Blue orange and green dots Emergency Kid’s Dentistry – Allen, TX

Immediate Dental Care Right When Little Smiles Need It

Young patient playing basketball after children's dentistry visit

Because kids can be boundlessly energetic and comically clumsy, they’re incredibly vulnerable to accidents that may harm their pearly whites. Not to mention, it takes time for kids to hone their brushing and flossing techniques, so they might develop cavities that result in serious toothaches. Whatever the case may be, you’ll need an emergency dentist in Allen, and our team at Sprout Dentistry for Kids of Allen can provide immediate care right when little smiles need it. Dr. Justin and Dr. Sage will relieve your child’s dental discomfort while also setting your mind at ease. As parents themselves, they know how scary these situations can be! Please don’t hesitate to call us for emergency kids' dentistry in Allen, TX.

 

Why Choose Sprout Dentistry for Kids of Allen for Emergency Kid’s Dentistry?

  • Friendly, Expert Team Led by Two Board-Certified Pediatric Dentists
  • Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
  • Leading-Edge Dental Technology for Comfortable, Precise Treatments

 

Common Dental Emergencies

Child holding cheek before emergency dentistry

Staying calm when your child is hurting is far from easy, but if their pain involves their teeth, calling our dental office is the smartest thing you can do. While we have you on the phone, our team can walk you through basic first-aid tips and schedule an appointment for your little one to be treated right away. Please don’t hesitate to call us if your child is dealing with any of the following.

 

 

Cost of Dental Emergencies

Child relaxing as parents discuss the cost of dental emergencies

No two kids are exactly alike, and neither are any two dental emergencies or their costs of treatment. After you’ve brought your child in and we’ve performed an emergency exam, we’ll recommend treatments that will quickly relieve their pain and prevent the problem from recurring. To make emergency dental care for your child more budget-friendly, our dental office is in-network with multiple insurance plans, offers low-interest financing, and even has an in-house Wellness Plan that makes saving simple.

 

Preventing Dental Emergencies

Family brushing teeth to prevent dental emergencies

Despite childproofing nearly everything in your house, putting up baby gates, and taking all sorts of other precautions, it’s almost impossible for you to prevent your little one from experiencing some bumps and falls every now and then. With that being said, there are a few measures you can take to reduce their risk of a dental emergency. Read on to learn some of the most practical ways to safeguard your child’s smile.

 

Dental Emergency FAQs

illustration for dental emergency in Allen

Reading through the above information can give you valuable insight into the types of dental emergencies we are prepared to help your child address. However, to be as prepared as possible, you may still have some questions on your mind. Well, we want to help! Keep reading for the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get from parents regarding a pediatric dental emergency in Allen.

Will My Child’s Toothache Go Away on Its Own?

Despite popular belief, toothaches do not heal on their own. In fact, a once painful toothache that has “disappeared” may actually be an indicator the infection has damaged the nerve of the tooth! Therefore, it’s always a good idea to schedule an appointment with your child’s dentist right away. From there, they can determine the root of the problem and put a plan in place to restore the look and function of your little one’s smile.

Should My Child Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?

If a dental emergency has resulted in a potentially life-threatening condition, like difficulty breathing or a broken jaw, then you should take your child to a local emergency room first. However, ERs typically don’t have dentists on staff, meaning they won’t be able to address dental emergencies effectively. Therefore, with all other smile-related injuries (lost filling, knocked-out tooth, etc.), your first call should be to a pediatric emergency dentist in Allen .

My Child’s Chipped Tooth Doesn’t Hurt. Do They Still Need a Dental Visit?

Even if their chipped tooth doesn’t hurt, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with their dentist. Although they may not be in any pain, the inner layers of their tooth could be vulnerable to damage. Plus, a chipped tooth may break further without professional attention, resulting in sensitivity, soreness, and overall discomfort. With that being said, your child can most likely afford to wait a day or two until their appointment if needed. Just make sure they don’t put off seeing their dentist for too long.

What Should I Keep in My Child’s Emergency Dental Kit?

From a lost filling to a knocked-out tooth, dental injuries can be anxiety-inducing. To make the entire experience as stress-free as possible, preparation is paramount. You should keep an emergency dental kit for your child, and everyone in the family, accessible with these essentials:

  • A storage container large enough to fit a tooth or restorations
  • Sterile gloves
  • Gauze pads
  • Cotton balls
  • Dental cement (or other temporary filling material)
  • Denture adhesive
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen
  • Orajel
  • Floss
  • An ice pack or cold compress
  • Contact information for a pediatric emergency dentist in Allen
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Toothaches

Is My Child's Toothache a Dental Emergency? The severity of their symptoms will determine whether or not an emergency visit is needed. For example, if your child feels a sharp, stabbing pain every time they bite down, you should call us ASAP to schedule an appointment.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Toothache Until your child’s appointment with us, we recommend doing what you can to help alleviate inflammation, protect their tooth from further harm, and relieve any pain they are experiencing, like having them rinse periodically with warm saltwater.

How We Treat Toothaches in Children Typically, the root of the problem can be addressed with a tooth-colored filling or crown. That said, there are some rare cases when the damage is so severe that the tooth cannot be saved. In that case, we will need to move forward with an extraction.

Cracked Tooth

Is My Child's Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes! After all, even a small crack in your child’s enamel can lead to sensitivity and discomfort as well as an infection. So, don’t wait – call us ASAP to schedule an emergency exam.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Cracked Tooth First, remind your child not to chew on that side of their mouth and to avoid touching the tooth with their tongue or fingers. Second, have them rinse with clean, room-temperature water periodically and, if needed, give them an OTC pain reliever for kids to keep them comfortable until their appointment.

How We Treat Children's Cracked Teeth Fortunately, cracked teeth can often be saved with dental crowns. Today, these restorations come in a wide range of shades, ensuring no unwanted attention is drawn to their smile moving forward.

Chipped Tooth

Is My Child's Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? A chipped tooth doesn’t always warrant an emergency visit. That said, if the damage is severe or your child is struggling with significant discomfort, don’t hesitate to call us so we can get an appointment on the calendar right away.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Chipped Tooth It’s important to place some sugar-free gum or dental wax over their tooth, especially if it has a sharp edge. Outside of that, make sure your child doesn’t eat anything crunchy and, if they do get hungry, that they avoid chewing on that side of their mouth.

How We Treat Children's Chipped Teeth First, one of our talented and experienced pediatric dentists in Allen will need to conduct an exam. Once they have an in-depth understanding of their dental needs, they will review the treatment options, like dental bonding.

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth  

Is A Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, especially since there is a very small window of time when saving the tooth is possible. So, if your child knocks out a tooth while playing a sport or hanging out with friends on the playground, don’t wait – call us ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth There are a few steps we recommend taking, including locating the tooth and picking it up by the crown (the chewing surface). Then, gently remove dirt and other debris with clean water. To preserve the root surface cells, we recommend either placing the tooth back in its socket or putting it in a clean container filled with milk.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Permanent Teeth First, we will determine if saving your child’s tooth is possible. If it isn’t, then we will discuss how we can fill the new gap in their smile, like with a custom dental bridge.

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth  

Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth a Dental Emergency? Like many other parents, you might assume that a knocked-out baby tooth isn’t a dental emergency. After all, they are supposed to fall out, right? While that is true, complications can arise if that happens too soon. For this reason, we still recommend calling our Allen pediatric dental office.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth Although permanent teeth should be inserted back into the socket, baby teeth should not. Instead, place your child’s tooth in a small, clean container for safekeeping and bring it with you to our office.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Baby Teeth If the permanent tooth underneath is about to erupt through the gumline, then no further care may be necessary. If that’s not the case, then we will need to have a space maintainer made to prevent dental drift in the meantime.

Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek  

Is a Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek an Emergency? Soft tissue injuries can be painful and scary for your child, but they usually don’t warrant a same-day visit with our pediatric emergency dentist in Allen. 

How You Should Handle Your Child's Soft Tissue Injury First, bring your child to the sink and have them rinse with clean, cool water. Then, locate the cut and apply pressure to it with gauze or a damp washcloth. If the area is swollen even after the bleeding has stopped, you can use a cold compress as well.

How We Treat Soft Tissue Injuries in Children There are some cases that require us to stitch the wound closed. That said, soft tissue injuries are usually mild enough that they can be handled at home or severe enough that a visit to the ER is warranted.

Dental Concussion

Is my child’s dental concussion an emergency? A dental concussion is when your child’s tooth has been moved out of place but hasn’t been knocked out yet. This typically happens if a child plays sports, and depending on the severity, they may require emergency dental care as soon as possible.

How you should handle your child’s dental concussion: Be careful when rinsing your child’s mouth to wash out any bacteria, and then have them take an over-the-counter pain reliever as well as apply a cold compress on the outside of their mouth. Encourage them NOT to touch their tooth until they see their dentist.

How we treat dental concussions in children: Once you arrive at the office, our team will thoroughly examine your child’s situation to determine the best plan for restoring their oral health. This may involve allowing the tooth to straighten itself out over time, using a splint, performing pulp therapy, or even extracting the tooth.

Learn More About Pulp Therapy & Root Canal Treatment

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Sensitive Teeth

Are my child’s sensitive teeth an emergency? In many cases, tooth sensitivity can be an indication of cavities, which can lead to uncomfortable problems if left unchecked. This can also be a sign of dental damage, bruxism, worn fillings, or an infection. To protect your little one, schedule a visit to their emergency dentist sooner rather than later.

How you should handle your child’ sensitive teeth: Notify our team about your child’s tooth sensitivity by giving us a call, and one of our team members can guide you on how to manage their situation until they can visit us. This can often include using desensitizing toothpaste, avoiding spicy or sweet foods, and drinking lukewarm water.

How we treat sensitive teeth in children: Your child’s dentist will assess their condition and develop a proper plan to restore their comfortable smile. Some children might require fluoride treatment, dental sealants, or even tooth-colored fillings.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Dental Sealants

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Lost Filling/Crown

Is my child’s lost filling or crown an emergency? Fillings and crowns are durable, but they aren’t designed to last forever. If your little one’s dental restoration falls out, they’ll need to get it replaced soon to protect their exposed tooth from damage and infection.

How you should handle your child’s lost filling or crown: If you can find their filling or crown, rinse it off with cool water and try putting it back on their tooth with a dab of toothpaste or denture adhesive (if you have any). This will only be a temporary solution, as you’ll still need to schedule them for a visit with their dentist so they can get it fixed or replaced.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns in children: If we can’t repair their restoration, we’ll simply replace their filling or dental crown with a brand-new one. Bringing your child in for an emergency dental visit can significantly reduce their chances of needing to treat bigger problems down the road, such as infection.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Something Stuck between Teeth

Is having something stuck between my child’s teeth an emergency? Getting something stuck between the teeth is a very common issue, and it can typically be addressed at home. However, even if it isn’t usually a dental emergency, it’s still a good idea to have your child visit the dentist to ensure their smile is safe if you can’t dislodge the object from their smile.

How you should handle something stuck between your child’s teeth: Try flossing between their teeth to get rid of the debris. Encourage your child to also rinse with warm water to loosen the object. If neither of these works, schedule them for a visit with our team so we can help. Remember to never use sharp objects like toothpicks or a fork to remove the debris, as these can cause more harm than good.