As pediatric dentists, we understand the critical role that dental care plays in your child’s overall health. Our ultimate priority is ensuring they’re as comfortable and relaxed as possible during their visits. Alligator Dental offers accurate diagnosis, effective treatment plans, and prevention advice to help ensure your child maintains good oral health for years. What’s more, we also provide emergency pediatric dental care if necessary. 

Dr. Alfred Burns, Dr. Anas Hakimeh, Dr. Dorothy Causey, Dr. Hennah Shamji, and Dr. Israel Saintil try to accommodate same-day emergency appointments. Call as soon as possible in the morning. Call our answering service if it is after business hours, and the doctor on call will call you as quickly as possible. Together we’ll be able to create a safe and healthy environment for your child’s smile.

This blog will share what you need to know about emergency pediatric dental care. As parents, you can be armed with the knowledge you need in case of a dental emergency with your child. An emergency pediatric dental situation can be stressful and scary, but knowing what to do and acting quickly can make all the difference in saving your child’s teeth. 

Identify the Emergency: A common scenario for a dental emergency is when a child has a tooth that has been knocked out. If you have a knocked-out tooth, locate it immediately and handle it by the crown rather than the root. 

Keep it Clean: Before seeking medical attention, rinse your child’s mouth with warm water to remove debris or dirt. If your child has a knocked-out tooth, rinse it gently with water and place it in a clean container with milk or saline solution to keep it moist.

Contact Your Dentist: Contact your child’s dentist as soon as possible, especially if they have a knocked-out tooth. 

On regular business days, Alligator Dentistry offers Early Bird appointments for urgent treatment between 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. and provides children’s dental emergency care after hours. Contact us for further details!

If your child’s dentist is unavailable, seek medical attention at an emergency room or urgent care center.

Apply First Aid: Sometimes, you can provide first-aid treatment before seeking professional help. For toothaches, apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek and give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed. If your child has a knocked-out tooth, try to reinsert the tooth gently into the socket, or if that’s not possible, keep it moist and bring it to the dentist.

Preventive Measures: While it’s not always possible to prevent a dental emergency, you can take steps to minimize the risk. Make sure your child wears a mouthguard when playing sports. The mouthguard reduces the risk of a dental emergency caused by accidental impacts. And supervise them when they’re eating hard and sticky foods, and schedule regular dental checkups to identify potential issues before they become emergencies.

In addition, regular fluoride treatments and sealants should be done to protect the teeth from cavities, which can also result in a dental emergency. With these preventive steps, parents can help keep their children’s smiles healthy and happy.

Emergency Pediatric Dental Care in Cibolo, Floresville, San Marcos, and Seguin, Texas

Whenever possible, immediate treatment is the best option when it comes to saving your child’s tooth. Not only can you avoid more severe complications down the road, but you could save money in the long run too. If you think something might be wrong with one of your child’s teeth, don’t hesitate to come in and get an evaluation by a professional. From root canal therapy to fillings and crowns, we want to help you keep your child’s teeth as healthy and beautiful as possible — even if that means taking a few extra steps now to protect them from further damage in the future. We are here to work with you and discuss the best course of action for your individual needs.

We hope this blog has provided you with the information you need to handle an emergency pediatric dental situation confidently. Knowing what to do can save your child’s teeth and prevent further complications. Remember to stay calm, act quickly, and seek professional help in a dental emergency. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact Alligator Dental.