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(469) 925-0861
7030 N Shiloh Rd #200
Garland, TX 75044
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Emergency Kid’s Dentist — Garland, TX

We’re Here When Your Little Ones Need Us Most

As any parent will tell you, children can be quite accident-prone no matter their age, and sometimes, it’s their teeth that pay the price. Also, even a minor dental problem can easily turn into a major one seemingly overnight. In either situation, getting the appropriate care quickly is essential to relieving your child’s discomfort and saving their smile. What should you do when the unexpected happens to your child’s teeth? Simple: just  give Shiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry a call .

Dr. Lily has years of experience handling a wide variety of dental emergencies. When you call in with one, we’ll work you into our schedule so we can see your child as soon as possible. We’re often able to provide same-day care! We’ll also do everything we can to help comfort your child so everyone can feel more relaxed despite the situation. We’ll do what we can to get them out of pain, and if time allows, we’ll even provide necessary restorative treatment. If we can’t get everything done in a single sitting, we’ll be sure to schedule a quick follow-up!

Why Choose Shiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry for Children’s Emergency Dental Care?

  • #1 Compassionate Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist
  • #2 Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments Available
  • #3 Friendly Team with Years of Experience

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Little girl needs to see a Garland children’s emergency dentist

If your little one experiences a dental emergency, don’t panic! While this is certainly easier said than done, it’s crucial to keep cool so you can act quickly and correctly in your child’s time of need. Take a deep breath and follow these easy steps:

  • Step 1: Call us as soon as you can! The sooner you can get in touch with our office, the sooner we can schedule an appointment for you. We often are able to see emergency patients the same day they call us!
  • Step 2: Follow our over-the-phone directions. Once we’ve schedule your appointment, an experienced team member will walk you through what to do to manage your child’s situation until you can reach us.
  • Step 3: See Dr. Lily for an emergency exam. Your children’s emergency dentist in Garland Dr. Lily will see you and your child as soon as you arrive, focusing on alleviating pain while evaluating your little one’s smile.
  • Step 4: Review the findings and make a plan. Lily will review her findings with you and fully explain which treatment or treatments she recommends moving forward with. Together, you’ll make a custom treatment plan that works best for your family’s situation.
  • Step 5: Get the fast, gentle care your child needs. If possible, we’ll begin treating your child right away, whether that’s with a deep cleaning, filling, crown, or something else entirely. We’ll also be sure to schedule any important follow-up appointments if needed!

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

If your child has suffered a severe blow to the head, or possibly has a broken/fractured jaw, please take them to the emergency room or call a doctor before contacting your pediatric dentist. In practically all other situations, you should contact us right away for the care your child needs. Dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, but it’s important to keep in mind that teeth cannot heal themselves. Waiting to see if your child’s symptoms go away on their own could allow the issue to get worse, so give us a call even if you’re unsure if they need urgent treatment. Some of the most common emergencies we treat include the following:

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Smiling boy after children’s toothache treatment in Garland

As a parent, you know that accidents and mistakes with your child can happen unexpectedly, even if you take proper precautions. It’s part of the learning process! However, you should still try to protect their dental health. In other words, you can spare yourself and your little one pain, trouble, and cost by avoiding some dental emergencies entirely. With just a few simple steps, you can help your child’s smile stay strong and prevent unnecessary damage.

Visit Your Pediatric Dentist Regularly

girl brushing her teeth to prevent kids toothache in Garland

There’s a reason why we recommend coming in for a checkup and cleaning appointment every six months. Bringing your child in for regular dental appointments will enable your pediatric dentist in Garland, Dr. Lily, to catch and fix a small problem before it can turn into an emergency later. It also allows us to remove stubborn plaque so that cavities or other issues don’t develop in the future.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home

Child eating watermelon to prevent children’s dental emergencies in Garland

Make caring for their smile an integral part of your child’s routine. They should be brushing and flossing every day to remove bacteria and plaque from their teeth. These small habits can make a huge difference in stopping tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems before they harm your child’s smile.

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

Little boy holding mouthguard to prevent kid’s cracked tooth in Garland

The foods and drinks your child consumes has an effect on their dental health. Try to limit their sugar and starch intake because these can actually promote bacterial growth in their mouth. Instead of juice, have your child drink water, which naturally neutralizes decay-causing acids and washes away bacteria.

Protect Those Pearly Whites with a Mouthguard

Chil

Make sure your child wears a protective mouthguard if they play any kind of sport, contact or otherwise. Nearly 40% of all childhood dental injuries are sports-related! If they dislike wearing the generic mouthguards you find at a sporting goods store, we can fabricate a custom mouthguard that will fit more comfortably and securely.

Remember: Teeth Aren’t Tools

Girl chewing nails headed for kid’s chipped tooth in Garland

Teeth are hard, but they are still vulnerable to chipping and cracking under immense force. Ensure that your child doesn’t regularly bite/chew extremely hard items like ice, pens, pencils, fingernails, etc. If they try to open packaging with their teeth, encourage them to find scissors or the appropriate tool to avoid damaging their teeth.

Understanding the Cost of Treating Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Picture of a smiling child

Whether your child is dealing with a broken baby tooth or a damaged oral appliance, we know that quick and effective treatment is important in order to make sure that they’re able to feel their best. We don’t want the prospect of paying for your child’s dental care to add stress or delay the treatment, which is why we make the services we provide as affordable as possible.

Until we can give you a full estimate in person, here’s what you should know about the finances associated with pediatric dental emergencies.

Every Pediatric Dental Emergency Is Different

Child in a dentist’s chair

Every pediatric dental emergency is unique, making it difficult to provide an accurate cost estimate without seeing the patient first. Factors like the type and severity of the injury, the child’s age, and any underlying dental issues all affect treatment options. For example, a simple chipped tooth may require minimal work, while a more complex injury like a knocked-out tooth might involve multiple procedures. That’s why we always recommend scheduling an appointment as soon as possible. Once we have a clear understanding of your child's situation, we’ll provide a detailed treatment plan and a full cost estimate, so you know exactly what to expect. Our goal is to ensure your child gets the right care with full transparency on pricing.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Pediatric Dental Emergencies?

Dental insurance form on a table

Whether dental insurance covers pediatric dental emergencies depends on the specific policy. Most dental insurance plans cover at least part of emergency treatments, especially for accidents or injuries, but the extent of coverage can vary. Procedures like exams, X-rays, and basic treatments (such as fillings or extractions) are often partially or fully covered. However, more complex treatments, like root canals or crowns, may have higher out-of-pocket costs depending on your plan.

It’s important to review your insurance policy to understand deductibles, coverage limits, and exclusions. If you're unsure, we can assist in checking your coverage and help you navigate the claims process.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save Your Money (or something similar – writer can spin)

Child brushing their teeth

Pediatric dental emergencies can often be prevented through regular preventive care. Routine dental checkups, cleanings, and fluoride treatments help keep your child's teeth strong and healthy. Early detection of potential problems, such as cavities or misaligned teeth, can prevent them from becoming emergencies later. Educating children about proper brushing and flossing techniques also reduces the risk of tooth decay, which is a common cause of dental pain.

Additionally, using custom-fitted mouthguards during sports activities protects teeth from injury. A balanced diet that limits sugary snacks and drinks further supports oral health. By investing in preventive care, parents can significantly reduce the chances of unexpected dental emergencies, ensuring that their child's teeth stay healthy and strong.

Regular visits to the dentist are key to long-term dental health, so whether or not your child is currently dealing with a dental emergency, feel free to reach out to us today!

Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs

Patient with pediatric dental emergency in Garland

It’s not uncommon for children to suffer from sudden injuries, especially as it pertains to the mouth. With so many falls and stumbles, it’s bound to happen. But knowing what to do and how to handle certain situations will help to keep you and your little one calm and collected when a crisis occurs. To help provide greater clarity on some of the most pressing questions parents have, our team at Shiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is here to provide the answers. Review the information below and feel free to call us if you have any additional questions.

Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?

When your child is facing a dental emergency, you might assume that the ER is the best place to go. Only if they are bleeding excessively or experiencing swelling that does not go down should you plan to visit the emergency room. Otherwise, it is best if you bring them into our office. Our team of experts can quickly review the problem and administer appropriate treatment to not only get them out of pain but also improve the state of their smile.

Do chipped teeth heal?

Unfortunately, chipped teeth do not heal on their own. While it is possible for tooth enamel to remineralize over time, it cannot grow back. Should your little one accidentally chip a tooth, our pediatric dentist in Garland will survey the damage and determine the severity before making any treatment recommendations. It may be that we can apply direct bonding to the area to fill in the missing area and help your child’s smile look as good as new.

Should my child’s knocked-out tooth be placed in water?

While it is okay to gently rinse your child’s knocked-out tooth with water, it should never be placed in a container of water. Not only can it damage the surface cells of the tooth, but it can reduce the chances of keeping it viable. Instead, it is best to try and reinsert it into the socket or in a container of milk. No matter, you should get your child to our office within an hour of the incident if you want to try and save their permanent tooth.

What should I keep in an emergency dentistry kit?

Because children can suffer a dental emergency at any time, any place, it is wise to keep an emergency kit on hand. In it, you should include:

  • A small storage container should a tooth fall out
  • Gauze pads
  • Cotton balls
  • Floss
  • Topical anesthetic
  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Ice pack
  • Sterile gloves
  • Phone number to our practice
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Toothache

Is my child’s toothache an emergency? If your little one has a toothache, it could be due to something stuck between their teeth or an untreated cavity. However, toothaches can also sometimes be caused by serious issues that need urgent attention. Check to see if their tooth is loose, discolored, or broken, look for a small bump on their gums, and ask your child if they feel a sharp pain while biting down. These are all signs of a true dental emergency that needs to be treated right away!

How you should handle your child’s toothache: Try to gently floss around their affected tooth and have them rinse with warm salt water. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you can give them an over-the-counter children’s pain medication as directed on the packaging to help with their discomfort until you reach our dental office.

How we treat toothaches in children: How we treat your child’s toothache will depend on the cause. Sometimes, treatment may be as simple as a tooth-colored filling, fluoride treatment, or dental sealant. However, in more severe cases, we may need to perform pulp therapy (root canal for kids) or an extraction.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings Fillings

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Dental Sealants

Learn More About Pulp Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Cracked Tooth

Is my child’s cracked tooth an emergency? Depending on where the fracture occurs and the severity of the damage, a broken tooth may be an urgent matter. The enamel of the teeth protect the sensitive inner chamber that contains the pulp and nerve. Exposing this inner portion can be quite painful, and can eventually lead to a serious infection. Plus, if not addressed right away, the damage can potential get worse to the point where the tooth cannot be repaired. If your child cracks a tooth, you should see us right away.

How you should handle your child’s cracked tooth: Have your child rinse their mouth out with water. If needed, you can use a clean washcloth to stop any bleeding or apply an ice pack to bring down swelling and numb discomfort. An over-the-counter children’s pain reliever can be administered if necessary. If possibly, keep your child from eating or chewing until we can see them.

How we treat children’s cracked teeth: Very minor damage can often be addressed with direct bonding, which uses the same durable, tooth-colored composite resin as fillings. On the other end of the spectrum, if a tooth has been cracked beyond repair, we may recommend extraction. The most common treatment for a child’s cracked tooth is a custom-made dental crown.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Chipped Tooth

Is my child’s chipped tooth an emergency? Chipped teeth are not typically considered a serious dental emergency that needs to be treated immediately. However, you should call us to make an appointment right away. Enamel cannot repair itself, so the longer a chipped tooth goes unaddressed, the higher the risk is of the tooth becoming more damaged.

How you should handle your child’s chipped tooth: Have your child rinse their mouth with warm water, and try to find any large pieces of the tooth that you can. Put them in a safe container and bring them to our dental office. If the remaining tooth is causing irritation in the mouth, you can cover it with either a piece of sugarless gum or some dental wax (which you’ll find at your local pharmacy). If possible, keep your child from eating or chewing until we can see them.

How we treat children’s chipped teeth: In the vast majority of cases, we’ll be able to quickly and easily repair a chipped tooth with direct bonding. We’ll use durable, tooth-colored composite resin to reshape the tooth and fill in the damaged area until it looks good as new. If the chip occurred due to a sports accident, we will likely recommend having your child fitted with a custom-made athletic sportsguard.

Learn More About Custom Sportsguards

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

Is a knocked-out permanent tooth an emergency? A knocked-out permanent tooth is a more serious issue and needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. In fact, you need to reach our office withing 30-60 minutes for the best chances of saving the tooth! Call our team immediately for help and be sure to handle the tooth carefully in order to keep it viable.

How you should handle a knocked out permanent tooth: Only touch the tooth by the crown, making sure to avoid the roots. You can rinse the tooth off with water, but don’t use any soaps or disinfectants, and don’t scrub away any remaining tissue on the tooth. You or your child can try to place the tooth back into the socket it came from. If that’s not possible, store it in a small bag of milk or saliva.

How we treat knocked-out permanent teeth: Our goal is always to reattach the natural tooth if possible. If the tooth is still in good condition by the time we see you, we’ll gently place it back into the socket and secure it to the neighboring teeth. Over the coming months, the tooth will slowly reintegrate with the jawbone. However, if the tooth cannot be saved, we’ll need to discuss tooth replacement options. Dental implants are the gold standard for tooth replacement, but only teens who are 18 years or older can qualify for them. In most cases, we may simply need to place a dental bridge or a space maintainer.

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

Is a knocked-out baby tooth an emergency? In an ideal world, a baby tooth would just fall out on its own, but sometimes life gets in the way of nature! If your child suddenly knocks a baby tooth out due to an accident or injury, we will want to see them for a quick appointment to make sure the surrounding teeth are ok, if any action needs to be taken, and to ensure that the permanent tooth underneath wasn’t injured.

How you should handle a knocked-out baby tooth: Have your child rinse their mouth with water and use a tissue to control any bleeding. If your little one is in pain, you can hold an ice pack to the outside of their cheek for 10-minute intervals once bleeding has stopped. You can also judiciously administer children’s OTC pain relievers if you see fit. If possible, keep them from eating hard, crunchy, acidic, and sticky foods until we can see them.

How we treat knocked out baby teeth: We need to evaluate your child to determine if action needs to be taken once a baby tooth has been knocked out. In some cases, we may not need to do anything, or we may need to perform some light repairs to the surrounding teeth. If the baby tooth was knocked out very prematurely, we may need to place a space maintainer to ensure that the neighboring teeth don’t tilt into the gap and trap the permanent tooth underneath.

Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek

Is a bitten tongue, lip, or cheek an emergency? Injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth can often be alarming because they tend to hurt and bleed a lot. Fortunately, they rarely need professional care and can usually be treated at home. However, if you cannot control the bleeding after 10 minutes, you should go directly to your local ER.

How you should handle your child’s soft tissue injury: If your child happens to bite their tongue, lip, or cheek severely enough for bleeding to occur, it’s important to clean the area well. Have your child rinse their mouth out with water several times and then apply pressure to the area with a clean wet washcloth or piece of gauze. Once the bleeding has stopped, you can apply an ice pack or cold compress to the outside of the mouth to numb discomfort and bring down swelling.

How we treat soft tissue injuries in children: We trust your instincts as a parent, so if you’re concerned about your child’s bitten lip, tongue, or cheek, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We may want to see them to ensure that no damage occurred to the teeth, and in some cases, we may provide stitches. If the injury occurred due to a sports accident, this may be the perfect time to have your child fitted for a custom-made athletic sportsguard.

Dental Concussion

Is my child’s dental concussion an emergency? If your child’s tooth is shoved out of place but hasn’t been knocked out yet, it’s considered a dental concussion. This injury happens most often in sports. Depending on the severity of the situation, your little one may need to come into our office right away. Keep an eye out for symptoms like significant pain or a permanent tooth that’s very out of place or darkening.

How you should handle your child’s dental concussion: Ask your child to carefully rinse their mouth to wash away any lingering bacteria. If needed, they can take over-the-counter pain medication or use a cold compress to ease discomfort. Make sure they avoid touching the tooth until we provide further instructions.

How we treat dental concussions in children: First, our team will assess the tooth in question and take X-rays to identify the best course of action. Slightly concussed teeth can sometimes straighten themselves over time. In more severe cases, solutions like root canal therapy or orthodontics may be necessary to save your child’s smile.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Sensitive Teeth

Are my child’s sensitive teeth an emergency? Cavities are the most common cause of sensitive teeth in children. If left untreated, they can cause serious oral health problems down the line. It’s important to get your child’s sensitivity checked out right away as it can indicate damage, worn fillings, bruxism, or an infection.

How you should handle your child’ sensitive teeth: When you give us a call, we’ll provide instructions to help manage your child’s sensitivity at home. Some tips we often recommend include using desensitizing toothpaste, drinking lukewarm water, and avoiding sweet or spicy foods.

How we treat sensitive teeth in children: Our team will need to perform an oral examination to identify the underlying cause of your child’s sensitivity. In most cases, we recommend fluoride treatment or dental sealants.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatments

Learn More About Dental Sealants

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Lost Filling/Crown

Is my child’s lost filling or crown an emergency? While dental restorations are certainly reliable, they’re not meant to last forever. If your child’s filling or crown falls out, they may need immediate treatment to protect the exposed tooth from further infection or damage.

How you should handle your child’s lost filling or crown: If possible, locate the restoration and store it in a safe place. Our team may be able to recement it back into place. Make sure your child avoids eating sweet, spicy, or acidic foods while they wait for their appointment. Taking over-the-counter pain medication and covering the tooth with sugar-free wax can help ease any discomfort your little one experiences.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns in children: If your child’s restoration cannot be placed back into their mouth, a replacement may be needed. Your little one needs to visit us right away so we can determine the best course of action for their oral health. It’ll also help ensure we won’t need to treat other issues like an infection.

Learn More About Fillings

Something Stuck between Teeth

Is having something stuck between my child’s teeth an emergency? Not necessarily, but you should contact us right away if you can’t get dislodge the debris from between your child’s teeth by yourself. Our team is specially trained to remove foreign objects from teeth safely and effectively.

How you should handle something stuck between your child’s teeth: Use dental floss between their teeth to try and dislodge the debris. It’ll also help to encourage them to rinse their mouth with warm water. Avoid using sharp objects like a toothpick as it could easily cause damage. If you can’t remove it yourself, don’t hesitate to give us a call.