Children's Emergency Dental Care
At Maryvale Children's Dentistry and Orthodontics, we know how helpless parents feel when their child is in pain with a toothache, broken tooth, or other dental emergencies. Our pediatric dentists in Phoenix, AZ, will see your child to provide the treatment and pain relief they need to start smiling again.
If you're not sure the situation is an emergency, please call us anyway. A caring and knowledgeable team member will ask what your child's experiencing, offer support and guidance, and schedule a same-day emergency dental appointment if necessary.
Common Childhood Dental Emergencies
It's helpful to understand how to handle common dental emergencies before they occur. Knowing what steps to take helps you remain calm, reassuring your little one that they're okay.
Toothache
Tooth pain is usually a sign that your child has a cavity or an infected tooth, so call us as soon as possible. Having them rinse their mouth with warm water and a teaspoon of salt can help reduce pain and tenderness. Placing an ice pack against their cheek also helps.
Broken or Fractured Tooth
Find the broken pieces of the tooth and place them in a wet cloth because we may be able to bond the tooth back together and control pain and swelling following the steps above for toothache relief. Call us right away so we can schedule an emergency dental appointment for your child.
Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
Baby teeth have very short roots, so they're easy to knock out, but the good news is that there's usually no damage to soft tissue. Control bleeding and reduce swelling by having your child rinse their mouth with water and biting down on a clean washcloth or gauze soaked in cold water. Call us promptly for further instructions.
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
A knocked-out adult or permanent tooth is an urgent emergency that requires immediate treatment. Follow the steps above to stop bleeding and swelling, then call us right away. We have a very short amount of time to try to save it—less than an hour—so prompt action is crucial!
Handle the tooth by the crown only. If it's dirty, rinse it with milk. The best place for the tooth is back in its socket, so try to gently reinsert it if possible. If not, place it in a container of milk and bring it to our dental office.
How to Minimize Childhood Dental Emergencies
There are several steps you can take to minimize your child's risk for dental pain and injury:
- Schedule routine exams and teeth cleanings — When we see your child every six months, we can monitor their oral health needs and check for signs of cavities and other problems before they become painful.
- Establish healthy eating habits — Limiting sugary and acidic foods like candy, sports drinks, and fruit juices helps minimize the risk for caries or cavities.
- Monitor oral hygiene habits — Children don't have the dexterity to brush and floss their teeth until they're old enough to tie their shoes around age six. Until then, monitor their oral hygiene routine to be sure they're doing a thorough job.
- Invest in a custom sports mouthguard — Dental sports injuries are common with older children. We can help you avoid many of them with a durable sports mouthguard customized to fit perfectly and protect your child's smile.
Patient education is part of the service we provide, and our dental team is always delighted to share tips and answer parents' questions. Don't hesitate to use us as a resource!
Call Your Children's Emergency Dentist in Phoenix, AZ
If your child has a dental emergency, please call Maryvale Children's Dentistry and Orthodontics at (623) 236-2474. Our dentists will see your child as soon as possible to relieve their pain and provide treatment to protect their precious smile.
