Children’s Dental Emergencies – Covina, CA

Symptoms of a Child’s Dental Emergency and When to Call for Help

From the moment you hear your child cry out in pain or fear, you drop what you’re doing and immediately rush to their side. While this immediate reaction is cause for jumping in the car and heading to the dentist’s office, some dental emergencies are not so obvious.

If your child is displaying any of the following symptoms, it could be that they are experiencing a serious problem that needs to be addressed by Dr. Tran and his team:

• They experience tooth sensitivity while eating or drinking
• A particular tooth is causing immense pain and pressure in the mouth and around the ear
• They have a tooth that has been knocked out
• Their tooth is cracked, broken, or fractured
• They’ve lost a dental filling and/or crown
• Your child begins to express that they have a bad taste in their mouth, develop a fever, or have gums that appear puffy (these are signs of an abscess)

Common Children’s Dental Emergencies

Adults and children often experience the same type of dental emergencies, all of which can be treated using the right services and a knowledgeable professional. Many of the following injuries do require a visit to our office; however, while at home waiting for an appointment, you can perform various at-home tricks to keep your child comfortable.

Severe Toothache

If an object is lodged between their teeth, take a strand of dental floss and remove it. If it is discovered there is nothing between their teeth, it may be that there is an infection developing inside their tooth and/or soft oral tissues. In this instance, you can provide them with an over-the-counter pain reliever as well as place a cold compress onto the area for 10 minutes. By performing the 10-on, 10-off maneuver, this will help to decrease discomfort. It is likely your child will need a more complex method of treatment once Dr. Tran can examine their oral cavity.

Knocked-Out Tooth

When a tooth is knocked out for any reason, time is of the essence. You will need to retrieve it, if possible, and wash off any debris. Be careful to only hold the tooth by its crown to avoid damaging the root. Once cleaned, try to insert it back into your child’s mouth. If this is unsuccessful, place the tooth in a container of milk or have your child hold it between their cheek and gums inside their mouth. Depending on their age, keeping it in milk might be the best solution to avoid them accidentally swallowing or losing the tooth. If you arrive within an hour of the incident, we may be able to save the tooth.

Lost Dental Filling or Crown

If your child’s dental crown or filling is lost or comes out, you can use a small bit of denture adhesive to put it back in place. Toothpaste is also a viable option. Until you can get in to see Dr. Tran, make sure your child avoids chewing on that side of their mouth.

Chipped/Broken Tooth

Should your little one come to you and complain of a chipped or broken tooth, use a small amount of dental wax, and place it over the jagged areas of the tooth. This will protect their soft tissues (i.e. lips, cheeks, gums, tongue) from becoming irritated. You can also use sugar-free gum in the meantime. Once you arrive at our office, a children’s dentist in Covina will need to see the broken pieces, so make sure to bring them with you if at all possible.

Understanding the Cost of Children’s Dental Emergencies

Since these visits are unexpected, you can expect the cost to be a bit higher when it comes to filing it under your dental insurance. Fortunately, most dental insurance companies offer some level of coverage for restorative services, but the amount they’ll pay is dependent upon your plan. At Covina Family Dental, we are proud to be an in-network provider with Delta Dental, Cigna, and Sun Life Assurant, but if you’re uninsured, don’t worry! Your child can still receive the care they need, and you can rest easy knowing you can break up the cost of their visit with an in-house payment plan or available financing through CareCredit.

Children’s Dental Emergency FAQs

Dental emergencies are often sudden and overwhelming, which leaves many people unprepared to handle them when they strike. While we hope to help you and your little one avoid these scary situations, it’s a good idea to have as much information ahead of time as possible just in case. For your convenience, we’ve gathered some of the most common children’s dental emergency questions below.

Are Root Canals Ever Needed for Baby Teeth?

If a cavity in a baby tooth is left untreated, your child may find themselves with a painful dental infection. While you may expect your Covina emergency dentist to extract the problematic tooth, we may instead recommend a root canal. Even though your little one’s baby teeth aren’t a permanent fixture in their smile, they play a key role in the development of their permanent teeth, speaking patterns, and oral structures. We use the latest dental technology and techniques to ensure that saving your child’s baby tooth with a root canal is no more uncomfortable than getting a large filling!

What Should I Do If My Child Suddenly Knocks Out a Baby Tooth?

As we mentioned above, baby teeth play an important role in how the rest of their mouth grows. If your child suddenly knocks one out before it had started to come loose, you should call us right away. In some cases, we might not need to do anything. However, if the tooth was knocked out very prematurely, we may need to place a space saver. This little device will keep the surrounding teeth from crowding into the empty space and trapping the permanent tooth underneath.

What Can I Do to Help My Child Avoid a Dental Emergency?

Unfortunately, not every broken or knocked-out tooth can be avoided. However, there are several precautions you can take to help minimize your son or daughter’s risk of a dental emergency, like:

• Have them wear a sports mouthguard while playing sports.
• Discourage them from chewing on hard objects like ice, pen caps, or their fingernails.
• Make sure they’re brushing and flossing their teeth thoroughly every day.
• Schedule regular checkups and cleanings with their Covina children’s dentist twice a year.

When Should I Take My Child to the ER for a Dental Emergency?

When it comes to treating your little one’s dental emergency, you’ll almost always save time, money, and hassle by calling us first instead of going directly to the ER. However, there are certain situations that should be stabilized at your local emergency room right away, such as:

• Dislocated or broken jaw.
• Bleeding in the mouth that hasn’t stopped after 10 minutes.
• Swelling in the mouth, jaw, face, or neck that’s making swallowing difficult.

What Should I Do If I’m Unsure Whether My Child Is Experiencing a Dental Emergency or Not?

Not every dental emergency is as easy to identify as a broken tooth! If your child starts to complain about new dental symptoms or you notice anything strange about their teeth or gums, don’t hesitate to call us right away. We can help you assess your son or daughter’s situation over the phone and determine how urgently they need to come in for a checkup or treatment. After scheduling their appointment accordingly, we’ll give you first aid advice to manage your little one’s situation until you can reach our office.