What to Expect From an Emergency Pediatric Dentist

An emergency pediatric dentist can help children who are experiencing urgent issues with their oral health. For kids, this most commonly happens due to a blow to the face or an accidental fall, but dental emergencies can arise for any number of reasons. Having an emergency dentist on call ahead of time is a useful tactic for parents, as it prevents the need to search for one at an urgent moment. However, emergencies are never predictable, and if you need help right away, you may not know where to turn or what to expect.

How an emergency pediatric dentist helps patients

An emergency pediatric dentist is first and foremost here to stabilize a child’s condition if they need urgent help with an oral issue. It can be the difference between saving their smile or needing long-term care and rehabilitation or tooth replacement. Things that parents should expect during this situation include the following.

Their hours may be different than standard practices

Emergencies do not abide by people’s schedules, which is why emergency dentists are usually available with extended hours or even 24/7 service. Do not assume that a child’s needs must wait until the next day because it is late at night or on a weekend.

Many pediatric dentist offices also serve patients for routine work during the day and then offer additional emergency services as needed. If this is the case, check for an emergency number if their regular office phone does not respond.

They do not usually perform routine tasks

An emergency pediatric dentist will focus on urgent needs. These often include more invasive procedures, such as repairing a chipped or cracked tooth or reinserting a lost tooth into a socket. They may need to stitch a wound or perform other procedures while the patient has received a numbing solution.

Emergency dentists have experience in these more advanced treatments, so they will not be doing routine tasks during an appointment. Parents should not expect the dentist to provide a teeth cleaning after treatment is complete, for example. While these dentists may offer routine services on a scheduled basis, emergency service is limited to bringing the urgent situation under control.

They are familiar with children

An emergency pediatric dentist is a specific type of dental professional who has gained additional experience and knowledge in working with kids. They may approach conversations or explain treatments differently than if they were addressing an adult. This way, the dentist can calm a young patient experiencing a stressful emergency and provide them with the best care possible.