Emergencies

Here at Pediatric Dentistry and Braces, we provide emergency dental care to help keep your child’s teeth and smile healthy and their treatments on track. Both pediatric and orthodontic emergency care is available, and our team will give you instructions on what to do until you can bring your child to our office for treatment. Call now to make an emergency appointment with our pediatric dentist or orthodontist so your child can receive the care they need!

Pediatric Emergency Dentistry

A dental emergency is any situation that requires prompt attention from our pediatric dentist to resolve. If your child or teenager experiences a dental emergency, please call our office as soon as possible, and our team will make arrangements for you to bring your child in so they can receive treatment.

Common dental emergencies include:

• Tooth pain, including severe or lasting toothaches
• Lost fillings or other restorations
• Cracked, fractured, chipped or broken teeth
• Partially or fully knocked-out teeth
• Damage to the soft tissues of the mouth, including the tongue, cheeks, lips and gums

If your child has experienced trauma to the head or neck, or if they have a broken jaw or other serious injury, please contact the emergency room or your medical physician before seeking dental treatment, even if your child’s teeth and mouth are also injured. If the injury is life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Orthodontic Emergency Care

While orthodontic emergencies are not common, they do sometimes occur. If your child or teenager has an orthodontic emergency, please call our office as soon as possible, even if they have a regular appointment scheduled soon. Our team will be able to provide you with instructions on what to do until your child can meet with our orthodontist.

Here are some common orthodontic emergencies and basic instructions for your use:

• Loose Brackets or Bands — Call our office immediately as your brackets may need to be refitted. If you need to cut a wire in case of an emergency, we recommend using fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. You may also need to slide a bracket off at night or over a weekend until you are able to come into our office.
• Poking Wires or Wire Irritations — You can move a wire away from the irritated area using a cotton swab or eraser. If you cannot move the wire, then cover it with a small piece of cotton or wax to help relieve irritation. The wire may also be cut with a nail clipper or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.
• Lost Separators — Call our office and make an appointment so our orthodontist can determine if it needs to be replaced.
• Discomfort With Braces and Orthodontic Treatment — Braces usually cause some soreness and discomfort during the first week of treatment and after routine adjustments. This is normal, and you do not need to worry. You can take mild, non-aspirin pain relievers or use a warm washcloth or heating pad to reduce discomfort. If pain persists or becomes severe, contact our office for an emergency appointment.

For more information, and to set up an appointment with our pediatric dentist or orthodontist, contact our team today.