Emergency Dental Care For Kids in Fort Collins, CO
Pediatric Dentistry of the Rockies provides the immediate dental accident care your children need, right when they need it.
Relieve Pain Quickly
Save Permanent Teeth
Prevent Complications
What is Emergency Pediatric Dental Care?
Emergency pediatric care involves immediate, specialized treatment for critical oral situations. If your child experiences a knocked-out tooth, severe pain, or a sudden infection, you need fast action.
In these unexpected moments of distress, our team supports your child every step of the way. At Pediatric Dentistry of the Rockies, we provide emergency pediatric dental care for families in Fort Collins, CO, and the surrounding areas, no matter the cause.
When Every Minute Matters: Symptoms to Watch For
Not sure if your child’s oral pain requires an emergency visit? Watch closely for these critical warning signs:
Lost Tooth
Visit a dentist immediately if your child loses a permanent tooth. Quick action allows the dentist to save the tooth. (Read our step-by-step handling instructions at the bottom of this page.)
Severe Mouth Pain
Hidden dental problems like abscesses or infections cause intense pain and require antibiotics. If over-the-counter medication fails to ease the pain, bring your child in as soon as possible.
Pus or Infection
Pus or red, puffy gums around the teeth indicate an active infection. Overlooked and untreated cavities cause dangerous infections that require rapid medical treatment.
Extreme Sensitivity
Sudden, extreme sensitivity to hot, cold, or pressure points to a tooth abscess or serious infection. Schedule a dentist appointment as soon as possible.
Severe Ear Pain
Facial nerves sit very close together. Intense ear pain often signals a deep tooth abscess. If your pediatrician rules out an ear infection, schedule a dental evaluation right away.
Excessive Bleeding Due To a Mouth Injury
Unless the bleeding comes directly from a missing tooth socket, take your child to a pediatrician or urgent care doctor first. They will refer you back to a kids’ dentist for follow-up dental care.
Quick Reference Guide:
ER or Dentist’s Office?
Most hospital emergency rooms are not equipped to handle dental emergencies. Use this quick reference guide to choose the right location:
Emergency Room
Go to the Hospital Emergency Room If…
- The child cut or bit their tongue, lip, or cheek severely
- The child sustained a severe blow to the head
- You suspect a broken or fractured jaw
- You observe excessive, uncontrollable bleeding from the mouth
Dental Office
Go to the Dental Office If…
- A tooth that needs to be pulled
- A permanent tooth got knocked out
- A permanent tooth is chipped or fractured
- The child lost or cracked a filling, crown, or veneer
How to Handle Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Chipped/Fractured Baby Tooth
Chipped/Fractured Permanent Tooth
Time is a critical factor. Contact your pediatric dentist immediately to lower the risk of infection and avoid extensive future dental treatments. Rinse the mouth with water, apply a cold compress to limit swelling, and bring any recovered tooth pieces with you.
Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek
Apply ice to injured areas to minimize swelling. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. Visit the emergency room if bleeding continues after applying pressure.
Knocked Out Baby Tooth
Contact your pediatric dentist. Never reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth, as it can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. Most cases do not require treatment.
Knocked out Permanent Tooth
Locate the tooth immediately. Handle the tooth only by the upper crown, never by the root.
- Rinse the tooth with water only.
- Do NOT use soap, scrub it, or handle it unnecessarily.
- Inspect the tooth for fractures.
- Try to gently reinsert the tooth into the socket if the tooth is intact.
- Have your child bite on clean gauze or cloth to hold it in place.
If you cannot reinsert it, place the tooth in a cup of the child’s saliva or milk (do NOT use water). Older children can carry the tooth inside their mouth next to their cheek. See a dentist IMMEDIATELY to save the tooth.
Possible Broken or Fractured Jaw
Immobilize the jaw and transport your child to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
Severe Blow to the Head
Call 911 or take your child to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Toothache
Clean the area of the affected tooth. Rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water or use dental floss to remove trapped food particles. If pain persists, contact your dentist. Do NOT place aspirin or heat directly on the gums or the aching tooth. If you notice facial swelling, apply a cold compress and contact us immediately.
Why Families Trust Rockies Kids DDS
Families across Northern Colorado choose Rockies Kids DDS for expert, compassionate care. We provide:
Board-certified Pediatric Dentists
Delivering the highest standard of specialized care for every child.
Sedation & Hospital Privileges
Safe, comfortable treatment for anxious or medically complex children.
Experience with Special-needs & Anxious Patients
Gentle, personalized care that puts kids at ease.
At Rockies Kids DDS, trust is built into every smile.
Emergency Dental FAQs
What should I do if my child knocks out a tooth?
For a permanent tooth, hold it by the crown, rinse gently without scrubbing, and place it back in the socket or store it in milk. Call us immediately for guidance. For a baby tooth, do not reinsert it; contact us immediately so we can evaluate the surrounding gums and teeth for injury.
Can a baby tooth be saved after an injury?
Yes, sometimes. Depending on the type of injury, we may stabilize the tooth or monitor it over time. Even if we cannot save the baby tooth, fast dental care will protect the developing permanent tooth.
Do you offer after-hours emergency dental care?
Yes. Our doctors provide after-hours support for urgent dental needs. When you call our office main line, you will receive instructions on how to reach our on-call pediatric dentist in Fort Collins.
How do I know if my child’s toothache is an emergency?
Severe pain, facial swelling, fever, physical trauma, or pain that wakes your child up at night indicates a true dental emergency. If you remain unsure, call our office, and we will help you determine the urgency.
Is sedation available for emergency procedures?
Yes. We offer safe, age-appropriate sedation options when needed to keep children comfortable and calm during urgent treatments.
Experience the Rockies Way
We deliver happy patients and exceptional oral health from day one. That’s the Rockies Way.
