Emergency Kids' Dentistry – St. Catharines, ON

Fast Help When You Need it the Most

If your child is experiencing any dental pain, Coral Kids Dentistry & Braces is here to help ensure that their teeth are taken care of quickly and efficiently. Please call us with any questions or concerns you may have. It’s OK if you aren’t sure if you have a dental emergency or not; we are always here to help. If you are concerned, then so are we! Whether your child has sudden tooth pain, swelling, or has broken or chipped a tooth, it is important to contact us to discuss what your next steps should be and schedule an appointment for emergency kids' dentistry in St. Catharine's, ON if necessary.

Call Us Now

 

Why Choose Coral Kids Dentistry & Braces
for Emergency Kid’s Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Emergency Dental Exams
  • Dental Anesthesiologist on Staff
  • Friendly & Highly Experienced Team

 

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Dentist looking at digital x-rays during emergency kids dentistry visit
  • Initial Call: Once you explain your situation over the phone, we’ll let you know if you need to come see us and schedule a same-day appointment. We’ll also offer first-aid tips to keep your child comfortable until their visit.
  • Emergency Exam: Before we can provide a solution, we need to understand the problem, so we'll take x-rays and examine your child's mouth.
  • Treatment Options: We’ll go over your child’s care options as well as the associated costs so you know exactly what to expect.
  • Delivery of Care: We’ll put a stop to your child’s pain and repair any damage that we can in a single appointment. Beyond that, we might ask that you come back so we can further restore their smile depending on the situation.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

If your child is experiencing any type of dental pain, it probably feels like a dental emergency. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so be sure to reach out to our team if they ever encounter any out-of-the-ordinary oral symptoms. Below, you can see a list of some of the most common dental emergencies we’re ready to handle.

Toothache

Is my child’s toothache an emergency? Toothaches aren’t just painful – they’re distracting as well. More often than not, they indicate a serious underlying oral health problem in children. The most common cause of tooth pain in kids is cavities. If your child experiences any of the following, they should visit their emergency dentist right away:

  • Swelling
  • A bump has developed in the gums
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Darkening of the tooth
  • Loose tooth

How you should handle your child’s toothache: Have your child carefully rinse their mouth with warm water. Make sure you thoroughly inspect their teeth to ensure there is nothing caught between them. If needed, they can take over-the-counter pain medication or use a cold compress to ease discomfort. Schedule an appointment with a kid’s emergency dentist immediately.

How we treat toothaches in children: Depending on the cause, we’ll treat your child’s toothache with a filling or a baby root canal. Addressing their baby teeth is essential for the health of future permanent teeth.

Learn More About Fillings

Learn More About Root Canals

Chipped Tooth

Is my child’s chipped tooth an emergency? Not necessarily, but your child should still visit a dentist within a few days. Failing to seek treatment for a chipped tooth can increase the risk of serious oral health issues down the line.  

How you should handle your child’s chipped tooth: Have your child carefully rinse their mouth with warm water to wash away lingering pieces of tooth. It’ll also prevent them from accidentally swallowing or choking on them. You should try to locate the tooth fragment that broke off and save it.

How we treat children’s chipped teeth: The most common solution for chipped teeth is dental bonding. Teenagers may want to consider getting a veneer if they’ve chipped a highly visible tooth.

Cracked Tooth

Is my child’s cracked tooth an emergency? If your child has minor damage, they can wait a few days to seek treatment if needed. However, major damage will require immediate care. You should always schedule an emergency appointment for your little one after they’ve sustained a blow to the face, especially if they complain of sensitivity. They might have hidden damage.

How you should handle your child’s cracked tooth: Ask your child to rinse their mouth with warm water to wash away harmful bacteria. If they’re in pain, they can take over-the-counter pain medication or use a cold compress to relieve their discomfort. Make sure they avoid chewing or biting with the injured side of their mouth until their appointment.

How we treat children’s cracked teeth: Most cases of cracked teeth are addressed with custom-made dental crowns. If there’s minor damage, we may be able to repair it simply using the same tooth-colored material used for fillings.

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

Is a knocked-out permanent tooth an emergency? Absolutely! The sooner you get your child to our office, the better chance we have of saving their permanent tooth. It’s important to give our office a call right away. Otherwise, we may need to replace the tooth.

How you should handle a knocked-out permanent tooth: Check your little one’s mouth to confirm there are no tooth fragments stuck in their teeth, gums, or lips. Gather any pieces that you find and store them in milk. Make sure you bring them with you to your child’s appointment! In the meantime, your child can take over-the-counter pain medication to ease any discomfort.

How we treat knocked-out permanent teeth: If your child’s tooth is still mostly intact, we may be able to simply reimplant it. In cases where that’s not possible, we may have to replace the tooth with a dental bridge. A dental implant is only an option for children whose jaws have stopped growing, which is at 16 years old for girls and 18 years old for boys.

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

Is a knocked-out baby tooth an emergency? It depends! Since a baby tooth is meant to come out eventually, you may not think it matters if it comes out prematurely. However, it can be an issue if it gets knocked out too early. You should make an appointment with our pediatric emergency dentist in St. Catharines to ensure the underlying permanent tooth is okay.

How you should handle a knocked-out baby tooth: Do not try to put the baby tooth back in your child’s socket! It could damage the permanent tooth underneath. Not only that, but your little one may accidentally choke on it. Instead, store it in some milk and bring it with you to your child’s appointment.

How we treat knocked-out baby teeth: In most cases, there may not be anything that needs to be done. However, if the tooth came out prematurely, we might need to use a space maintainer or saver to keep the neighboring teeth from drifting toward the gap.

Learn More About Orthodontic Appliances (Space Savers)

Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek

Is a bitten tongue, lip, or cheek an emergency? Oral injuries can be quite alarming, especially if they’re bleeding a lot. However, your child’s emergency dentist may be able to assist with this situation if the wound is minor.

How you should handle your child’s soft tissue injury: Ask your child to carefully rinse their mouth with water. It’ll help wash away any lingering bacteria and other unwanted debris. You should also apply pressure to the area to stop bleeding and use a cold compress to reduce swelling.

How we treat soft tissue injuries in children: When your child gets to our office, we’ll make sure that only the soft oral tissues are injured. If the wound is minor, we may be able to simply stitch the wound closed. However, you should take your little one to the nearest emergency room if they have uncontrollable bleeding or a very large cut.

Dental Concussion

Is my child’s dental concussion an emergency? If your child’s tooth has been shoved out of place but hasn’t been knocked out yet, it’s considered a dental concussion. This incident most commonly happens in sports or other physical activities. Depending on its severity, your child will need to seek treatment right away. Keep an eye out for symptoms like severe pain, a permanent tooth that is very out of place, or a tooth that is darkening. Should you notice any of that, call our office immediately and explain the situation so we can schedule your child’s appointment accordingly.

How you should handle your child’s dental concussion: Carefully rinse your child’s mouth with water to wash away any unwanted debris. If needed, you can also encourage them to apply a cold compress and take over-the-counter pain medication. Make sure your child avoids touching their tooth until we can provide further instructions.

How we treat dental concussions in children: Our team will conduct a detailed oral examination to determine the best course of action. In some cases, slightly concussed teeth can straighten themselves out over time. There are instances where a splint may be needed to help with that process. For severe cases, treatments like root canal therapy, orthodontics, or extractions might be necessary to save the tooth.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Orthodontics

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Sensitive Teeth

Are my child’s sensitive teeth an emergency? The most common cause of sensitive teeth in children is cavities. However, sensitivity can also indicate damage, worn fillings, bruxism, or an infection. Our team can rule out these problems with a thorough dental checkup. If your child is complaining of sensitive teeth, make sure you give us a call right away.  

How you should handle your child’ sensitive teeth: When you give us a call, we’ll provide first-aid instructions to help manage your child’s sensitivity at home. Some tips we’ll recommend include brushing with desensitizing toothpaste, rinsing with mouthwash, and drinking lukewarm water.

How we treat sensitive teeth in children: Our team will recommend a treatment method depending on the cause of your child’s sensitivity. Your child may need fluoride treatment or dental sealants. If they have a gum infection or damage to the tooth, they may need fillings, crowns, or root canal therapy.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Dental Sealants

Learn More About Fillings

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Lost Filling/Crown

Is my child’s lost filling or crown an emergency? While dental restorations are durable, they’re not meant to last forever. If your child’s filling or crown falls out, you need to schedule an appointment with our office right away. We’ll keep the exposed tooth safe from further infection and damage.

How you should handle your child’s lost filling or crown: If possible, locate the restoration and bring it with you to your child’s appointment. Ask your child to avoid eating sweet, spicy, or acidic foods while waiting for their appointment. They can take over-the-counter pain medication or cover the tooth with wax to relieve any discomfort.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns in children: Depending on the condition of your child’s restoration, we might be able to recement it into place or replace it entirely. As long as you see us right away, we won’t need to treat other issues like an infection or decay.

Learn More About Fillings

Learn More About Crowns

Jaw Pain

Something Stuck between Teeth

Is having something stuck between my child’s teeth an emergency? Everyone gets something stuck between their teeth at some point. Although it’s not usually considered an emergency, it can be if you can’t dislodge the debris on your own. Don’t hesitate to call us if you need assistance!

How you should handle something stuck between your child’s teeth: You should try flossing between your child’s teeth to dislodge the foreign object. If that doesn’t work, you can encourage your little one to rinse with warm water. Do not use a sharp object like a toothpick as it could easily cause damage to your soft oral tissues. If you can’t remove it yourself, call us right away.

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Child and pediatric dentist giving thumbs up at dental checkup

The cost of emergency dentistry isn’t the same from patient to patient. After all, the injury at hand and the necessary treatment aren’t the same from patient to patient either! Across the board, however, the best approach is to bring your child to see us sooner rather than later. This way, we can treat the problem early – before it becomes more complicated. We’ll also discuss how we can use your insurance to make their care more affordable.

Why Every Dental Emergency is Different

Because every dental emergency is different, there is no set cost for urgent dental care. We’ll only be able to give you a price breakdown after we’ve had a chance to examine your child’s mouth. After taking X-rays and thoroughly checking the condition of their teeth and gums, we will be able to determine both the issue at hand and how severe it is. From there, we will review all of our findings with you, answer any questions you have, and get to work on restoring your child’s smile.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Sometimes, dental insurance companies do cover a portion of the cost! So, if your child needs emergency dental care, it’s worth reviewing the fine print on your plan to get a better understanding of your available benefits. If you have any questions, you can also reach out to our team. We can help you file the claims so you get the maximum reimbursement, reducing your out-of-pocket expenses significantly.

How Taking Care Of Your Child’s Smile Can Save You Money

The good news is that the large majority of oral health problems and even some dental emergencies can be prevented. As your child’s pediatric dental team in St. Catharine’s, we recommend taking proactive measures, like having your child wear a mouthguard during sports. Additionally, they should brush and floss consistently as well as rinse with mouthwash daily (once they’re old enough). Bringing them in for a checkup and cleaning twice a year is also important so we can catch cracks, cavities, and other issues before they result in a painful dental injury. Lastly, do your best to encourage your child to break bad habits, like biting their nails and chewing on cubes of ice.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Child smiling while dentist examines their teeth and gums

Seeing your child in pain due to a knocked-out, cracked, or chipped tooth can be heartbreaking as a parent. Plus, having to drop everything to get them the emergency dental care they need can be stressful. Simply put, we completely understand wanting to avoid serious dental injuries, even though we aim to be here whenever you need us. With this in mind, here are a few best practices we recommend to help reduce your child’s chances of experiencing a dental emergency.

Schedule a Checkup and Cleaning Biannually

Dental hygienist cleaning child's teeth at routine checkup

From your child’s first birthday (or sooner if their first tooth emerges before then), they should visit our St. Catharines dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. This isn’t just important because it will help keep their smile healthy throughout the years; it will also ensure that we catch tooth decay and other serious oral health problems as early as possible. Plus, the tools we use during their dental cleanings are the only ones that can effectively remove built-up tartar.

Help Your Child Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Growing up, your child may need a lot of help or supervision when it comes to their at-home oral hygiene routine, especially as their fine motor skills are developing. This is crucial because consistently brushing and flossing is one of the best ways to prevent cavities on a daily basis. If you have any questions about which products you should be using, what the proper techniques are, and how to help motivate your child to be consistent, please don’t hesitate to give our team a call so we can help.

Encourage Your Child to Eat a Nutritious Diet

Mom smiling at her daughter while she brushes her teeth

Sugary treats, like soda and candy, may be some of your child’s favorites. However, they are also one of the leading causes of tooth decay among children. That’s why we encourage parents to keep foods and drinks with added sugar to a minimum. Instead, do your best to fill their plates with nutrient-dense items, like vegetables and fruits. It’s also helpful to educate your child on the benefits of eating these so they do so even while they are at school, at a friend’s house, etc.

Have Your Child Wear a Mouthguard

Child with braids smiling while eating lunch at school

Whether your child participates in a sport at their school or through their community, it’s of the utmost importance that they wear a mouthguard during games and practices. With a custom-made one from our team, you can have peace of mind knowing it will be comfortable and the appropriate thickness, increasing the chances that your child will actually wear it and that it will properly protect their teeth and gums.

Remember, Your Child Should Never Use Their Teeth as Tools

Excited child eating bag of chips outside

If your child is having a hard time opening a bag of chips or the packaging of a toy with their hands, they may be tempted to instead use their teeth. This is dangerous and can quickly result in a serious crack or fracture! So, encourage good habits, like using the appropriate tools to open items.

Pulp Therapy (Baby Root Canals)

Model of health tooth compared with damaged tooth used to explain pulp therapy

Some of the most severe toothaches can stem from a dental infection that has reached the pulp layer of a tooth, where a sensitive nerve is located. Pulp therapy enables our team to quickly stop the pain while saving the tooth from extraction. We simply remove the infected pulp, leave the rest alone, and top the tooth with a dental crown to restore its strength and appearance.

Tooth Extractions

Closeup of smile with space maintainers after tooth extractions

While everyone would prefer to let their child’s teeth fall out naturally, sometimes, the only way to help with a severely damaged or decayed tooth is to remove it. Whether we are extracting a baby tooth or adult tooth, our team will ensure your child remains comfortable throughout the entire process and knows what to expect. If appropriate, we can discuss replacement options beforehand to minimize the time they spend with an incomplete smile. Our team utilizes space maintainers to help keep the teeth straight.

Learn More About Space Maintainers

Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Young woman smiling after wisdom tooth extractions

Around late teens or early twenties, the third set of molars, or wisdom teeth, start to come in. Often, there isn’t enough room in the mouth for them, which can lead to pain and can cause nearby teeth to shift. Usually, the most direct way to resolve these issues is to remove the wisdom teeth, which we can do right here in-office. Thanks to our team’s experience and use of sedation, you can count on your child remaining comfortable throughout the entire process.

Learn More

Nursing Bottle Syndrome

Baby falling asleep holding a bottle

Nursing Bottle Syndrome is a specific type of tooth decay that develops in infants. It occurs when they go to sleep with a bottle in their mouths that has a sugary liquid (it can be milk, formula, or juice), and this exposes their teeth to the substance for several consecutive hours. This gives the sugar ample opportunity to fuel oral bacteria that can lead to cavities and toothaches. To avoid this, make sure your baby’s bottle only has unflavored water in it if they are about to go to sleep. If your child has already developed some dental issues due to their bottle, we can fix any problems they currently have and help you put a plan in place to avoid the same trouble in the future.

 

Dental Emergency FAQs

Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Baby teeth are supposed to come out, so you shouldn’t attempt to put it back into your child’s open socket. However, it is possible for baby teeth to come out too soon, so you should schedule an emergency exam for them to ensure that no damage has occurred. When teeth come out too early, permanent teeth can erupt prematurely. If there is bleeding that doesn’t subside or their jaw is injured, take them to the emergency room.

What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?

It is always good to have an emergency dentistry kit prepared just in case an accident or injury occurs. Here are some items to add to your kit:

  • Small storage container for teeth or restorations
  • Sterile gloves
  • Gauze pads
  • Cotton balls
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen
  • Topical anesthetic, like Orajel
  • Dental floss
  • Cold compress
  • Contact information of a dentist

Will a Toothache Go Away on Its Own?

Toothaches don’t usually go away on their own. If your child is experiencing tooth pain, it is best to schedule a checkup with their dentist to ensure that nothing serious is going on. There are various possible causes for a toothache, so it’s important to rule them out with a professional as soon as possible.

What Should I Do If My Child a Cut on Their Lip, Tongue, or Cheek?

If your child has an injured lip, tongue, or cheek, you can apply a cold compress to any bruised areas. To control bleeding, apply firm, gentle pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding isn’t subsiding with pressure or continues for longer than 15 minutes, take your child to your closest emergency room.

Can My Child Receive Sedation Dentistry?

At Coral Kids Dentistry & Braces, we offer various sedation options for children who experience dental phobia, need more complex treatment, or have special needs that make it challenging to undergo dental treatment. Experiencing a dental emergency can be scary for a child, so nitrous oxide sedation, oral conscious sedation, and deep dental sedation can help children have a more comfortable, less traumatic experience.

More to Explore

Preventive Dentistry Lip & Tongue-Tie Sedation Dentistry Restorative Dentistry Special Needs Dentistry Orthodontics View Our Services