What is emergency dental care?

Regular visits to the dentist can help prevent dental emergencies, but unfortunately, accidents happen, and dental emergencies may arise. At Smile Wright Dental, we know you can’t always plan ahead for these types of visits, and when the need arises, we will be here for you. If your child experiences a dental emergency, call us as soon as possible to get the care they need.

What dental emergencies can you treat?

We are proud to offer treatment for many dental emergencies, including:

• Severe or long-lasting tooth pain
• Lost dental restoration, like a filling or crown
• Damage to lips, teeth, or tongue
• A cracked or fractured tooth
• A chipped or broken tooth
• A partially or fully knocked-out tooth

What should I do if my child has a dental emergency?

If your child suffers an injury to their mouth or has another kind of dental emergency, call us right away. We will help you determine the best course of action to fix the problem and will instruct you on how to take care of the emergency until Dr. Wright can see you in our office. Serious injuries to the mouth can lead to worse problems, like tooth loss or infection, if they are not taken care of immediately. Other emergencies, like a chipped tooth, may not require immediate attention.

Are toothaches dental emergencies?

If you have experienced a bad toothache, you know how painful they can get! For some children, a toothache can become so severe that it does require immediate attention, however, sometimes the cause is more benign. The following are some common causes of a toothache:

• Tooth decay – if a toothache lasts longer than one day, tooth decay is the most common cause. You should call Smile Wright Dental if you see a yellow or brown defect in the enamel of one of your child’s teeth.
• Dental abscess – if the pain in your child’s tooth is severe and throbbing, it could be a sign that they have a dental abscess. That means an infection has formed a pocket of pus within the root of the tooth. If left untreated, an abscess can erode the bone under the tooth.
• Stuck food – if your child has recently eaten some hard foods, like apples or popcorn, their toothache could be caused by some leftovers stuck between the teeth. Proper flossing should remove the food and stop the pain.