Pediatric Emergenciesin Fairfax and Northern Virginia
When your child is facing a dental crisis, time is of the essence. Immediate attention can make all the difference. Get in touch with us immediately to consult our experts and preserve that precious grin! Not sure if it's a dental emergency for your little one? Read on.
Why Should My Child Get Emergency Dental Care?
First off, immediate dental care can relieve your child's pain or discomfort. Issues like tooth pain, fractured teeth, and other oral issues can lead to severe discomfort disrupting their academics, extracurricular activities, and more. Getting professional help will alleviate their distress so they can get back to their regular schedule. You'll also prevent additional complications caused by leaving their condition untreated. Most importantly though, you'll find relief knowing your child's oral health is restored once more.
Symptoms of Tongue Tie
While every child and family experience is unique, the following symptoms are commonly seen in infants, children, and nursing mothers when a tongue or lip tie is present.
Infant and Child Symptoms
Difficulty with nursing or latching
Feeding frustration or prolonged feeding times
Speech delays or speech articulation problems
Persistent migraines or headaches (in older children)
Cavities, gum disease, bad breath, or other oral health issues
Difficulty maintaining proper dental hygiene
Trouble chewing age-appropriate solid foods
Avoidance of solid foods or preference for very soft foods
Gagging, choking, or vomiting with certain foods
Eating very small amounts or holding food in the mouth
Consistent dribbling or excessive drooling
Nursing Mother’s Symptoms
Pain during breastfeeding
Creased, flattened, or blanched nipples after nursing
Lipstick-shaped nipples
Blistered or cracked nipples
Poor or incomplete breast drainage
Decreased milk supply
Plugged ducts, breast engorgement, or mastitis
Nipple thrush
Baby consistently preferring one breast over the other
Signs & Symptoms Your Child May Need Airway Dentistry
Children don’t always outgrow breathing problems — many signs are subtle and show up as behavior, sleep issues, or facial development changes. Airway dentistry focuses on identifying these early so your child can breathe, sleep, and grow properly.
Mouth breathing (day or night)
Snoring or noisy sleep
Restless sleep or frequent waking
Dark circles under the eyes
Teeth grinding or clenching
Bedwetting beyond toddler years
Daytime fatigue or behavior issues
Trouble focusing or learning difficulties
Narrow jaw, crowded teeth, or high palate
Frequent congestion, sore throats, or enlarged tonsils
The Benefits of Immediate Emergency Dental Care
Alleviation of Pain & Discomfort
A fractured tooth, a dislodged crown, or a throbbing toothache can lead to immense discomfort. The only solution to alleviate this pain is through professional dental care provided by an adept emergency dentist. After receiving treatment at our practice, your child can return to their daily activities without enduring pain or further distress.
Avoid Further Complications
Oftentimes, delaying medical help for your child can make their condition worse. For instance, if they have a tooth infection, early detection and intervention with a root canal or pulpotomy could potentially save the tooth. However, prolonged delays may result in irreversible damage to the infected tooth which might require extraction and pose serious health risks like sepsis - an extreme response to severe infection that can be life-threatening.
Save Time & Money
The quicker you seek emergency care, the more cost-effective your child’s treatment will be. For example; mending a broken tooth with a filling costs significantly less than restoring it it with a dental crown. If you consult with our dentist as soon as you notice any issue in your child's oral health, both time and money will be saved.
Our Difference
Problem-Focused Exams
When issues arise, our team can perform problem-focused exams (also known as limited exams) to help address the issues. Limited exams allow us to focus on what’s hurting or injured so we can get your kiddo out of pain fast.
Same-Day Appointments
During a dental emergency, things can change in an instant. That’s why we offer same-day care to ensure your child gets immediate attention when they need it most.
The Emergency Dentistry Treatment Process
Call For An Appointment
The moment you realize your child is experiencing a dental emergency, don't hesitate to contact our office. We'll discuss the issue at hand, arrange an appointment with your dentist, (on the same-day if necessary), and provide guidance on managing the situation until your child's appointment time.
Emergency Exam
When you arrive at our practice, your child’s dentist will conduct a thorough examination of their oral condition. They will work to identify the root cause of the problem and determine the most suitable treatment for your child's specific needs.
Treating Your Child’s Condition
Every child and every dental emergency is unique. Some common emergency dental procedures include root canals, dental fillings, crowns, tooth extractions, and splints for dislodged or loose teeth. Rest assured that our dentist will ensure your child receives the care they need to get out of pain and restore their healthy smile.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out these frequently asked questions, or call us to speak with our team.
Knocked-out baby teeth are not usually replaced, even if they’re lost prematurely. If it’s a baby tooth, your child will need to come into our office to have their mouth examined and cleaned to prevent infection, and to get a “space maintainer.” This prosthetic will maintain the proper gap between their teeth, preventing the adjacent teeth from shifting toward the now-empty socket.
For an adult tooth, though, you need to get help immediately. Recover the tooth, rinse it, and put it in a container of cold milk to keep it moist. Then, come to our office immediately. Don't spend too much time treating pain or bleeding. Your child’s tooth must be re-attached within 1-2 hours for it to be saved, so time is of the essence. We can treat your child’s pain when they get to our office.
Collect the filling, crown, or other piece of dental work and place it in a plastic baggie. Then, call us for a same-day appointment, and make sure to bring your child’s dental work in with you. It may be possible to reattach a crown instead of completely replacing it.
A severe toothache could indicate that your child has a deep cavity or an infected tooth. You should schedule a consultation at our office right away, as these are both serious dental emergencies that will only get worse without proper treatment.
First, treat their discomfort and bleeding. Then, contact us for a same-day appointment. Even minor tooth damage can cause hairline fractures and these fractures could lead to infections and other complications. After consulting with your child’s dentist, they can determine the best treatment for restoring the damaged tooth, and ensure your child’s smile remains healthy and strong.
If a baby tooth has come loose and it’s not due to an oral injury, you don’t have to do anything. Baby teeth are meant to fall out eventually, so this is natural.
However, if one of their teeth becomes loose and is bleeding after an oral injury, it may not be ready to fall out yet. The best thing to do is to get a consultation with your child’s dentist to have their mouth examined, and determine whether the tooth can be saved or if it should be replaced with a space maintainer.
