Emergency Pediatric Dentist — New Britain, CT
Providing Immediate Care When It’s Needed Most
Looking for a dental practice that can treat your child’s dental emergency? Here at Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, our team of professionals knows exactly what to do to save your little one’s teeth and prevent them from experiencing negative long-term consequences. Children often run and play with a fearless attitude, and when a dental injury occurs, you should feel confident knowing that the right people are taking care of your little one’s smile. To learn more about us or to inquire about the ways in which we treat pediatric dental emergencies in New Britain, contact us today!
Why Choose Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for Children’s Emergency Dental Care?
- Friendly & Compassionate Dental Team
- Dental Insurance Accepted & Financing Available
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
What to Do in a Pediatric Dental Emergency
Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind if your child is suffering from a dental emergency is that your child will take after your demeanor. That said, keep calm and collected to ensure your child that the situation can be addressed, and then act quickly. Here are three simple steps you should follow:
- Call Us Quickly – You should give us a call as soon as possible and explain your child’s situation to our team. In most cases, we’ll be able to give you some steps to follow that can help address minor symptoms, such as tooth pain or swelling. We’ll ensure that you’re doing everything you should be before your child’s emergency appointment.
- Bring Your Child to Their Appointment – Dental emergencies won’t resolve on their own, even with at-home first-aid, meaning that you should bring your child to their scheduled appointment once it’s set up. Once they’re here, we’ll take over! We can perform an emergency examination to determine the cause of the problem, which sometimes requires X-rays. In any case, we’ll review our findings with you before we begin covering the anticipated treatment plan and associated timeline/costs.
- Get Them the Urgent Care They Need – Our team’s top priority is helping your child get out of any pain they’re feeling before resolving the issue that’s plaguing their smile. If they suffer from dental-related anxiety, we’re more than happy to provide sedation dentistry options. The objective is simple: ensure that your child leaves with a pain-free and healthy grin!
The Most Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Just as no two smiles are alike, no two pediatric dental emergencies are exactly the same! Whether your child is dealing with a toothache, hypersensitivity, a damaged tooth, or something else entirely, you shouldn’t hesitate to give us a call, rather than rushing straight to the ER or searching the Internet for answers. This will always save you the most time, effort, and money! When you call, we’ll give you personalized first-aid over the phone, depending on the situation your child is dealing with. Below are some common pediatric dental emergencies, along with how we’re able to provide initial assistance:
Understanding the Cost of Pediatric Dental Emergencies
When your little one suffers a dental emergency, getting them urgent care should be your top priority—not fretting about the potential bill! That said, since every smile is different, as are the situations they encounter, there is no exact or fixed cost for emergency dentistry. When you come to visit us, we’ll be able to give you an expected cost of treatment after we’ve examined your child’s mouth and determined an appropriate course of action. Continue reading below to learn a little more about pediatric dental emergencies and their expected cost, or feel free to contact us today to request additional information.
Every Pediatric Dental Emergency Is Different
Emergency pediatric dentistry might not be as expensive as you think, since every situation usually differs from patient to patient. For example, a slightly damaged tooth is usually cheaper to fix than a tooth that has suffered severe trauma. When you bring your child in for their appointment, our team will quickly conduct an examination to determine the best way of alleviating their discomfort and resolving the issue. We will then walk you through every step of the process and explain every price detail you need so that there aren’t any surprises when it’s time to pay your bill!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Pediatric Dental Emergencies?
You’ll be happy to hear that the majority of dental insurance providers will typically offer some coverage for pediatric dental emergencies. This often includes one yearly emergency exam that might be fully covered, in addition to partial coverage for common services including root canal therapy, restorations like crowns, extractions and more. That said, it’s worth mentioning that every plan and patient’s circumstances are different, so it’s always wise to confirm the details of your coverage with your provider if you’re unsure about committing to a particular treatment. Our skilled team is happy to sit down with you and navigate the specifics of your plan; we want your little one’s smile to be taken care of, too!
Other Options for Making Pediatric Dental Emergencies Affordable
We understand the importance of being able to afford emergency care when your child needs it; financial barriers should never get in the way. That’s why in addition to working with various dental insurance providers, we’re also thrilled to offer financing through LendingPoint that can assist you with paying for your child’s treatment at an affordable monthly rate.
Taking Care of Your Child’s Smile Can Save You Money
The most effective way you can save money when it comes to caring for your child’s smile is by simply avoiding the need for emergency care—though, this is often easier said than done. However, there are still many measures you can take to protect their pearly whites, mainly enforcing a proactive approach concerning oral hygiene. With excellent at-home care coupled with routine preventive care, your child can enjoy great dental health for several years to come, while also being at a lowered risk of dental emergencies. It’s also crucial that in the instance of a damaged tooth, you seek treatment for your child quickly to prevent future, costly problems from occurring.
How to Prevent Pediatric Dental Emergencies
As a parent, you want your child to remain safe and entirely accident-free, right? Unfortunately, this is sometimes hard to do, especially when it comes to their teeth and gums. For that reason, we’re sharing some simple best practices that will better protect their smile. So, read on!
Bring Your Child in for a Visit Twice a Year
Whether your child is a toddler or a teen, they should be visiting our New Britain dental team for a checkup and cleaning twice a year. That’s because common oral health problems, like tooth decay, can quickly develop under the radar. Plus, plaque and tartar can sometimes be missed at home, and these semi-annual visits give us a chance to remove these harmful substances on an on-going basis.
Tip: Schedule your child’s biannual appointments while they are on break from school!
Make At-Home Oral Hygiene a Priority
Simply put, a solid at-home oral hygiene regimen is essential when it comes to preventing common oral health problems, like cavities. So, make sure that your child is keeping up with their morning and nighttime oral hygiene routines. That includes brushing for a full two minutes each time, flossing daily, and using an antibacterial mouthwash when they are old enough (which is usually in the teen years).
Tip: Buy themed oral hygiene products to make brushing and flossing fun!
Have a Mouthguard Made If They Participate in Sports
Does your child participate in sports at school? Maybe they are involved in an after-school program or prefer a solo activity, like running or rollerblading. Regardless, they should wear a protective mouthguard during games and practices alike. You should also have one made if they grind or clench their teeth, especially if they are doing it at night while they sleep.
Tip: Have a custom mouthguard made so that it fits comfortably!
Keep Foods and Drinks with Added Sugar to a Minimum
It’s no secret that sugar is a culprit of cavities, but that’s not the only thing you should look out for. Hard candies and starchy foods can also damage their teeth, which is why we recommend having your child steer clear of them entirely. Instead, try to find foods that check three boxes: nutrient-dense, smile-friendly, and delicious. A few examples include bananas, yogurt, and oatmeal.
Tip: Make sure your child drinks lots of water. This will help prevent dry mouth!
Discourage Unhealthy Dental Habits
If your child is excited to open a toy or a bag of chips, they might use their teeth to tear into the packaging instead of scissors. That’s one of the quickest ways to wind up with a chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth. So, make sure that they don’t use their teeth as tools! They also shouldn’t bite their nails, chew on the back of their pens/pencils, or bite into ice cubes.
Tip: Use your child’s dentist as a resource!
Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs
The world can come to a screeching halt when your child experiences any type of emergency—especially one that affects their smile! But you aren’t alone, and our team here at Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is here to help! We’ve gathered a few of the most frequently asked questions that we receive about pediatric dental emergencies so that you can rest assured you’re quickly leaping into action and getting your little one’s smile the urgent care it needs. If you have any other questions about what to do during pediatric dental emergencies, don’t hesitate to contact our team today for further assistance!
Are Knocked-Out Baby Teeth Considered a Dental Emergency?
The short answer here is no, knocked-out baby teeth are not usually considered a dental emergency since baby teeth are intended to come out on their own. That said, it’s still advisable to schedule an exam for your little one if one or more of their baby teeth come out prematurely. Our team can inspect their mouth and ensure that no permanent damage has resulted from the displaced baby teeth.
Should I Take My Child to the Emergency Room for Dental Emergencies?
If your child is suffering from a dental emergency, it might feel like you should drop everything and immediately take them to the closest emergency room—but this usually isn’t the best idea. Hospitals generally aren’t equipped to handle dental emergencies properly, and usually, they’re only able to provide pain relief or address certain symptoms. However, if your child has uncontrollable bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a fractured jawbone, or any other type of serious symptom, you shouldn’t hesitate to take them to an ER. Otherwise, don’t wait to schedule an emergency dental visit promptly.
Do Chipped Teeth Heal on Their Own?
Believe it or not, tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body—but it is still not entirely invincible. This means that if your child has a chipped tooth, it won’t fully heal on its own and needs to be addressed by their dentist. Fortunately, there are many treatment options that can effectively remedy the issue and restore the appearance and functionality of the tooth in question.
What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dental Kit?
It’s always wise to be prepared for the unexpected; that way, when unforeseen circumstances occur, you’re much more capable and well-equipped to handle them! This is where an emergency dental kit comes in handy—by having a collection of items suited for urgent situations, your child’s smile can be cared for from the moment an emergency unfolds. You should consider putting together a kit with the following items:
- A card with their emergency dentist’s name and contact information
- Ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain relievers safe for children
- Orthodontic or dental wax
- Gauze pads, cotton balls, or a clean handkerchief
- A small plastic container
- An ice pack or cold compress
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