PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DENTIST BELLAIRE

When Accidents Happen, Our Team Has You Covered

Young boy wincing and holding his cheek in pain

As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Lydia has ample experience treating children’s dental emergencies, from knocked-out teeth to painful toothaches that make it feel impossible to focus on schoolwork. We understand that these scary moments can arise at any time, which is why we offer same-day emergency dental appointments in Bellaire to make sure your child doesn’t have to wait in pain. Give our team a call to schedule your child’s visit and get the relief they deserve.

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

  • Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
  • We Accept Dental Insurance & Medicaid
  • Multiple Methods of Dental Sedation Available

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Girl in the dental chair covering her mouth with her hands
  1. Call Our Team: The first step you should always take if your child is experiencing any dental trauma or out-of-the-ordinary oral symptoms is to call Dr. Lydia, an emergency dentist for kids in Bellaire. Our team will provide you with helpful first aid guidance and schedule a same-day appointment for your child, allowing them to be seen as soon as possible.
  2. Come in for an Exam: When you and your child arrive at our office, our team will get started by taking any necessary X-rays of their mouth and introducing you and your little one to Dr. Lydia. After a thorough examination by Dr. Lydia, she will explain her diagnosis to you as well as her treatment recommendations for your child.
  3. Get Treated: The final step is to receive treatment. Before we begin your child’s procedure, we’ll provide you with a detailed cost estimate and answer any questions you may have. In some cases, we may be able to complete treatment that day. For more complex procedures, we will schedule them for a different day in the near future.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

If you’re wondering whether your child’s situation warrants urgent dental care, we invite you to browse the list of some of the most common dental emergencies that we see below. A rule of thumb that we always recommend going by is, if you’re unsure, call us!

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Man in white jacket holding model tooth and piggy bank

If your child has sustained an injury, developed a severe toothache, or is experiencing some other urgent issue, the last thing you want to have to worry about is whether you can afford the required treatments. It’s natural to wonder how much you might pay for an emergency visit, but the cost can vary based on factors unique to your family’s circumstances.

Continue reading to learn more about how pricing is determined and the different options we offer to help you afford your child’s emergency dental care.

Every Dental Emergency is Different

Dentist examining little boy’s mouth

There are several reasons your child might require an emergency appointment, so we cannot provide an accurate estimate until we’ve examined their mouth and know more about what’s needed to address the root problem.

For example, some issues, like prolonged sensitivity, might only require a simple procedure, such as applying topical fluoride or placing a tooth-colored filling. However, more severely infected, decayed, or damaged teeth or gums could require more complex, costly services or restorations, such as a root canal, extraction, or placing a dental crown. We’ll share a detailed treatment plan, including pricing information, for your approval before proceeding.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Woman handing insurance forms on clipboard to dentist

Many dental insurance policies do include at least partial coverage for emergency visits to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses. For example, they might include your child’s examination, any required imaging, and a portion of the cost of necessary procedures, such as root canals and dental crowns.

Our Bellaire office is in-network with most major PPO insurance plans, and we also accept Medicaid. If you’re unsure whether we accept your policy, you can contact the office for more information. Our friendly staff can assist with claims or paperwork to help you maximize any available benefits for your child.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Blue piggy bank, toothbrush, model tooth, and calculator on wooden surface

We also understand that not all families carry dental insurance, but we don’t want your current financial situation to prevent your child from receiving potentially smile-saving care.

If you’re uninsured or concerned about affording their emergency visit, you might benefit from one of the following options:

  • In-House Membership. We offer membership plans based on your child’s age that include routine preventive services, such as exams, topical fluoride, and cleanings, as well as additional discounts on other treatments we offer.
  • Flexible Financing. We also gladly welcome flexible payment packages through Cherry. If your application is approved, these low- to no-interest plans allow you to divide the total cost of your child’s appointment into more manageable installments, which can be easier on your family’s budget.

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

Girl in dental chair smiling about to have exam

Dr. Lydia offers a comprehensive menu of services, including multiple types of dental sedation, and reserves time for same-day emergency visits so your child doesn’t have to wait long for relief. However, taking proper precautions can help avoid urgent issues in the first place, which can also help you save money.

For example, scheduling routine checkups and cleanings for your child every 6 months helps prevent common dental concerns, such as cavities and gum disease, that often lead to emergencies. Not only that, but even without insurance, these standard appointments typically cost less than the repairs and restorations needed to repair damage after it has already occurred.

Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies

Little boy looking sad holding hand to cheek with goldenrod background

Dr. Lydia and the rest of our team understand that kids might experience a dental emergency at any time, so we set aside time for same-day visits to treat urgent concerns. While some of these are caused by circumstances beyond your control, many dental problems that contribute to emergencies can, fortunately, be avoided with proper prevention.

With that in mind, continue reading to learn about several ways you can help your child strengthen their smile so they’re less likely to develop sudden or severe issues!

Schedule Routine Dental Checkups

Little girl smiling about to have teeth examined

You may think your kid’s mouth is healthy if you haven’t seen obvious areas of concern, but they might have hidden decay or disease in places you can’t easily see, like below their gums, between teeth, or behind their molars.

Scheduling a standard dental examination and cleaning every 6 months allows Dr. Lydia to monitor their still-developing smile so she can catch and treat any areas of concern, like cavities or periodontal disease, before they become more serious.

Implement a Consistent At-Home Dental Hygiene Routine

Man, woman, and little girl all brushing teeth together at double bathroom sinks

You can also help prevent urgent oral issues by encouraging your child to maintain a twice-daily at-home dental hygiene routine between routine checkups. It’s usually safe to start gently brushing their earliest teeth with a soft-bristle toothbrush and a rice-grain dollop of fluoridated toothpaste even as a baby or toddler.

Then you can encourage them to brush and floss on their own once they’re able, though it’s recommended that you monitor their routine to ensure they clean their mouth thoroughly and don’t swallow large amounts of toothpaste, which can be toxic, until they’re a little older.

Provide a Variety of Wholesome Foods

Toddler in zig-zag shirt drinking glass of milk next to milk bottles

Another way to strengthen your child’s smile is to provide a variety of healthy foods that support their oral and overall well-being, so they’re less likely to develop problems.

For example, dairy products, like milk, yogurt, and cheese, have lots of calcium to help build strong teeth and bones. Meanwhile, many citrus fruits and leafy greens are high in vitamin C to support their connective tissues.

Protect Their Teeth from Harm

Girl in white uniform with red gloves and belt wearing green mouthguard

Growing children can be clumsy and trip over their own feet or fall down at the playground. Not only that, but if they’re active participants in martial arts, team sports, or other high-contact activities, they could sustain physical trauma that damages or knocks out one or more of their teeth.

Thankfully, our team can help provide a custom-fitted mouthguard to help shield their smile from harm.

Help Them Avoid Using Their Teeth as Tools

Little boy in red hoody trying to open bottle of water

Have you ever noticed your child struggling to open a packaged toy, drink, or snack only to watch them try to rend it with their teeth? Unfortunately, using them as tools in this capacity can cause enamel damage, gum injury, or other issues.

This can be avoided by discussing the importance of asking a trusted adult for help or using the right tool for the job at hand, such as a pair of child-friendly scissors, when appropriate.

Toothaches  

Is My Child's Toothache a Dental Emergency? Since your child’s pain receptors are there to signal that something is wrong, you should call us if they are struggling with a toothache in Bellaire. Once we know a little more about their symptoms, including how severe they are, we can determine if they would benefit from an emergency visit.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Toothache: There are a few steps we recommend taking in addition to getting in touch with us, including placing a cold compress against the outside of their cheek, making sure they don’t chew on that side of their mouth, and, if needed, offering OTC pain medication for kids.

How We Treat Toothaches in Children: That depends on what we find during the exam! Once we’ve pinpointed the root of the problem, we will discuss the different treatment options that are available, like a tooth-colored filling. We will also share our recommendations so you can confidently decide the best way to alleviate the discomfort your child is experiencing in the short and long term.

Cracked Tooth  

Is My Child's Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, a cracked tooth is absolutely a dental emergency. So, don’t wait – call our team at Wildflower Pediatric Dentistry, even if the damage seems relatively minor. The sooner you do, the sooner we can schedule an appointment at our office and walk you through how to handle this dental injury in the meantime.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Cracked Tooth: Until their appointment, it’s important that your child avoids all spicy, sugary, crunchy, and sticky foods. They should also stick to room-temperature water since their tooth will likely be more sensitive than usual. If the discomfort they are experiencing is severe, you can give them OTC pain medication for kids as well (following the directions on the label, of course).

How We Treat Children's Cracked Teeth: Ideally, we’ll be able to place a dental crown over the cracked tooth, protecting it from further harm in the process. With that said, there are some cases when the damage is severe enough that we need to perform an extraction. If that’s the case, we will also either fill the open space with a dental bridge or, if there is a permanent tooth underneath, a space maintainer.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

Chipped Teeth   

Is My Child's Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Since a chipped tooth can break further, we do recommend calling our pediatric dental office in Bellaire. That way, at the very least, we can schedule an exam before the end of the week with Dr. Lydia.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Chipped Tooth: First, have them rinse their mouth gently with clean, room-temperature water. Then, cover the edge of their tooth with dental wax or some sugar-free gum. Not only will this help prevent sensitivity, but it will also reduce the chances of them sustaining a soft tissue injury.

How We Treat Children's Chipped Teeth: That depends on a few factors, including the size of the chip and the type of tooth. For example, if one of their molars sustained serious damage, then Dr. Lydia will likely recommend a dental crown.

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

Is a knocked-out permanent tooth an emergency? Yes, a knocked-out permanent tooth is a dental emergency, and if you act quickly, it may be possible to save or reimplant it. If not, the tooth may need to be replaced.

How you should handle a knocked out permanent tooth: If your child’s tooth gets knocked out, never store it in plain water. Instead, submerge it in milk, saline, or in a tooth preservation kit available at some pharmacies. You may also be able to instruct them to keep it in place in the socket or in the space between their cheek and gums. Then, call Wildflower Pediatric Dentistry for further instructions.

How we treat knocked-out permanent teeth: We will do our best to reimplant the tooth, but there is no guarantee this will succeed. If it does not, we may need to replace the tooth with a bridge. Dental implants are only an option for children whose jaws have stopped growing (16 years old for girls, 18 years old for boys).

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

Is a knocked-out baby tooth an emergency? A lost children’s tooth in Bellaire can potentially be a dental emergency, which is why it is so important that we check to see if the permanent tooth underneath the baby tooth is injured.

How you should handle a knocked-out baby tooth: Never attempt to put the baby tooth back into the socket, as you could accidentally damage the permanent tooth growing underneath. While the fallen tooth doesn’t need to be kept moistened, please bring it with you to your child’s appointment if you can.

How we treat knocked out baby teeth: In some cases, we may not need to do anything at all, but if the tooth came out too early, we may need to put in a space maintainer to prevent the neighboring teeth from tilting into the gap and trapping the permanent tooth below.

Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek

Is a bitten tongue, lip, or cheek an emergency? While it’s true that cuts in the mouth can bleed a lot and be quite alarming, your dentist may be able to help with this type of dental emergency, which is very common in children who play sports.

How you should handle your child’s soft tissue injury: Clean the injury gently but thoroughly with water and then apply pressure to it to stop the bleeding. A cold compress can also help to ease the pain and reduce swelling.

How we treat soft tissue injuries in children: First, we’ll check to ensure that the soft tissues are the only part that were injured, and not the teeth, too. If necessary, we can stitch up the wound. If the bleeding has not stopped after about 10 minutes, please bring your child directly to the emergency room.

Dental Concussion  

Is My Child's Dental Concussion an Emergency? A dental concussion is when the tooth has been shoved out of place but not completely knocked out. If that happens to your child, then you should call our team at Wildflower Pediatric Dentistry right away. From there, we can schedule an emergency visit and share what to do until you both arrive at our office.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Dental Concussion: Scheduling an appointment with us is an important first step. Then, shift your focus to doing what you can to prevent the tooth from loosening further, like asking your child not to wiggle it or chew on that side of their mouth. If they are hurting, you can also give them OTC pain medication as directed on the label.

How We Treat Dental Concussions in Children: That depends on several factors, including how severe the damage is. For example, if the tooth is barely hanging on, then we will likely need to extract it. As always, our kids’ emergency dentist in Bellaire will discuss all of the available treatment options after alleviating any pain your child is experiencing and completing a comprehensive oral exam.

Sensitive Teeth  

Are My Child's Sensitive Teeth an Emergency? That depends. If you aren’t sure what’s triggering their dental sensitivity or their discomfort is getting worse instead of better, then we do recommend getting in touch with us. That way, we can learn more about what’s going on and, at the very least, schedule an appointment at our office within the next few days.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Sensitive Teeth: First, help your child avoid anything that could exacerbate their symptoms, like ice cream, and switch to a desensitizing toothpaste. If their discomfort persists, then you can offer them OTC pain medication as directed until we are able to provide the necessary restorative care.

How We Treat Sensitive Teeth in Children: Sometimes, dental sensitivity arises due to a small cavity, which can be treated with a tooth-colored filling. Other times, the culprit is a large crack in the enamel, which requires a dental crown.Ultimately, we won’t know which treatment is best until we are able to complete a comprehensive oral exam.

Lost Fillings or Crowns  

Is My Child's Lost Filling or Crown an Emergency? Although your child’s tooth may not be in immediate danger, there is certainly a higher risk of it breaking or developing an infection. For that reason, we do recommend calling us. The sooner you do, the sooner we can restore the strength, appearance, and health of their tooth.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Lost Filling or Crown: As you may have guessed, your child shouldn’t chew on that side of their mouth. Instead, they should stick to extremely soft foods, rinse their mouth periodically with room-temperature water, and keep their restoration in a small, clean container so it doesn’t break further.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns in Children: If your child lost their dental filling or crown in the midst of the madness, don’t worry – we can replace it with a new one.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

Is Having Something Stuck Between My Child's Teeth an Emergency? Not usually, no. With that said, if you’ve tried the steps that we’ve outlined below, but the debris remains firmly lodged in place, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between Your Child's Teeth: First, dissolve some salt in warm water. Next, have your child rinse their mouth with the mixture (always spitting it out when they are done). Then, use a clean strand of floss to gently remove the debris that’s stuck between their teeth.
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