangerous amounts of sugar and acid, both of which can eat away at tooth enamel and cause cavities as well as increase their risk for childhood diabetes. Also, allowing your child to eat hard, crunchy foods places additional pressure on their teeth, which can potentially cause breaks, fractures, or chips in their tooth enamel.
To avoid a trip to the emergency dentist, make sure your child is drinking plenty of water and/or milk and eating healthier foods like vegetables, fruits, cheese, and protein.
Wear a Mouthguard
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends all youth to wear a mouthguard while participating in organized sports. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation (NYSSF) estimated that without a proper mouthguard, a child is 60 times more likely to experience a sports-related injury.
According to the AAPD’s policy for prevention of sports-related orofacial injuries, which was compiled using multiple references and resources from professional dental and sports-related organizations, the AAPD strongly encourages “mandating the use of properly-fitted mouthguards in other organized sporting activities that carry a risk of orofacial injury.”
If your child enjoys playing sports, it’s important that you equip them with the best protection possible. By asking your child’s pediatric dentist in Wash Park about a custom mouthguard, you can ensure their teeth and gums are better protected against broken, chipped, or knocked-out teeth as well as soft tissue lacerations.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Teeth
As an adult, you may not realize that using your teeth to open a package or container can be dangerous for your smile. Should your child see you doing this, they may be tempted to do the same. Teeth are not meant to perform the same tasks as traditional tools. They are designed for eating and chewing purposes only. Excessive wear and tear can lead to a breakdown of the tooth enamel, resulting in serious dental emergencies in the future. Should you see your child attempting to open a package with their teeth, stop them immediately, and use scissors or another appropriate tool to complete the task.
Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs
What Could Happen If You Put Off Dental Care in an Emergency?
Dental emergencies can, unfortunately, come at inconvenient times, but it’s important to act quickly in most cases. You and your child don’t need to suffer any longer than necessary when our team is here, ready to help! Waiting until the next day is usually okay, if your child has a dental emergency at night for example, but postponing treatment for too long only allows the damage to get worse.
Does Treatment for Dental Emergencies Hurt?
Pain often accompanies dental emergencies, but the treatment itself will not be uncomfortable. In fact, when our patients experience dental pain, our priority after diagnosing the problem is taking away the pain through a local anesthetic. If necessary, we can also give your child nitrous oxide sedation to further help them relax and to take the edge off any remaining discomfort. While we fix the source of the dental emergency, your child should feel relief and will be back to normal before you know it!
Does Your Child Have to Be in Pain to Have a Dental Emergency?
No, pain is not a required symptom for a situation to be considered a dental emergency. Although pain is common in the scenarios mentioned above, you may still need to bring your child to see us even if they seem to feel fine. For instance, a chipped or cracked tooth may not hurt, but it leaves the tooth vulnerable to decay and further damage, which is why you should still come to our office for emergency examination.
How Can I Help My Child Sleep with a Toothache?
If your child must endure a night with a toothache, you may give them a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for kids, before they go to bed. Also, if they need to eat, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods as well as sugary foods, which can trigger more pain, so that they can stay comfortable throughout the night.
What Could Happen If You Put Off Dental Care in an Emergency?
Dental emergencies can, unfortunately, come at inconvenient times, but it’s important to act quickly in most cases. You and your child don’t need to suffer any longer than necessary when our team is here, ready to help! Waiting until the next day is usually okay if your child has a dental emergency at night for example, but postponing treatment for too long only allows the damage to get worse.
Does Treatment for Dental Emergencies Hurt?
Pain often accompanies dental emergencies, but the treatment itself will not be uncomfortable. In fact, when our patients experience dental pain, our priority after diagnosing the problem is taking away the pain through a local anesthetic. If necessary, we can also give your child nitrous oxide sedation to further help them relax and to take the edge off any remaining discomfort. While we fix the source of the dental emergency, your child should feel relief and will be back to normal before you know it!
Does Your Child Have to Be in Pain to Have a Dental Emergency?
No, pain is not a required symptom for a situation to be considered a dental emergency. Although pain is common in the scenarios mentioned above, you may still need to bring your child to see us even if they seem to feel fine. For instance, a chipped or cracked tooth may not hurt, but it leaves the tooth vulnerable to decay and further damage, which is why you should still come to our office for an emergency examination.
How Can I Help My Child Sleep with a Toothache?
If your child must endure a night with a toothache, you may give them a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for kids, before they go to bed. Also, if they need to eat, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods as well as sugary foods, which can trigger more pain, so that they can stay comfortable throughout the night.
