Emergency Kids' Dentistry – St. Catharines, ON

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.