We Offer Pediatric Urgent Dental CareIs your child experiencing a dental emergency?
Our dentists are here to help! At Boca Delray Pediatric Dentistry , we understand that unexpected issues can arise, even with regular cleanings and check-ups. That’s why we offer emergency dental care during our regular business hours and are available by phone after hours if needed.
We strive to accommodate same-day appointments for emergencies and welcome walk-in patients. If the emergency occurs after hours, our doctors will assess the situation through a phone consultation to determine if an immediate visit is necessary.
Parents’ Guide to Pediatric Dental Emergencies
If your child experiences an accident that causes serious injuries beyond the mouth, it’s important to seek emergency medical attention at a hospital first. However, for dental-specific issues, here are some common reasons to bring your child in for emergency dental care:
Knocked-Out Tooth
If your child accidentally loses a baby tooth, especially if it wasn’t loose beforehand, call the dentist right away. While it might seem minor since the tooth will eventually be replaced, there could be underlying damage that needs attention.
If a permanent tooth is completely knocked out, it’s crucial to see the dentist immediately, as time is of the essence. Reaching the dentist within an hour significantly increases the chances of saving the tooth. To enhance the tooth’s chances of survival, gently place it back in its socket and hold it in place with clean gauze or a washcloth. If reinserting the tooth isn’t possible, store it in cold milk to help preserve it until you can get to the dentist.
- Do NOT touch the tooth by the root.
- Do NOT let the tooth dry out.
- Do NOT scrub it clean or use soap, alcohol, or peroxide.
Handling the tooth improperly can damage the root, making successful replanting much more difficult or even impossible.
Severe Toothache
While it’s common for children to feel some discomfort during teething or when a tooth is loose, a severe toothache may indicate an issue that requires urgent dental care, such as a tooth infection, a crack, or an abscess. Older children can typically describe their pain, but babies and toddlers might show signs such as:
- Fussiness
- Trouble sleeping
- Persistent rubbing of the teeth, gums, or jaw
- Changes in eating habits, including refusal to eat
- Chipped, Cracked, or Broken Tooth
If your child cracks, chips, or breaks a tooth—especially a front tooth—seek immediate care from an emergency pediatric dentist. Before the visit, locate any broken tooth fragments and place them in cold milk to help preserve them. Rinse your child’s mouth with water, but avoid using soap on the tooth fragments.
Ignoring a crack or chip can be risky. If the damage is severe enough to expose the dental nerve, it can lead to infection, nerve damage, an abscess, bone loss, and other serious complications.
Facial Trauma
Tooth injuries and lower jaw fractures are among the most common facial injuries related to sports or accidents. Without proper treatment, these injuries can result in permanent disfigurement and loss of function. A child with facial trauma may require emergency room care before receiving dental treatment.
A Broken Filling
If a filling breaks or falls out, it leaves the tooth vulnerable to bacteria, which can reach the pulp and potentially cause a more serious issue, such as an infection or abscess. Just like with a cracked, broken, or chipped tooth, it’s important to bring your child in for emergency treatment as soon as possible.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a painful pocket of pus in the jaw caused by a bacterial infection, often originating in the dental pulp and spreading to the surrounding tissues. Abscesses can be extremely painful and may pose a serious risk to overall health if the infection enters the bloodstream. It’s essential for a child with a dental abscess to receive prompt treatment. Common symptoms of an abscess include:
- Tooth sensitivity
- Trouble sleeping
- A foul taste in the mouth
- Bad breath
- Redness and swelling in the gums or around the affected tooth
- Tender, swollen lymph nodes in the neck or under the jaw
- Fever
If your child cracks, chips, or breaks a tooth—especially a front tooth—seek immediate care from an emergency pediatric dentist. Before the visit, locate any broken tooth fragments and place them in cold milk to help preserve them. Rinse your child’s mouth with water, but avoid using soap on the tooth fragments.
Ignoring a crack or chip can be risky. If the damage is severe enough to expose the dental nerve, it can lead to infection, nerve damage, an abscess, bone loss, and other serious complications.
Excessive Bleeding
Flossing should not cause bleeding if done correctly (by forming a C-shape around the tooth and gently working the floss under the gum line, rather than snapping it onto the gums). However, persistent bleeding after flossing may signal poor gum health, which should be addressed by a dentist.