No parent wants to face a dental emergency, but they can happen at any time. Even children who are just beginning to have their baby teeth, or primary teeth, erupt, may experience an emergency. At the first sign of a problem, immediately take your child to a qualified pediatric dentist.
If for some reason you are unable to visit the office, our pediatric dentists and team will also be able to provide you with instructions on how to care for your child’s injury until you are able to bring them in. We understand that you are not able to always plan and be prepared for emergencies, so we strive to be as accommodating as possible.
What constitutes a dental emergency?
If you are new to caring for your child’s dental needs, it can be difficult to discern what constitutes an emergency. You should immediately call a pediatric dentist if any of the following situations should occur:- Your child reports or shows signs of severe or lingering toothaches or any other pain in or around the mouth and jaw.
- A tooth has been completely knocked out.
- A tooth appears loose suddenly.
- A tooth has become chipped or broken.
- There is any sign of damage to the tissue in the mouth, which includes the cheeks, lips, tongue, and gums.
- A tooth has become cracked or fractured.
- A tooth has become partially knocked out, dislodged, or extruded.
- A restoration device such as a filling or crown has become lost.
- An orthodontic device or space maintenance device has become lost.
- There is any other situation which you think may constitute an emergency.
What will happen if I do not act quickly?
Children’s early childhood teeth, primary teeth, are just as important as regular teeth. You may be tempted to think that a lost tooth, chipped tooth, or even cavity is not as big of a deal in children, whose teeth will eventually fall out. However, this is gravely mistaken. Not only can children develop infections that will threaten their immune system and can cause severe problems throughout their entire body, but they may also experience orthodontic problems later on. This is because baby teeth provide a “blueprint” for the adult teeth when they begin to erupt. Not having a proper blueprint can cause serious orthodontic problems many years down the road, which will result in much more discomfort and increased expenses. Do not wait because you think a child’s baby teeth are “disposable” and will be lost anyway. Take quick action!Are all emergency dentists the same?
While acting fast is paramount, we advise you to seek out the best care. Kids First Dental in Lancaster, South Carolina utilizes technology based on effectiveness and comfort. We check for the most recent updates in pediatric medicine.Kids First Dental Promotions and Advantages
You may have endless choices for your emergency care, but finding a provider who will treat you quickly is important. You are likely to be concerned about costs as well as whether the emergency care you receive will be effective. We want you to know:- Spanish and English are both fluently spoken at our office
- We provide services to adults as well as children in Lancaster, SC so the entire family can enjoy our care
- We have a loyalty program for long-term care
- We offer a $150 special package featuring exam, cleaning, fluoride varnish, bitewing (cavity-detecting x-ray)
- We accept both Medicaid and most commercially-available insurance