Despite all your best efforts to keep your child happy and healthy, it’s no secret that accidents just happen sometimes. So what would you do if your child suddenly broke a tooth or woke up with a searing toothache? Waiting it out could make the problem worse, but going to an emergency room could cost you unnecessary time, money, and hassle. Instead, all you have to do is
give Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics a call!
We offer fast, gentle care for hurting smiles when your family needs it most.
#1 Pediatric Dentist with Over 15 Years of Experience
#2 Calming Sedation Dentistry Available for Maximum Comfort
#3 Dental Insurance Welcome & Flexible Financing Available
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
If your little one experiences a dental emergency, don’t panic! Having an experienced team like ours here at Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in your corner can take some of the stress out of these scary situations. Take a deep breath and follow these steps:
Call us as soon as you can:
As soon as it is safe to do so, call our practice. We’ll schedule your child for an appointment so we can see them as quickly as possible, and we’ll walk you through basic first-aid for handling your child’s situation until you arrive.
See your Nashua emergency pediatric dentist:
When you arrive, Dr. Kalali will see your little one right away. Once she has provided any necessary pain relief, she’ll review her findings with you and work to create a custom treatment plan for your child with you.
Get your child the fast, gentle care they need:
With a variety of services, the latest technology, an orthodontist, and a pediatric dentist all under one roof, we are well-equipped to handle practically any dental emergency. Your child’s comfort and well-being will always be our top priority, and they’ll be back to enjoying a happy, healthy, and pain-free smile before you know it!
The Most Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s not always easy to tell if your child needs urgent attention. We trust your instincts as a parent and encourage you to call us right away as soon as you notice that something is off about your child’s smile. Over the phone, we’ll help you determine if your little one needs to be seen for an emergency appointment. We’ll also give you personalized instructions for how to manage their symptoms and keep the problem from getting worse. Below, you’ll find some important information about handling the most common dental emergencies we treat.
Understanding the Cost of Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Every dental emergency is different. The only way to know for sure how much your child’s dental emergency will cost to treat is to come see us for an evaluation. Fortunately, emergency visits themselves are relatively inexpensive, and most services used to treat a dental emergency are covered by dental insurance. If you don’t have dental insurance, we’ll be happy to help you explore your options for making your child’s care affordable, such as CareCredit financing.
Why Every Dental Emergency is Different
As we mentioned in the previous section, every dental emergency is different. While some issues require personalized restorations or complex procedures, others may only need a simple filling or antibiotics. That’s why your child needs to come in for an exam before we can provide you with an accurate estimate of the cost! Don’t worry – we will always share our findings, treatment recommendations, and all of the other relevant information before we begin their treatment so you are fully involved in the process of deciding what’s best for your child’s oral health.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Pediatric Dental Emergencies?
Sometimes, yes! For example, it’s very common for dental insurance providers to cover between 50% and 80% of the cost of essential restorative care. If you aren’t completely familiar with your child’s coverage, then you have a few options, including reading through their dental plan or reaching out to your provider directly. However, it’s often easier to let our team help. After all, our extremely knowledgeable Nashua dental team has years of experience working with dental insurance companies and helping our patients and their families get the most out of their benefits.
Other Options for Making Pediatric Dental Emergencies Affordable
In addition to accepting dental insurance and Medicaid, our team at Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is also proud to welcome CareCredit. With this trusted third-party financier, you won’t have to pay for the entire cost of your child’s care at once. Instead, you can choose one of their payment plans and break up the total price into smaller, more manageable chunks. There’s also more good news: several of their plans have little-to-no interest attached!
Taking Care Of Your Child’s Smile Can Save You Money
From a knocked-out tooth while playing football to a large cavity that developed over time, many dental injuries can be completely prevented (saving you from having to spend money on emergency dentistry in the process). That’s why we always encourage parents to reinforce good oral care habits, like wearing a mouthguard during sports, brushing each morning and evening, and getting a checkup and cleaning every six months.
How to Prevent Pediatric Dental Emergencies
A shockingly high number of dental emergencies stem from decay and other problems that could have easily been prevented with a few healthy habits. Since it’s always better to avoid an emergency rather than treat one after it’s happened, it’s important to be vigilant about protecting your child’s smile from harm. Don’t worry – this doesn’t require anything especially complex; simply implement the following best practices!
Bring Them in for a Checkup and Cleaning Biannually
Beginning around their first birthday, your child should visit our Nashua pediatric dentist every six months. During these appointments, we will cover a lot of ground – from checking your child’s teeth for cavities to examining the development of their jaw. This ensures that we get ahead of common issues, like cavities and overcrowding. Plus, we can answer any questions you have, whether it’s about unhealthy habits (like thumb-sucking) or how to pique your child’s interest in caring for their smile.
Reinforce Good Oral Hygiene Habits At Home
We know that brushing and flossing isn’t always the most enjoyable activity for your child, but it’s crucial! So, remain vigilant about creating good oral hygiene habits. It may seem like a hassle at times but remember: a serious dental injury is considerably more inconvenient. As always, our pediatric dental team in Nashua is here to be a resource. So, if you need help motivating your child or want some tips on how to thoroughly clean their teeth at home, don’t hesitate to ask.
Focus on Nutrient-Dense, Smile-Friendly Foods
Many children would be content living on chicken fingers, soda, and candy. While all of these are fine in moderation, it’s important that your child’s diet is also loaded with vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables. These will give their body the nutrients it needs to fight off infections as well as keep their bones and teeth strong. On a similar note, make sure they don’t bite into anything too crunchy, like hard candies. This is one of the easiest ways to wind up heading to our office for urgent dental care.
Make Sure Your Child Wears a Mouthguard During Sports
Enrolling your child in a sport is great for numerous reasons (including that it helps them burn off some of that never-ending energy!). However, it’s also important to protect their teeth in the process. Otherwise, an afternoon on the field can result in a chipped, cracked, or completely knocked-out tooth. Fortunately, you can significantly reduce the chances of that happening to your child by giving them a custom-made mouthguard to wear during practices and games.
Redirect Unhealthy Dental Habits
Over the years, your child might develop some unhealthy dental habits that put their teeth at risk, like biting their nails or sucking on their thumb. Since these are often in response to stress or fear, it’s important not to scold them – this has the potential to increase the behavior you’re trying to eliminate. Instead, try redirecting them with a different activity.
Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs
Hopefully, your child’s smile will stay healthy and strong year after year. Since accidents can happen at a moment’s notice, however, it’s still a good idea to be prepared for a dental emergency – just in case. If you want to learn more on the topic, you can reach out to our Nashua pediatric dental team or read on!
Are toothpicks safe to use?
There are a few reasons the answer is “no.” First, fragments of the toothpick can easily break off, irritating your child’s gums in the process. Second, toothpicks can be deadly if accidentally swallowed. That’s why we recommend taking a different approach if your child has something stuck between their teeth: have them rinse with warm saltwater before using some floss to gently remove the debris.
Are knocked-out baby teeth a dental emergency?
That depends. If one of your child’s baby teeth is knocked-out prematurely or their surrounding teeth were injured in the process, then we will likely recommend bringing them to our office right away for treatment. On the other hand, if they are around the age where their teeth are supposed to fall out, the situation may not be as urgent. When you call, we’ll learn more about your unique situation and the symptoms your child is experiencing to help you determine what the next best step is.
Do chipped teeth heal?
No, chipped teeth cannot heal on their own. Plus, they can result in sensitivity and even develop an infection. That’s why we recommend bringing your child in for an exam, even if the damage seems relatively small.
Should my child visit the emergency room for dental emergencies?
If your child is in pain, you might think that you should head to the ER. However, hospitals don’t typically have dentists on staff, which can result in you just having another bill to pay. For that reason, you should only take them to the ER if they are having trouble breathing, can’t swallow, or are experiencing another potentially life-threatening symptom.
Will my child’s toothache go away on its own?
If your child’s teeth are a bit sore because of their braces, then the sensation should subside within a day or two. If you have any reason to believe that their toothache is the result of an untreated oral health issue, however, like a cavity, then you should call us ASAP. After all, tooth decay and other dental damage cannot heal without professional treatment. The sooner we can pinpoint and treat the root of the problem, the sooner your child’s pain-free smile will be restored.
Toothache
Is my child’s toothache an emergency?
A toothache can be caused by a cavity, crack in the enamel, or just a piece of food being stuck between the teeth. However, toothaches can also be caused by serious oral health issues that need immediate treatment. If your child’s toothache is severe, persistent, or is accompanied by a bump on the gums, call us immediately.
How you should handle your child’s toothache:
After rinsing and flossing around the hurting tooth, if the pain persists, go ahead and have your child take an OTC medication as directed on the label. A cold compress placed on the outside of the face and rinsing with warm salt water a few times an hour can help lessen any discomfort as well.
How we treat toothaches in children:
How we treat your child’s toothache will naturally depend on what’s causing it! After a quick examination and some immediate pain relief, we’ll be able to tell what’s causing the pain and the best way to treat it. This may include treatments like a tooth-colored filling, pulp therapy, a dental crown, or an extraction.
Cracked Tooth
Is my child’s cracked tooth an emergency?
A cracked or fractured tooth requires immediate care. Not only is it often a painful and scary experience, but a broken tooth is at risk of developing a serious infection. Plus, since enamel cannot heal itself, leaving the cracked tooth untreated will only allow the damage to get worse. If your child cracks a tooth, call us right away!
How you should handle your child’s cracked tooth:
First, have your child rinse their mouth out with water. Some slight pressure using gauze or a clean rag should stop any bleeding. Then, you can cover the injured tooth with some sugarless gum or dental wax to protect it from sensitivity and bacteria. If needed, your child may take an over-the-counter pain reliever. If possible, prevent them from eating or chewing on anything until we can treat them.
How we treat children’s cracked teeth:
First, we’ll assess the severity of the damage. In some cases, minor cracks can simply be filled in with dental bonding. On the other hand, an irreparably damaged tooth may need to be extracted. Fortunately, the most common treatment for a child’s cracked tooth is a custom-made dental crown.
Chipped Tooth
Is my child’s chipped tooth an emergency?
Though alarming, chipped teeth are not typically an urgent dental emergency. This means you don’t need to drop everything and rush to our office, however, you should still bring your little one in for the next available appointment. Chipped teeth don’t heal, so the damage will only get worse the longer the tooth goes untreated.
How you should handle your child’s chipped tooth:
Try to find any pieces of their tooth that you can and bring them with you to our office. Have them rinse their mouth out with water and make sure they do not touch their tooth or bite down. They can also take pain medication if they experience discomfort, or you can cover the sharp edges of the broken tooth with sugarless gum or dental wax. If possible, try to keep your child from eating or chewing until we can see them.
How we treat children’s chipped teeth:
The most common way to correct a chipped tooth is to fill in the damaged area with tooth-colored composite resin. If a large piece of the tooth has broken off, we may be able to recement it back into place with dental bonding. Most chipped teeth occur due to a sports accident, in which case we may recommend having your little one fit for a customized athletic mouthguard.
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
Is My Child’s Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency?
Yes! And if you want to save their tooth, you’ll need to act quickly. Give our office a call immediately after they’ve suffered a lost tooth and schedule a same-day appointment if possible. The sooner you visit our dentist, the better chance of having your child’s tooth reimplanted. It’s usually a six-hour window after the accident to potentially save it.
How You Should Handle a Child’s Knocked-Out Tooth
Find the tooth and be sure to pick it up by the crown only. Do not touch the root or remove any of the tissue attached to it. Gently rinse the tooth with warm water and place it in milk or saline solution to preserve it until you reach our office. You can also use an ADA-approved tooth preservation kit if you have one! For the best-possible chance to reimplant their tooth, try to get to our office within the hour.
How We Treat Children’s Knocked-Out Teeth
Our dentist may be able to reimplant the tooth if it’s not severely damaged. Over time, it’ll naturally reintegrate with your child’s jawbone and soft tissue. However, you might need to explore replacement options like a dental bridge for a kid’s lost tooth in Nashua if it has been outside their mouth for too long or damaged beyond repair. Dental implants are only an option when the jaw has stopped growing (age 16 for girls, age 18 for boys).
Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
Is My Child’s Knocked-Out Baby Tooth an Emergency?
It depends! Even though baby teeth are meant to fall out, it can be a serious problem if they get knocked out prematurely.
Call our pediatric emergency dentist
in Nashua right away and schedule an emergency appointment. We’ll need to check the permanent tooth to see if it’s injured.
How You Should Handle a Child’s Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
Although you may be tempted to, you should not try and put a baby tooth back into its socket. Not only could you damage the permanent tooth underneath, but also your child may accidentally swallow it. Instead, keep it safe and bring it with you to your child’s appointment.
How We Treat Children’s Knocked-Out Baby Teeth
There are some cases when we wouldn’t need to do anything. However, if the tooth came out prematurely, we may need to use a space maintainer to keep the neighboring teeth from trapping the permanent tooth underneath.
Is My Child’s Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek an Emergency?
While cuts in the mouth can be alarming, your dentist may be able to help if the bleeding is minor. However, if the bleeding does not stop, go to the emergency room before coming to our dental office.
How You Should Handle Your Child’s Soft-Tissue Injury
Start by encouraging your child to rinse their mouth with salt water. Whether it’s the tongue, cheek or lip, you can apply a gauze pad or cotton ball to the affected site and apply pressure to stop the bleeding. You can also use a cold compress to reduce discomfort and swelling.
How We Treat Soft-Tissue Injuries in Children
First, we’ll conduct a thorough examination to assess the extent of the damage. Depending on the severity, we may be able to simply stitch up the wound. If the bleeding is uncontrollable, your child may need to go to the ER.
Dental Concussion
Is My Child's Dental Concussion an Emergency? When your child’s tooth isn’t quite knocked-out, but it’s out of place, then it’s a dental concussion. This is a common dental injury among children who play sports, which is why wearing a mouthguard during practices and games is recommended. If your child has a dental concussion, then we recommend calling your kid’s emergency dentist in Nashua right away.
How You Should Handle Your Child's Dental Concussion If your child is feeling panicked, do your best to help them take a few breaths and remind them that you are going to help them get the treatment they need. Then, have them gently rinse their mouth with clean water to rinse away bacteria and remind them not to touch their tooth with their tongue or fingers. If they are experiencing any discomfort, then you can offer them a cold compress or an over-the-counter pain reliever for kids.
How We Treat Dental Concussions in Children Priority number one is conducting an oral exam to determine the extent of the damage. From there, we can review their treatment options, from splits and root canal therapy to an extraction. As always, we will answer any questions you have before getting to work on restoring your child’s pain-free, beautiful smile.
Sensitive Teeth
Are My Child's Sensitive Teeth an Emergency? Oftentimes, cavities are the cause of sensitive teeth. If the decay is left alone to progress, their oral health can worsen significantly, making it difficult for them to chew pain-free. For this reason, it’s of the utmost importance that you don’t wait long to schedule an appointment for your child.
How You Should Handle Your Child's Sensitive Teeth Naturally, the first step is getting in touch with our team to schedule a visit. Whether you have a few hours or a few days until your child’s appointment, you can help them stay comfortable by helping them avoid sweet and spicy foods as well as hot and cold water. Getting them a desensitizing toothpaste can also help tremendously!
How We Treat Sensitive Teeth in Children After your child arrives at our office and is comfortably seated in the treatment chair, we will conduct an oral exam to determine the root of the problem. In most cases, a fluoride treatment or dental sealants are the ideal solutions.
Is My Child's Lost Filling or Crown an Emergency? Although dental restorations are more durable and lifelike than ever before, they aren’t completely indestructible. If your child’s filling or crown falls out, then it’s important to take them to their dentist’s office right away. That way, the tooth is restored before it has a chance to develop an infection or sustain further damage.
How You Should Handle Your Child's Lost Filling or Crown If you can, find the restoration, store it in a clean container, and bring it with you to your child’s appointment. Leading up to their visit, make sure they don’t chew on that side of their mouth and help them avoid hard, spicy, and acidic foods. Of course, you can also offer them a cold compress or over-the-counter pain reliever as directed to keep their discomfort to a minimum.
How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns in Children If feasible, we can recement the restoration into place. However, it may need to be replaced altogether.
Is Having Something Stuck Between My Child's Teeth an Emergency? If you can’t remove the debris on your own, then call our office. We can provide you with instructions over the phone or schedule a time for them to come in for an appointment.
How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between Your Child's Teeth Using a piece of dental floss, gently clean between your child’s teeth. If the debris remains firmly lodged in place, then have your child rinse with some warm water to help loosen it. If all else fails, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
