Emergency Care
Emergency Care
Emergency dental care
Regular visits to the dentist can help prevent dental emergencies, but unfortunately, accidents happen, and dental emergencies may arise. At Smile Wright Dental, we know you can’t always plan ahead for these types of visits, and when the need arises, we will be here for you. If your child experiences a dental emergency, call us as soon as possible to get the care they need.
Dental emergencies we treat
We are proud to offer treatment for many dental emergencies, including:
- Severe or long-lasting tooth pain
- Lost dental restoration, like a filling or crown
- Damage to lips, teeth, or tongue
- A cracked or fractured tooth
- A chipped or broken tooth
- A partially or fully knocked-out tooth
What to do if my child has a dental emergency
If your child suffers an injury to their mouth or has another kind of dental emergency, call us right away. We will help you determine the best course of action to fix the problem and will instruct you on how to take care of the emergency until Dr. Wright can see you in our office. Serious injuries to the mouth can lead to worse problems, like tooth loss or infection, if they are not taken care of immediately. Other emergencies, like a chipped tooth, may not require immediate attention.
Are toothaches dental emergencies?
If you have experienced a bad toothache, you know how painful they can get! For some children, a toothache can become so severe that it does require immediate attention, however, sometimes the cause is more benign. The following are some common causes of a toothache:
- Tooth decay – if a toothache lasts longer than one day, tooth decay is the most common cause. You should call Smile Wright Dental if you see a yellow or brown defect in the enamel of one of your child’s teeth.
- Dental abscess – if the pain in your child’s tooth is severe and throbbing, it could be a sign that they have a dental abscess. That means an infection has formed a pocket of pus within the root of the tooth. If left untreated, an abscess can erode the bone under the tooth.
- Stuck food – if your child has recently eaten some hard foods, like apples or popcorn, their toothache could be caused by some leftovers stuck between the teeth. Proper flossing should remove the food and stop the pain.
Pediatric Emergency FAQs
At Smile Wright Dental, we know that dental emergencies can happen when you least expect them. Our compassionate team in Xenia is here to help you navigate urgent dental needs for your child with confidence and care.
A pediatric dental emergency is any situation involving pain, injury, or infection that needs quick attention to protect your child’s long-term oral health. This includes severe toothaches, knocked-out or fractured teeth, lost restorations like crowns or fillings, and injuries to the lips, tongue, or gums.
In most cases, it’s best to call our office first. We can often guide you through immediate care and schedule a same-day emergency visit if needed. However, if your child has uncontrollable bleeding, severe swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a head injury along with dental trauma, head to the nearest ER or call 911 right away for medical attention. Severe medical symptoms fall outside the scope of dental care and require urgent medical evaluation.
First, stay calm and check the mouth for bleeding or pain. Rinse the area with warm water and apply gentle pressure with clean gauze if needed. Save any fragments in a clean container and bring them with you. Contact our office right away so we can assess the damage and recommend the best treatment for restoring the tooth.
To help your child stay comfortable before their emergency appointment, rinse their mouth gently with warm salt water and use a cold compress on the cheek to reduce swelling. If appropriate for your child’s age, you may give a pediatric dose of an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not place aspirin directly on the gums, and always follow dosing instructions.
If your child is in severe pain, has a knocked-out adult tooth, or there’s significant injury to the mouth, call us right away for a same-day appointment. Some situations, like a minor chip without pain, can wait a short time for evaluation, but it’s always best to call so we can advise you on urgency and next steps.
While not all emergencies can be avoided, many can. Encourage your child to wear a properly fitted mouthguard during sports or active play, limit chewing on hard or sticky foods, and maintain good oral hygiene. Regular dental checkups help us catch issues before they turn into emergencies.
Have a concern right now? Call Smile Wright Dental today so we can help your child feel better and protect their smile.
