A dental emergency can strike at any time. Unfortunately, they often arise in the evenings or on the weekends — when most dental offices are closed! If your child develops oral health symptoms after-hours, should you try to contact their dentist? Or should you wait until normal business hours? That really depends on the situation. This blog post aims to help you make wise decisions.
When to Call the Dentist After-Hours
Your child’s dentist should be your first call when the problem is extremely painful, sudden, or related to a tooth injury. Call the after-hours number if:
- Your child has a knocked-out permanent tooth; getting prompt care can make a major difference in whether it can be saved. In the meantime, keep the tooth moist in milk or in a tooth preservation kit.
- Your child has another type of serious dental injury, such as a severely cracked or broken tooth, a tooth that has been pushed out of position, or mouth bleeding that slows with pressure but still concerns you.
- Your child has severe tooth pain, swelling near a tooth, or pain that interferes with eating, sleeping, or normal activities. A pimple-like bump on the gums that accompanies tooth pain signals a particularly urgent emergency.
- You need instructions on how to help your child manage the pain and minimize the damage to their oral health.
When to Visit the ER
Some situations are serious enough to skip the dental voicemail and go to the nearest emergency room. Seek emergency medical care right away if:
- Your child has difficulty breathing or swallowing.
- Swelling is spreading through their face or neck.
- Your child has a high fever with facial or oral swelling.
- An oral injury is causing severe or uncontrolled bleeding.
- Your child loses consciousness.
- You suspect a broken jaw.
The ER may not be able to provide definitive dental treatment, but they can address urgent medical concerns, control bleeding, evaluate facial injuries, and help manage serious infections or trauma. If possible, call your child’s dentist on the way or after your child is stable so the dental team can help coordinate follow-up care.
When to Wait
Not every dental concern requires after-hours care. A tiny chip with no pain, mild sensitivity, a loose baby tooth, a small sore spot from braces, or a dull toothache that improves with basic comfort measures can often wait until the next business day. You can still leave a message for the dental office, but it is usually reasonable to monitor your child, encourage soft foods, and keep the area clean until the team returns your call. You can also provide appropriate doses of over-the-counter pain medications.
Deciding what to do in a dental emergency is not always easy. If you have any doubts about how to handle your child’s situation, contact their pediatric dentist as soon as possible.
Meet the Practice
At Pediatric Dentistry of Loveland, Drs. Katie and Matthew — along with our team — are proud to offer high-quality care for kids in our community. We strive to provide same-day emergency services whenever possible. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s oral health, we encourage you to contact us at 970-669-7711.