San Antonio Emergency Pediatric Dentist

Saving Smiles, One Tooth at a Time

From contact sports to playing rough, we understand that accidents happen. But how you handle a dental emergency is what’s important. To save your tooth, it’s important to stay calm and call Dr. Zee at 210-405-KIDS(5437). And if you’re wondering what to do next, read on!

How do I know it’s a dental emergency?

Your child will definitely let you know. Emergencies are quite obvious, but here are some red flags:

• Facial swelling
• Severe toothache
• A cracked or broken tooth
• A tooth knocked out

Don’t wait for the pain to go away. Your child’s best chance at a speedy recovery is immediate dental care. Call Dr. Zee and explain your situation. At Kids Teeth, we make time in our schedule to accommodate for emergencies, and we’ll see you as soon as possible.

What do I do when I have a dental emergency?

You’re in pain and you’re panicking, but you know you need to help yourself before you can get to the dentist. What do you do? Well, it depends on condition:

1. Severe toothache

This type of dental emergency might start small and get worse over time or appear one day out of nowhere. Either way, there’s no reason to delay. Left to progress, the infection from the tooth can spread to the face, neck, and other parts of the body. A toothache is a signal that something is wrong, and Dr. Zee can help you figure out what that is. Schedule an appointment and get to the bottom of it. In the meantime, an over-the-counter pain reliever can help.

2. Broken or chipped tooth

This can be a scary situation, but there are treatment options for this type of dental emergency. If you’re bleeding, use gauze and pressure to stop it. If you’re in pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen, and apply ice to the outside of the mouth. Don’t use numbing ointments as they may lead you to cause more damage to the tooth. Based on the type of tooth (baby or adult) and size of the fracture, Dr. Zee will recommend the best option for your child’s care.

3. Loose baby tooth

Very, very common. If the tooth is one that should be falling out soon, it’s best to let nature run its course. Dr. Zee is trained in Pediatric Dentistry, and he can evaluate your child based on dental age while recommending an appropriate course of action.

4. Knocked out tooth

Don’t panic. When it comes to saving a tooth, time is of the essence. And you’ll need every extra second for the next few steps. First, find that tooth! Rinse it off with warm water and try to place it back in the socket. Teeth that are placed back within 60 minutes have the best outlook. If you can’t place it in the socket, keep it in a small container with your own saliva or milk. Whatever you do, don’t let it dry out. Rinse your mouth out and do your best to stop any bleeding. Then, head over to Kids Teeth immediately. It’s possible to save even a knocked out tooth if you can get to the dentist in time.