PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DENTIST – FORT WORTH, TX

In Moments of Stress & Discomfort, You Can Count on Us

Young boy holding his cheek in pain needing pediatric emergency dentist

Accidents happen, especially with curious and adventurous children! If your kiddo chips a tooth on the playground or is complaining of a persistent toothache that won’t seem to go away, you can count on our Trinity Pediatric Dentistry team to provide them with timely and effective pediatric emergency dental care. Dr. Thorburn is also happy to offer safe children’s sedation dentistry, root canal treatment and pulp therapy, and in-house tooth extractions, so we can take care of everything from the examination and diagnosis to their treatment. Call us today to schedule a same-day or after-hours appointment if your child is in pain or experiencing a dental emergency.

Why Choose Trinity Pediatric Dentistry for Children’s Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day & After-Hours Emergency Dentistry
  • Pediatric Dentist with 10+ Years of Experience & Training
  • Safe Children’s Dental Sedation Available

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Child giving thumbs up in dental chair
  1. Call Us. During a children’s dental emergency in Fort Worth, the first step you should take is to call our office. Our team will provide you with first-aid guidance over the phone to help ease your little one’s discomfort and prevent any further oral damage. We’ll then schedule a same-day appointment for them.
  2. Come In. As soon as you arrive at our practice, Dr. Thorburn and our phenomenal team will help your child get comfortable before capturing diagnostic images and conducting a thorough examination of their mouth. Once Dr. Thorburn can identify what’s causing their discomfort or the extent of the physical trauma, she’ll create a treatment plan and walk you through it. We want to answer any questions you may have, whether that’s associated with cost, what the procedure will entail, or the recovery process.
  3. Get Treatment. Once we answer all of your questions and you have consented to moving forward with treatment, our team will jump into action healing your kiddo’s smile!

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

We see a wide variety of dental emergencies, from tooth sensitivity to knocked-out teeth and toothaches, but we recommend calling our office if your child is experiencing any out-of-the-ordinary dental symptoms. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common situations we see, but we recommend that you give us a call if you’re ever unsure of whether your child requires emergency assistance.

Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs

Child giving thumbs up in dental chair

With good habits in place – like wearing a mouthguard when playing sports and implementing a solid oral hygiene regimen – your child may never experience a dental emergency. However, it’s always a good idea to be prepared just in case one does arise. That’s why we’ve dedicated this next section to answering FAQs about pediatric dental emergencies!

Will my child’s toothache go away on its own?

From eating something really cold to injuring their tooth on the playground, toothaches can arise for all sorts of reasons. If your child’s discomfort persists, we strongly recommend making them an appointment. That way, our Fort Worth pediatric dentist can take a look at their teeth and gums, determining if any restorative care is needed in the process.

Do chipped teeth heal?

No, chipped teeth cannot heal on their own. So, whether the damage seems relatively minor or is severe enough to cause your child pain, you should contact us ASAP. From there, we can determine if same-day treatment is necessary. If it isn’t, then we will provide you with a few helpful tips on how to care for their smile in the meantime and schedule an appointment within the next couple of days.

Are knocked-out baby teeth a dental emergency?

Although a knocked-out baby tooth does warrant a visit to our office, same-day treatment isn’t always necessary. For example, if the tooth was knocked out around the time it would’ve naturally fallen out anyway, bringing your child in for an exam before the end of the week should suffice. However, if they are in pain or the tooth came out much too soon, then we’ll likely recommend bringing them to our office right away.

What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?

Having an emergency dental kit on hand is always a good idea, but it’s especially helpful if you have children. If you don’t currently have one, you have a few options. First, you can order one online. Second, you can make your own with the following items:

  • A small storage container for teeth
  • Sterile gloves (ideally nitrile)
  • Gauze pads and dressings
  • Cotton balls
  • Dental cement (or another temporary filling material)
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Anti-inflammatories
  • A topical anesthetic
  • Floss
  • Ice pack
  • Our phone number and address

 

 

How should I help my child sleep with tooth pain?

If your child is struggling with a painful toothache, there’s good news: there are a few simple steps that will help alleviate their discomfort. First, make them a dinner that doesn’t contain any crunchy, acidic, spicy, or sugary foods since this will only exacerbate the soreness they are feeling. Second, give them a cold compress to place against the outside of their cheek for about 10 minutes at a time. Third, prop them up on a few pillows so their head stays elevated as they sleep.

 

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Toothaches  

Is My Child's Toothache a Dental Emergency? The best way to find out is by asking a few follow-up questions. How much does it hurt on a scale of 1-10? How long has your tooth been hurting? Your child’s answers will give you an idea of how urgent the situation is.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Toothache First, reach out to our pediatric dentist in Fort Worth to schedule an appointment (on the same day, if needed). Second, try to alleviate your child’s discomfort in the meantime by giving them a cold compress and having them rinse with warm saltwater.

How We Treat Toothaches in Children How we treat your child’s toothache will depend on what’s causing it! If it’s a small cavity, then a filling may be needed. If it’s a severe infection, then root canal treatment may be necessary.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PULP AND ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Cracked Tooth  

Is My Child's Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? If you can see the damage, then a same-day visit to our office is likely necessary. Even if you can’t see it but your child is experiencing symptoms associated with a cracked tooth, like pain when chewing, then you should call us ASAP.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Cracked Tooth In addition to getting in touch with our Fort Worth pediatric dental team to schedule an appointment, we recommend having your child stick to soft foods, not chew on that side of their mouth, and avoid touching the tooth with their finger.

How We Treat Children's Cracked Teeth There are a few ways we can restore a cracked tooth, but the treatment we recommend will depend largely on the extent of the damage and if an infection has developed. That’s why it’s so important that we complete a comprehensive oral exam first.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PULP AND ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILDREN’S TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

Chipped Teeth  

Is My Child's Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? We do recommend scheduling an appointment with us if your child chips a tooth. That way, we can intervene with the necessary care if there’s a risk of an infection developing.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Chipped Tooth Have them rinse their mouth with clean, room-temperature water a few times to make sure any lingering shards of their tooth are removed. Then, cover the sharp edge of their tooth with dental wax or sugar-free gum to avoid a soft-tissue injury.

How We Treat Children's Chipped Teeth If the chip is on a front tooth, then we will likely recommend direct bonding (which is completely painless and can be completed the very same day). If the chip is on a molar and is more substantial in size, then we may recommend a dental crown instead.

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth  

Is A Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Remember, there’s a chance that we can save your child’s permanent tooth if it gets knocked out. That’s why it’s so important that you call us right away. We need to schedule an appointment within the hour in order to have the highest chance of saving their tooth!

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth If your child knocks out a tooth – whether it was while playing on the playground or while participating in a sport – you should call us ASAP to schedule an appointment. Then, transition your focus to finding the tooth and preserving the root. You can do so by placing it back in the socket or, if that doesn’t work, submerging it in a clean container filled with milk.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Permanent Teeth If you were able to locate your child’s tooth and it’s in good condition, then there’s a chance that we can save it. Otherwise, we can replace their tooth with a dental bridge so the look, health, and function of their smile aren’t compromised for long.

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth  

Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth a Dental Emergency? It is if it was knocked out prematurely, your child’s surrounding teeth and gums were damaged in the process, or they are in pain.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth Have your child rinse their mouth gently with clean, lukewarm water to remove blood, saliva, and debris from the area. Unlike a permanent tooth, a baby tooth should not be reinserted back into the socket, and the root surface cells cannot be preserved. That’s why we recommend calling us if you find yourself in this situation – we can schedule an appointment and walk you through what to do until you arrive.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Baby Teeth If your child’s adult tooth is about to emerge, then restorative care may not be necessary. If it’s nowhere near ready to make an appearance, however, then we might recommend having a space maintainer made to prevent dental drift in the meantime.

Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek  

Is a Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek an Emergency? You might be surprised just how much a small cut can bleed. The good news is that soft tissue injuries can usually be handled at home with a few simple steps.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Soft Tissue Injury First, have your child rinse their mouth with clean, cool water in the sink. Then, use a damp washcloth to apply pressure to the area, stopping the bleeding in the process.

How We Treat Soft Tissue Injuries in Children Usually, soft tissue injuries stop bleeding within 10 minutes of applying pressure. If that’s not the case for your child, then you should take them to the ER or call 911 for medical attention.

Dental Concussion

Is My Child's Dental Concussion an Emergency? If your child’s tooth was dislodged from impact – whether it was a bad fall or a rogue ball during a sporting event – you should contact us ASAP to schedule an emergency exam. That way, we can intervene with the necessary restorative care before the tooth falls out.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Dental Concussion Since the tooth is at-risk of falling out, no pressure should be placed on it. In other words, make sure your child doesn’t wiggle the tooth with their tongue, touch the tooth with their finger, or chew on that side of their mouth.

How We Treat Dental Concussions in Children Fortunately, teeth that have been concussed can often be saved with the help of a dental splint. If your child’s tooth cannot be saved, then we will likely need to extract it before exploring their tooth-replacement options.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILDREN’S TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

Sensitive Teeth

Are My Child's Sensitive Teeth an Emergency? If your child takes a sip of hot chocolate before it has cooled down or takes a large bite of something cold, like ice cream, some sensitivity is to be expected. If, on the other hand, they are experiencing this sensation with no known trigger, then you should schedule an appointment for them at our Fort Worth dental office right away.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Sensitive Teeth First, avoid giving them anything that could exacerbate their discomfort, like hot/cold foods and drinks. It’s also a good idea to have them rinse periodically with warm saltwater, keep added sugar to a minimum, and, of course, bring them to our office as soon as you can for an exam.

How We Treat Sensitive Teeth in Children Tooth decay is often the culprit of dental sensitivity. If that’s the case for your child, then we will assess the severity of the damage and review the available treatment options (i.e., tooth-colored filling, a dental crown, root canal treatment).

LEARN MORE ABOUT PULP AND ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Lost Filling or Crown

Is My Child's Lost Filling or Crown an Emergency? Yes, of course! After all, their tooth is vulnerable to damage without the restoration securely in place. So, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us right away.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Lost Filling or Crown Calling our Fort Worth dental office is an important first step. Outside of that, do what you can to protect your child’s tooth from further harm and alleviate their pain, like giving them soft foods that aren’t spicy, sugary, or acidic.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns in Children The first option is replacing your child’s restoration with a new one. The second option is re-cementing their existing dental crown back in place, which is usually an option if it’s relatively new and wasn’t damaged in transport.

Something Stuck Between Teeth

Is Having Something Stuck Between My Child's Teeth an Emergency? Fortunately, this situation can usually be handled at home quite easily. That said, if the information below doesn’t work, you’re more than welcome to schedule an appointment.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between Your Child's Teeth First, have them rinse their mouth thoroughly with a mixture of salt and warm water. This should help loosen the debris. Then, use some floss to gently clean between their teeth.