Get Help for Your Child’s Tooth Pain or Dental Injury
A severe toothache, broken tooth or injury to your child’s mouth can be frightening. Prompt guidance can help relieve discomfort, protect the damaged tooth and reduce the risk of the problem becoming more serious.
At Longhorn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Dr. Reza Arzegar provides pediatric emergency dental care for infants, children and adolescents in Austin, Texas. As a board-certified pediatric dentist with 20 years of experience, Dr. Arzegar has treated thousands of pediatric restorative and extraction cases.
Call us now if your child is experiencing dental pain or has injured a tooth. Contact Longhorn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at 512-892-2443. Our team will ask about your child’s symptoms, explain what to do next and arrange an appointment as promptly as possible.
What Is a Pediatric Dental Emergency?
A pediatric dental emergency is an injury, infection or other oral health problem that requires prompt professional attention. Some situations are clearly urgent, while others may be difficult for a parent to evaluate at home.
Call our office when your child has:
- Severe or persistent tooth pain
- Swelling of the face, gums or jaw
- A chipped, cracked or broken tooth
- A loose or displaced permanent tooth
- A completely knocked-out tooth
- A lost or damaged filling or crown
- Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
- An injury to the lips, cheeks, tongue or gums
- Pus, a pimple on the gums or other signs of infection
- Pain when biting or chewing
- A dental appliance that is broken or causing injury
Even when you are unsure whether a problem is an emergency, call 512-892-2443. Our team can help you determine the appropriate next step.
When to Call 911 or Visit an Emergency Room
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately if your child has a potentially life-threatening injury or medical emergency.
Seek emergency medical care for:
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Loss of consciousness
- A serious head or neck injury
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe facial trauma
- Rapidly increasing swelling that affects breathing or swallowing
- Other symptoms that may require immediate medical attention
Your child may still need follow-up care from Dr. Arzegar after the medical emergency has been addressed.
Severe Toothaches in Children
Tooth pain can be caused by decay, infection, a cracked tooth, an injured filling, food trapped between the teeth or another dental problem. Because the source of pain is not always visible, a professional examination may be necessary.
Until your child can be seen:
- Have them gently rinse with warm water if they are old enough to do so safely.
- Carefully floss around the painful tooth to remove trapped food.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of the face if swelling is present.
- Follow your pediatrician’s or dentist’s guidance regarding appropriate pain medication.
- Do not place aspirin or other medication directly against the tooth or gums.
Call 512-892-2443 promptly if the pain is severe, persistent or accompanied by swelling, fever, drainage or difficulty eating.
What to Do if Your Child Knocks Out a Tooth
The correct response depends on whether the injured tooth is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth. Call our office immediately so we can guide you.
Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
Do not attempt to place a knocked-out baby tooth back into the socket. Reinserting it may damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Control bleeding with clean gauze and contact Longhorn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics for further instructions.
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
A knocked-out permanent tooth requires urgent attention. Handle the tooth by the crown, which is the part normally visible above the gums, rather than by the root.
- If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently without scrubbing it.
- Do not remove attached tissue or allow the tooth to dry out.
- If it can be done safely, place the tooth back into its socket and have your child hold it in place with gentle pressure.
- If the tooth cannot be reinserted, keep it moist and call our office immediately.
Contact Longhorn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at 512-892-2443 while you are preparing to leave so our team can provide instructions.
Chipped, Cracked or Broken Teeth
A damaged tooth may be sensitive, painful or sharp enough to irritate the tongue and cheeks. Even a small chip should be evaluated because the extent of the injury may not be obvious.
After a tooth breaks:
- Have your child gently rinse their mouth with water.
- Save any tooth fragments you can find.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of the face if swelling develops.
- Avoid very hot, cold, hard or sticky foods.
- Call our office for an evaluation.
Depending on the damage, treatment may involve smoothing the tooth, bonding, a tooth-colored filling, a pediatric dental crown or another restorative procedure.
Dental Injuries to the Lips, Tongue or Gums
Falls, sports injuries and accidental bites can damage the soft tissues of the mouth. Gently rinse the area and apply clean gauze with light pressure to help control bleeding. A cold compress may help reduce swelling.
Seek medical care immediately if the wound is deep, the bleeding cannot be controlled or your child has other signs of serious trauma. Contact our office if a tooth may also have been damaged.
Lost Fillings and Pediatric Dental Crowns
A filling or crown may loosen or come out after biting something hard, experiencing an injury or developing additional damage beneath the restoration. Your child may experience sensitivity or discomfort, and the exposed tooth may be vulnerable to further damage.
Do not try to glue a filling or crown back into place. Keep the restoration if you can find it, help your child avoid chewing on that side of the mouth and call 512-892-2443 for guidance.
Swelling and Dental Infections
Facial or gum swelling may indicate an infection that requires prompt evaluation. Other warning signs can include fever, persistent pain, drainage, a bad taste in the mouth or a small bump on the gums.
Do not wait for visible swelling to disappear on its own. Untreated dental infections can worsen and may affect surrounding tissues. Call Longhorn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics promptly so Dr. Arzegar can evaluate your child and recommend appropriate care.
Call 911 or seek emergency medical care if swelling interferes with your child’s breathing or swallowing.
What to Expect at an Emergency Dental Visit
Emergency treatment begins with identifying the source and extent of the problem. Dr. Reza Arzegar may:
- Review how and when the injury or symptoms began.
- Examine the teeth, gums, jaw and surrounding tissues.
- Take digital X-rays when needed to evaluate damage beneath the surface.
- Address pain, bleeding or other immediate concerns.
- Explain the treatment options and recommended next steps.
Treatment depends on your child’s diagnosis and may include a filling, crown, repair of a broken tooth, treatment for an infection, extraction or another pediatric dental procedure.
If your child has extensive treatment needs or cannot safely tolerate care while awake, Dr. Arzegar may discuss appropriate pediatric sedation options.
Why Choose Longhorn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics for Pediatric Emergency Care?
Dental emergencies involving children require clinical experience, patience and an understanding of developing teeth. An injured baby tooth may require a different approach than an injured permanent tooth, and treatment decisions must account for your child’s age, development and comfort.
Dr. Reza Arzegar completed pediatric dental residency training in 2006 and is board certified in pediatric dentistry. Over 20 years of practice, Dr. Arzegar has completed thousands of pediatric fillings, crowns, primary tooth root canal treatments and extractions.
Our child- and family-friendly office includes video games, televisions above the treatment chairs and child-friendly music to help make an unexpected visit feel less intimidating. Learn more about Dr. Arzegar on our meet our doctors page.
Preventing Dental Injuries
Not every dental emergency can be prevented, but a few habits can reduce your child’s risk:
- Encourage your child to wear a properly fitted mouthguard during sports.
- Discourage chewing ice, hard candy, pencils and other hard objects.
- Keep floors, stairs and play areas as free of hazards as possible.
- Use age-appropriate car seats, seat belts and protective sports equipment.
- Schedule routine dental examinations so developing problems can be treated early.
Visit our sports mouthguards page to learn how a custom mouthguard can help protect your child’s teeth during athletic activities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Dental Emergencies
What qualifies as a pediatric dental emergency?
Severe pain, facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, a knocked-out permanent tooth, a displaced tooth and significant dental trauma generally require prompt attention. Call our office whenever you are uncertain about the seriousness of your child’s symptoms.
Can Longhorn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics see my child immediately?
Call 512-892-2443 as soon as the problem occurs. Our team will assess the situation, provide immediate guidance and work to arrange the earliest appropriate appointment based on your child’s needs and availability.
Should I take my child to the dentist or the emergency room?
Most isolated tooth problems should be evaluated by a dentist. Call 911 or visit an emergency room for difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, serious head or neck trauma, severe facial injuries or other potentially life-threatening symptoms.
Should I put a knocked-out baby tooth back in place?
No. Do not reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth because doing so may damage the permanent tooth developing beneath it. Call our office for guidance and an evaluation.
What should I do with a knocked-out permanent tooth?
Handle it by the crown rather than the root, rinse it gently if necessary and keep it moist. Call our office immediately because prompt treatment may improve the chance of saving the tooth.
Does a chipped baby tooth need treatment?
It should be evaluated even if your child is not in pain. A chip can leave a sharp edge, expose sensitive tooth structure or indicate deeper damage that is not visible at home.
What if my child has a toothache but no visible damage?
Tooth pain can come from decay, infection, a crack, an injured restoration or another condition that may not be visible. Contact our office if the pain persists, becomes severe or is accompanied by swelling or fever.
Can dental swelling become dangerous?
Yes. Dental infections can spread beyond the affected tooth. Promptly call our office for facial or gum swelling. Seek emergency medical care if the swelling affects breathing or swallowing.
Where can I find an emergency pediatric dentist in Austin, Texas?
Longhorn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics provides pediatric emergency dental evaluations in Austin, Texas. Call 512-892-2443 for guidance if your child has severe tooth pain, swelling, a broken tooth or another dental injury.
Call for Pediatric Emergency Dental Care in Austin, Texas
Prompt attention can help relieve your child’s discomfort, protect an injured tooth and prevent a dental problem from becoming more serious. Do not wait if your child is in pain or has damaged a tooth.
Call Longhorn Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics now at 512-892-2443 or contact our office online for pediatric emergency dental care in Austin, Texas.
512-892-2443