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Emergency Pediatric Dentist — Willow Park, TX

Quick & Comfortable Care for Hurting Smiles

Does your child love to stay active both in and outside of school? Are they just beginning their peewee league for football, baseball, or another contact sport? If so, you probably are already thinking about buying all the protective gear they need to stay safe. Of course, accidents can happen on and off the field, and dental injuries are not something you should put off treating when they appear. At Stroud Pediatric Dentistry, we do everything possible to make your child comfortable and treat them of their issue, whether it’s caused by tooth decay or a physical injury. If your child’s tooth is in pain or damaged, don’t wait to call our dental office for pediatric emergency dentistry in Willow Park, TX!

Why Choose Stroud Pediatric Dentistry for Emergency Pediatric Dental Care?

  • Same-Day Emergency Appointments Often Available
  • Several Restorative Solutions to Save Damaged Teeth
  • Calming & Experienced Dental Team

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Child covering her mouth

If your child experiences a dental emergency, it’s your job as the parent to stay calm. After all, if you panic, so will they! Fortunately, in most situations, a quick trip to our office can have your little one treated and back to enjoying normal activiies in no time.

First, give our office a call. This way, we can schedule an emergency appointment for your child, ideally for that very same day. Additionally, one of our experienced team members will walk you through the steps you need to take to care for your child’s smile until you can reach our office.

Next, you’ll see your Willow Park emergency pediatric dentist. When you arrive, one of our dentists will see your little one right away for evaluation. Once they’ve gotten a better idea of the situation and provided any necessary pain relief, they’ll review their findings with you and fully explain all your treatment options. This will include how they work, their pros and cons, and their estimated cost. Together, you’ll create a treatment plan that’s right for your child.

Finally, once a treatment plan has been made, we’ll get to work! Our highly-trained team uses state-of-the-art technology to provide a wide variety of pediatric dental treatments that can restore your child’s oral health in a dental emergency. We even offer calming nitrous oxide dental sedation to help children sit back and relax while we care for their pearly whites. Before you know it, they’ll be enjoying a happy, healthy, and pain-free smile once again!

The Most Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Did your child break a tooth while playing sports or by biting down on something hard? Did they wake up in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning with a toothache that’s brought them to tears? Dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s not always easy to know when to call an emergency pediatric dentist in Willow Park. At Stroud Pediatric Dentistry, we trust your instincts as a parent. If your child is experiencing any painful or worrisome symptoms, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll help you assess your child’s situation over the phone and provide guidance on how to handle it. Below, you’ll find some important information regarding the most common dental emergencies we treat!

Understanding the Cost of Treating Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Teen girl holding cheek in pain

Providing a cost for your child’s dental emergency is difficult to do without first examining your child’s condition more closely. During their emergency appointment, we’ll carefully examine their smile for issues, whether they be as minor as a moderate toothache or as serious as a knocked-out tooth. Both come with their own treatment plans which can vary in cost. The best thing you can do is come to our dental office, rather than assume the issue is not an emergency that will get better on its own.

Every Pediatric Dental Emergency Is Different

child with dental emergency in Willow Park

As mentioned earlier, we can’t predict how much it’ll cost to treat your child’s dental emergency until we’ve had a chance to assess the situation. Some problems can be effectively treated with a simple treatment like a filling, while more severe cases may require complex procedures like a tooth extraction or nerve treatment. The necessary treatment method will greatly influence the overall price of your child’s care. But don’t worry – we’ll thoroughly explain your options and the pricing information to ensure you know what to expect before committing to anything.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Pediatric Dental Emergencies?

dental insurance form on table

Most dental insurance plans do offer some form of coverage for pediatric dental emergencies. In many cases, at least one yearly emergency exam is fully covered while common services associated with hurting teeth (i.e., dental crowns, extractions, root canal therapy) can receive partial coverage. Of course, it’s important to remember that every policy is unique. You should confirm the details of your child’s coverage with your provider before seeking treatment. If needed, our team is more than happy to help with that process.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save Your Money

child giving thumbs up while visiting dentist in Willow Park

No matter how many precautions you take to protect your little one, some dental emergencies are unavoidable. The majority of them happen because of unchecked infection and damage. If your child is complaining about dental pain or a damaged tooth, you should take care of the problem right away to avoid needing to pay for more expensive and invasive treatments down the line. Proper dental care and routine checkups will help your child’s smile stay healthy for years to come, saving you thousands of dollars over time!

How to Prevent Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Smiling child in dental chair

Preventing dental emergencies really begins by helping your child commit to routine brushing and flossing at home as well as routine checkups and cleanings at our dental office. This helps you prevent and catch dental problems before they turn into dental emergencies in the first place. However, if your child is active, make sure that they wear an athletic mouthguard to protect their smile. Avoid giving them food or beverages that contain high amounts of sugar. Do not let them keep a baby bottle in their crib or bed unless it only contains plain water. Read on for more of the best ways to prevent a pediatric dental emergency.

Be Mindful of What They Eat

A little girl smiling with a plate full of vegetables in front of her

Too much sugar and starch are a bad thing. Not only can it lead to an increased risk of obesity and diabetes, but their teeth can become more susceptible to decay and cavities. It’s important that your child maintains a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, lean proteins, and dairy. The combination of these food items can strengthen tooth enamel, encourage saliva production, and even reduce their chances of developing gum disease.

Protect Their Smile From Injury

A little boy putting in a mouthguard

Bruxism and sports-related injuries are some of the most common causes of dental emergencies. When your child grinds or clenches their teeth at night, the enamel on their teeth can become quickly worn down and lead to chronic jaw pain (i.e. temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD). If you notice they are struggling with this common problem, talk to our team about a customized mouthguard that can be worn at night. This will prevent their teeth from coming into contact with each other as well as reduce and pain or discomfort felt in the jaw area.

Make Sure They’re Cleaning Their Teeth & Gums

A mom and daughter brushing their teeth at home

Children have a much more difficult time remembering to brush, floss, and rinse their teeth. Until they are able to safely and effectively clean their own smile, it is best if you help them. By observing them during their morning and nighttime routine, you can make sure they are brushing for a full two minutes, using the appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste, flossing correctly, and rinsing. This regular regime will ensure their teeth remain strong, healthy, and free from decay and disease, both of which can lead to serious dental treatments and procedures that can be timely and costly.

Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs

young patient smiling and giving thumbs up

If your child has suffered a sudden oral injury and needs immediate attention, you may be looking for an emergency dentist in Willow Park. At Stroud Pediatric Dentistry, our team is ready to offer safe and effective services when your little one needs them most. We understand that you may have several concerns about our emergency dental care, which is why we’ve decided to answer some of the most common questions below. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to our friendly team today!

Should I Take My Child to the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?

Believe it or not, most emergency rooms are not able to effectively treat dental emergencies. That’s mainly because there’s usually no licensed dental professional on staff. You should only take your child to the nearest ER if they’re having difficulty breathing, a fractured or broken jawbone, a serious cut or laceration to the face, uncontrollable bleeding, or are unable to swallow. In any other situation, you should bring them to our dental office and have our team perform an emergency exam.  

Are Knocked-Out Baby Teeth a Dental Emergency?

Even though baby teeth are meant to fall out, they need to stay in the mouth for as long as possible. If your child’s baby tooth gets knocked out, do not try to reinsert it into the empty socket. Give our office a call and explain your situation. We’ll make an appointment for your little one to determine whether or not they’ll need a space maintainer. Should your child have uncontrollable bleeding or a damaged jaw, take them directly to your local emergency room.

What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?

It’s always a good idea to prepare for the unexpected. That said, you should keep an emergency dentistry kit with you at all times that includes:

  • Dental floss
  • An ice pack
  • Your dentist’s contact information
  • A topical anesthetic like Orajel
  • Ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory medication
  • Dental cement
  • Gauze pads and dressings
  • Cotton balls
  • Small sealable container
  • Petroleum jelly

Can I Pop My Child’s Dental Abscess on My Own?

Absolutely not! You should never attempt to pop your child’s dental abscess on your own. It’s always better to wait and visit an office that offers emergency dental care services for children in Willow Park. Since a dental abscess is a type of dental infection, it will need to be treated right away. Popping it will only expose your child’s mouth to more bacteria and irritate the area. If you fail to seek treatment for your little one, the infection could spread inside the mouth and throughout the neck, throat, and head.

Toothache

Is my child’s toothache an emergency? One of the most common causes of dental emergencies in children is toothaches. Not only are they painful, but they can sometimes indicate a serious problem. If your little one is experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s considered a dental emergency:

  • Swelling
  • Bump in the gums
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Darkening tooth
  • Loose tooth

How you should handle your child’s toothache: If your child complains of a toothache, rinse their mouth with warm water and inspect the teeth to be sure there is nothing caught between them. If the pain continues, use a cold compress to ease the pain. Do not apply heat or any kind of aspirin or topical pain reliever directly to the affected area, as this can cause damage to the gums. Children's pain relievers may be taken orally. Schedule an appointment immediately.

How we treat toothaches in children: First, we’ll need to perform a detailed examination to identify the root cause. In many cases, we’ll treat a cavity in children using a filling or a baby root canal. It’s incredibly important to treat baby teeth for the health of future permanent teeth.

Learn More About Fillings

Learn More About Root Canals

 

Cracked Tooth

Is my child’s cracked tooth an emergency? If your child has a minor cracked tooth, they can wait a few days to seek treatment if needed. However, major damage is an urgent situation that’ll need immediate care. You should always make an appointment after your child has sustained a blow to the face.

How you should handle your child’s cracked tooth: Ask your child to carefully rinse their mouth with warm water to wash away any lingering bacteria. If needed, they can use a cold compress or take over-the-counter pain medication to ease discomfort. While waiting for the appointment, make sure they avoid eating or chewing on the injured side of the mouth.

How we treat children’s cracked teeth: In most cases, we’ll fix cracked teeth with custom-made dental crowns. If the damage is minor, we may be able to repair it with the same tooth-colored material used for dental fillings.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Chipped Tooth

Is my child’s chipped tooth an emergency? It’s not usually an urgent situation, but your child should get treated within a few days. Otherwise, leaving it untreated can lead to serious oral health complications down the line.

How you should handle your child’s chipped tooth: If your child has chipped a piece off of their tooth, have them rinse their mouth with warm water, then use a cold compress to reduce swelling. Try to locate and save the tooth fragment that broke off. Call us immediately.

How we treat children’s chipped teeth: The most common treatment method for children is dental bonding. For teens, they may want to consider getting a veneer if they’ve chipped a highly visible tooth.

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

Is a knocked-out permanent tooth an emergency? A knocked-out permanent tooth is definitely an emergency and will need to be treated immediately. You should have your child visit their dentist within 30-60 minutes for the best chance of saving their tooth.

How you should handle a knocked-out permanent tooth: Once you’ve found your little one’s tooth, rinse it with cool water. Avoid scrubbing it and only handle it by the crown (top side), NOT the roots. If possible, place the tooth back in your child’s socket and keep it there with a clean cloth or gauze. Otherwise, store the tooth in a small container with saline solution or milk to keep it viable and bring it with you to their appointment.

How we treat knocked-out permanent teeth: Our team may be able to simply reinsert the tooth and splint it to a nearby healthy one so it can heal. If this isn’t possible, then we may have to refer to a local professional to replace your child’s tooth with a dental bridge. Another option will be dental implants, but this will only be a viable solution for those whose jaws are already developed, which is typically around age 18 for boys and age 16 for girls.

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

Is a knocked-out baby tooth an emergency? While it’s normal for baby teeth to fall out, you shouldn’t dismiss your little one’s situation, especially if it happened prematurely. Since there’s a possibility that the underlying permanent tooth was injured, you’ll want to schedule an appointment for your child.

How you should handle a knocked-out baby tooth: Do NOT place the baby tooth back in the socket, as this can harm the permanent tooth underneath. You also won’t want your little one to accidentally swallow or choke on their tooth. Since we won’t be putting the tooth back in, you can simply bring it with you as is.

How we treat knocked-out baby teeth: Although we typically won’t need to perform anything for this situation, there are instances where a space maintainer is required to avoid any other teeth from shifting out of place. Without any help, your child’s underlying permanent tooth can end up trapped or impacted, which can cause complications later on.

Learn More About Orthodontic Appliances (Space Maintainers)

Bitten Tongue, Lip, Cheek

Is a bitten tongue, lip, or cheek an emergency? An injury in the mouth can often feel unsettling, especially if your child is bleeding. If your little one has bitten their tongue, lip, or cheek, their pediatric dentist can certainly provide help.

How you should handle your child’s soft tissue injury: Try carefully cleaning the injury with water and place pressure to control any bleeding. You can also have your child use an ice pack to minimize discomfort and swelling.

How we treat soft tissue injuries in children: When your little one arrives at our practice, we’ll assess their situation to confirm that their soft oral tissues are the only parts that were damaged. Afterward, we can suture the wound if we can. However, if your child has uncontrollable bleeding or a larger injury, take them to your local ER straight away.

Dental Concussion

Is my child’s dental concussion an emergency? A dental concussion is when a tooth becomes shoved out of position but isn’t entirely knocked out. Whether it was due to rough play or sports, our team can provide treatment to help prevent their tooth from getting any looser.

How you should handle your child’s dental concussion: Your child should carefully rinse their mouth with clean water. Have them take over-the-counter painkillers as instructed and place a cold compress on their cheek if necessary. Make sure they don’t disturb the tooth until we can treat them.

How we treat dental concussions in children: Our team will evaluate your little one’s situation and take X-rays to determine a viable treatment plan. If needed, we can use a splint to help the tooth straighten back out. However, in more serious instances, we may have to perform nerve treatment to help preserve their tooth.

Learn More About Nerve Treatment

Sensitive Teeth

Are my child’s sensitive teeth an emergency? While teeth can become sensitive for many reasons, the most common cause is a cavity. If left unchecked, this can lead to more serious complications, such as infection. Whether this is due to damage, worn fillings, or teeth grinding, you’ll want to have your child visit us for preventive treatment.

How you should handle your child’ sensitive teeth: Notify our team of your child’s situation and we’ll instruct you on the next best steps. This may involve using desensitizing toothpaste to reduce discomfort. Have them avoid sweet or spicy foods and drink plenty of water.

How we treat sensitive teeth in children: Your child’s treatment will depend on the root cause of their sensitivity. A cavity can easily be treated with a tooth-colored filling. We also offer dental sealants and silver diamine fluoride if needed. If an infection is the cause of discomfort, we can perform nerve treatment to save their tooth.

Learn More About Silver Diamine Fluoride

Learn More About Dental Sealants

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Nerve Treatment

Lost Filling or Crown

Is my child’s lost filling or crown an emergency? Although dental fillings and crowns will eventually need to be replaced, your child will still need their restoration to have a healthy and comfortable smile. If their filling or crown falls out, make sure to schedule them for treatment sooner rather than later. This way they can avoid further damage and infection.

How you should handle your child’s lost filling or crown: If you’re able to find their restoration, be sure to bring it with you to your child’s appointment so that we can try recementing it. Until they can visit us, have them avoid sweet, spicy, or acidic foods. They can also take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns in children: Our team will do everything we can to fix your child’s filling or crown. If this isn’t viable, then we’ll simply replace it with a new one. The sooner we can treat their situation, the more likely they can avoid problems like an infection.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is having something stuck between my child’s teeth an emergency? While an object stuck between your child’s teeth won’t typically be an urgent situation, it can certainly impact their comfort. If you’re having trouble getting the thing out of their smile, don’t hesitate to visit our team.

How you should handle something stuck between your child’s teeth: Have your child rinse their mouth with warm water before you try to floss between their teeth. Do NOT use any sharp objects like tweezers or toothpicks, which can accidentally cause damage to their gums or soft oral tissues. If nothing works, notify us for help.