Emergencies
Emergency Pediatric Dental Care for Fort Collins, CO
Providing your kids with the care they need, when they need it.
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Preserve permanent teeth
Prevent potential complications
What is Emergency Pediatric Dental Care?
Emergency pediatric care involves immediate and specialized help for a knocked-out tooth, severe pain, infections, or other critical situations. In these unexpected moments of distress, we're here to help your child. With our specialized emergency care, you can trust that we're always ready to ensure your child's well-being, offering comfort to both them and you.
At Pediatric Dentistry of the Rockies, we are prepared to provide emergency pediatric dental care no matter what the cause for kids in Fort Collins, CO and the surrounding area.
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Not sure if your child’s pain is a pediatric dental emergency? Here’s what to watch for:
Lost Tooth
You should see your dentist as quickly as possible if your child loses a permanent tooth because the dentist may be able to save it. (Read more at the bottom of this page.)
Severe Mouth Pain
Many dental problems like infections are hard to spot and may require antibiotics. If over-the-counter medication recommended by your child’s pediatrician isn’t doing much to alleviate the pain, your child should be seen as soon as possible.
Pus or Infection
Pus or red, puffy gums around the teeth can be signs of an infection. Overlooked and untreated cavities can cause dangerous infections that should be treated quickly.
Extreme Sensitivity
If your child has not previously been overly sensitive to temperature, but becomes extremely sensitive to temperature (or pressure), this may indicate an abscess or other infection. Schedule a dentist appointment as soon as possible.
Excessive bleeding from the mouth due to an injury
Unless the bleeding is coming from a missing tooth’s socket, kids should first see their pediatrician or an urgent care doctor; they may be referred to their dentist for additional care afterwards.
Severe ear pain
Fun fact – facial nerves are really close neighbors. So, if your little one is dealing with intense ear pain, it might be connected to a tooth abscess. That's why it's a good idea to schedule an appointment with a dentist if your pediatrician doesn’t see any sign of an ear infection.
Er or Dentist's Office?
Did you know most emergency rooms are not equipped to handle dental emergencies?
Here’s where to go for oral emergencies:
DENTAL OFFICE
- A tooth that needs to be pulled
- Knocked out permanent tooth
- Chipped/Fractured permanent tooth
- Lost or cracked filling, crown, or veneer
EMERGENCY ROOM
- Cut or bitten tongue, lip or cheek
- Severe blow to the head
- Possible broken or fractured jaw
- Excessive bleeding from the mouth
Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Time is a critical factor, contact your pediatric dentist immediately so as to reduce the chance for infection or the need for extensive dental treatment in the future. Rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth piece, bring it with you to the dentist.
Apply ice to injured areas to help control swelling. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding cannot be controlled by simple pressure, call a doctor or visit the hospital emergency room.
Contact your pediatric dentist. Unlike with a permanent tooth, the baby tooth should not be replanted due to possible damage to the developing permanent tooth. In most cases, no treatment is necessary.
If possible, find the tooth. Handle it by the crown, not by the root. You may rinse the tooth with water only. DO NOT clean with soap, scrub or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in the socket. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a gauze or clean cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk, NOT water. If the patient is old enough, the tooth may also be carried in the patient’s mouth (beside the cheek). The patient must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.
Keep the jaw from moving and take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Call 911 immediately or take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Clean the area of the affected tooth. Rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge any food that may be impacted. If the pain still exists, contact your child's dentist. Do not place aspirin or heat on the gum or on the aching tooth. If the face is swollen, apply cold compresses and contact your dentist immediately.
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