Pediatric Dental EmergenciesIn San Antonio, TX
When your little one is in pain from a dental problem, every moment counts. Call us right away so we can help your child feel better with gentle, prompt care. Not sure if what's happening is truly an emergency? Keep reading to learn what parents need to know.
What should I do if my child is facing a dental emergency?
Getting emergency dental care quickly helps your child stop hurting. Toothaches, broken teeth, and other dental problems can make it hard for them to focus in school, enjoy playtime, or even sleep well. Our gentle care helps them feel better fast so they can get back to being kids. Quick treatment also prevents bigger problems later, which saves you worry, time, and money. Most importantly, you'll have peace of mind knowing your child's smile is taken care of.
Same-Day Appointments
During a dental emergency, things can change in an instant. That’s why we offer same-day care to ensure your child gets immediate attention when they need it most.
After Hours Appointments
Dental emergencies don’t always strike during regular business hours. That’s why we offer after hours appointments so your child can get the care they need, when they need it most.
Problem-Focused Exams
When issues arise, our team can perform problem-focused exams (also known as limited exams) to help address the issues. Limited exams allow us to focus on what’s hurting or injured so we can get your kiddo out of pain fast.
The Benefits of Immediate Emergency Dental Care
Stops Pain Quickly
A broken tooth, lost filling, or bad toothache hurts—and for kids, that pain feels even worse. Once we take care of the problem, your child can get back to learning, playing, and smiling happily.
Prevents Bigger Problems
With dental issues, waiting makes things worse. Getting help right away means simpler treatments, faster healing, and better outcomes for your child.
Saves Time and Money
Fixing a cracked tooth right away costs much less than waiting until it needs to be removed and replaced. When you bring your child in at the first sign of trouble, you'll save yourself time, money, and stress.
The Emergency Dentistry Treatment Process
Call Our Office Right Away
Call Our Office Right Away
As soon as you notice something's wrong with your child's tooth, give us a call. We'll ask about what's happening, schedule you for the earliest possible appointment, and give you tips on how to keep your child comfortable until you arrive.
Kid-Friendly Emergency Exam
Kid-Friendly Emergency Exam
When you get to our office, our gentle dentist will carefully check your child's mouth. We'll find out exactly what's causing the problem and explain the best way to fix it in terms both you and your child can understand.
Treating Your Child’s Condition
Treating Your Child’s Condition
Every child and every emergency is different. Depending on what your child needs, we might fix a cavity, repair a broken tooth, help a wobbly tooth, or address an infection. Whatever the problem, we'll focus on getting your child feeling better as quickly and comfortably as possible.
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out these frequently asked questions, or call us to speak with our team.
For baby teeth that come out early, we typically don't try to put them back in. But you should still bring your child to see us right away so we can check for any damage and possibly place a "space maintainer." This simple device keeps the right amount of room for the adult tooth that will come in later.
For permanent teeth that get knocked out, time is critical! Gently pick up the tooth by the white part (not the root), and reimplant the tooth. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with milk, saline, or saliva and reimplant the tooth. Once the tooth is implanted have your child bite on a guaze, napkin, or handkerchief. If reimplanting is not possible place the tooth, as soon as possible, in a storage or transport medium that is immediately available at the emergency site. This should be done quickly to avoid dehydration of the root surface, which starts to happen in a matter of a few minutes. In descending order of preference, milk, HBSS, saliva (after spitting into a glass for instance), or saline. Come see us immediately! Don't forget to bring the tooth.
Collect the filling, crown, or other piece of dental work and place it in a plastic baggie. Then, call us for a same-day appointment, and make sure to bring your child’s dental work in with you. We will carefully assess the area and provide the appropriate treatment.
A bad toothache often means your child has a deep cavity or an infection starting. You should call us for an appointment right away—these problems won't get better on their own and will only cause more pain if left untreated.
First, help them rinse with warm water and apply a cold compress if there's any swelling. Then call us for a same-day appointment. Even small chips can create tiny cracks that might lead to bigger problems later. Our dentist will carefully asses the injury, explain the findings, and provide the appropriate treatment to get your child smiling again.
If it's a baby tooth that's getting wiggly on its own (with no injury), that's usually normal. Baby teeth naturally loosen before they fall out.
However, if a tooth suddenly becomes loose after a fall or injury, especially with pain or bleeding, that's different. In this case, you should call us for an appointment so we can evaulate the tooth and provide the care they need.
