Emergency Kids’ Dentistry – Inver Grove Heights, MN

Toothaches

Is my child’s toothache an emergency? One of the most common causes of dental emergencies in children is toothaches. They’re painful and often indicate a serious underlying problem. If your child is experiencing any of the following symptoms, their toothache is considered a dental emergency:

• Swelling or fever
• Bump in the gums
• Fatigue
• Darkening of the tooth
• Loose tooth

How you should handle your child’s toothache: While over-the-counter pain medication can ease your child’s discomfort, it should be used as a temporary solution. Avoid putting aspirin directly on the gums! The best thing you can do is contact your kid’s emergency dentist in Inver Grove Heights. 

How we treat toothaches in children: Our team will need to perform an emergency examination to identify the root cause of your child’s toothache. It’s incredibly important to treat baby teeth to ensure the health of future permanent teeth. Some common solutions for toothaches in children include fillings and root canal therapy.

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 get treated as soon as possible. Otherwise, leaving it untreated can lead to serious complications down the line. The inner area of the tooth could be exposed, increasing the risk of decay and infection.

How you should handle your child’s chipped tooth: Encourage your child to carefully rinse their mouth to eliminate any small pieces of the tooth. It’ll help them avoid accidentally swallowing or choking on these pieces.

How we treat children’s chipped teeth: The most common solution for chipped teeth in children is dental bonding. However, teens who’ve chipped a highly visible tooth may benefit from a veneer.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Cracked Tooth

Is my child’s cracked tooth an emergency? If your child has sustained minor damage, they can typically wait a few days for treatment. However, you should still make an appointment shortly after they’ve taken a blow to the face, especially if they’re complaining about sensitivity. They may have hidden damage.

How you should handle your child’s cracked tooth: Have your child rinse their mouth to wash away any lingering bacteria. If needed, they can use a cold compress or take over-the-counter pain medication to ease their discomfort. Make sure they avoid chewing on the injured side of their mouth until they get to our practice.

How we treat children’s cracked teeth: In many cases, we’ll treat a cracked tooth with a custom-made dental crown. However, we may be able to simply repair it with the same tooth-colored material we use for fillings if the damage is minor. If the tooth is damaged beyond repair, an extraction may be the best option.

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are my child’s sensitive teeth an emergency? For kids, tooth sensitivity is likely an indication of a cavity, which should be treated right away. If left unaddressed, it can lead to more problematic conditions, such as an infection. That’s why you’ll need to schedule an appointment for your child sooner rather than later.

How you should handle your child’ sensitive teeth: We can provide instructions over the phone while you wait to visit us. If possible, you can have your little one use desensitizing toothpaste to reduce discomfort. Have them sip on lukewarm water and stay clear of foods that are tooth spicy or sweet.

How we treat sensitive teeth in children: Your child’s treatment will depend on the root of the sensitivity. If it’s a cavity, they may require a tooth-colored filling. They may even need fluoride treatment or dental sealants in some situations. If they have an infection, we’ll need to perform pulp therapy to remove the harmful bacteria.

<Learn More About Fluoride Treatments>

<Learn More About Dental Sealants>

<Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings>

<Learn More About Pulp Therapy>

Dental Concussion

Is my child’s dental concussion an emergency? A dental concussion is when a tooth is slightly shoved out of position but isn’t completely knocked out. Whether this was due to sports-related activities or accidental injuries, you’ll want to seek treatment for your little one to help preserve their tooth. Call our office to schedule a visit as soon as possible.

How you should handle your child’s dental concussion: Help your child rinse their smile with warm water and have them place a cold compress on the outside of their mouth to reduce discomfort. They can also take over-the-counter painkillers if necessary. Encourage them not to touch the compromised tooth until we’ve been able to help them.

How we treat dental concussions in children: Our team will take X-rays and examine the tooth to determine the appropriate way to treat your little one’s tooth. While some concussed teeth can straighten themselves out with time, we can also use a splint to make the process more reliable. In severe situations, we might need to perform pulp therapy or an extraction.

<Learn More About Pulp Therapy>

<Learn More About Tooth Extractions>

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out permanent tooth an emergency? If you act quickly, it's possible to save a permanent tooth. Unfortunately, primary teeth are generally not re-implanted. If one of your child's primary teeth has been knocked out, you will want to schedule a visit to our practice as soon as possible so their dentist can ensure that there are no fragments of the tooth remaining.

How you should handle a knocked-out permanent tooth: Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in your child’s socket. If that isn’t possible, put it in a cup of milk and visit our office or the nearest emergency room or urgent care center as soon as possible. Remember to take the tooth with you!

How we treat knocked-out permanent teeth: The ideal solution is to reattach the natural tooth if possible. If it’s still in good condition by the time we see your child, we’ll carefully place it back into the socket and secure it to the neighboring teeth. Over time, it’ll naturally fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. If the tooth cannot be saved, we’ll need to discuss your child’s tooth replacement options.

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

Is a knocked-out baby tooth an emergency? It can be! In a perfect world, your child’s baby tooth would just fall out on its own. However, it could suddenly get knocked out due to an accident or injury. If that happens, you’ll need to visit us right away to ensure their remaining teeth are okay. How you should handle a knocked-out baby tooth: Ask your child to carefully rinse their mouth with warm water. If needed, you can use a tissue to control any bleeding they have. A cold compress can also be used to help minimize discomfort and reduce bleeding. While the baby doesn’t need to be kept moistened, you should still keep it safe and bring it with you to your appointment. How we treat knocked-out baby teeth: Our team will conduct an oral examination to determine what the best next steps should be. If the baby tooth has been knocked out, we may not need to do anything. We might simply perform some light repairs to the surrounding teeth. Depending on the situation, we may place a space maintainer to keep the remaining teeth from tilting into the gap.

Lost Filling or Crown

Is my child’s lost filling or crown an emergency? Although dental crowns and fillings are meant to last many years, they aren’t designed to be permanent. If your little one’s restoration has fallen out, you’ll simply need to schedule a visit for them so we can provide treatment. The sooner we can address the problem, the better we can protect their smile from further damage or infection.

How you should handle your child’s lost filling or crown: If you can find the restoration, bring it with you to your child’s appointment so we can try recementing it in place. If this isn’t viable, we can replace it with a new one. Keep your child away from foods that are acidic, sweet, or spicy. They can take pain relievers if needed to reduce discomfort.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns in children: Our team will assess the situation and address the underlying reason the filling or crown fell out. If we can’t fix it, we’ll replace it. Just be sure to have your little one see us soon so they can avoid infection or further damage.

<Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings>

<Learn More About Dental Crowns>

Loose Permanent Tooth

Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek

Is a bitten tongue, lip, or cheek an emergency? Oral injuries can be quite alarming because they tend to be painful and bleed a lot. The good news is that they rarely need professional care and be addressed at home. However, you should consider going to your nearest emergency room if you cannot control the bleeding after ten minutes.

How you should handle your child’s soft tissue injury: Have your child rinse their mouth out with water several times and clean the area well. It could also help to apply pressure to the area with a clean wet washcloth or piece of gauze. Once the bleeding has stopped, you can use an ice pack to numb discomfort and reduce swelling.

How we treat soft tissue injuries in children: Don’t hesitate to give us a call if your child has a bitten lip, tongue, or cheek. We’ll assess the situation to ensure no damage has occurred to the teeth. If the injury needs it, we might even provide stitches. Should the bleeding not stop, take your child to the closest emergency room for medical attention.

Learn More About Custom Athletic Mouthguards for Kids

Jaw Pain

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is having something stuck between my child’s teeth an emergency? This isn’t typically considered a dental emergency, as you can help your child remove the stuck object with at-home methods. However, feel free to call our team for help if you aren’t able to dislodge the debris from their mouth.

How you should handle something stuck between your child’s teeth: Firstly, have your little one rinse their mouth and then carefully floss between their teeth to get the object unstuck. DO NOT use sharp objects like toothpicks, tweezers, or forks to help, as these can accidentally damage their soft oral tissues and teeth. If you aren’t able to get the object out, you can visit us instead for help.