1430 N Arlington Heights #200,
(847) 255-3020
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Get Your Child Out of Dental Pain
Severe dental discomfort and damaged teeth should always be taken very seriously. Not only will your child be in pain, but they could also be at risk for severe oral health problems that disrupt the development of their smile. Even small issues can quickly turn into major dental issues when ignored, so keep our phone number on hand and call Dr. Welke immediately as soon as your child suffers from a dental emergency; we’ll fit them into our schedule immediately to receive emergency dentistry for children in Arlington Heights, IL. If you need to get your child out of dental pain fast, don’t hesitate to call us!
Why Choose Arlington Heights Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry for Emergency Pediatric Dental Care?
- Open Multiple Saturdays Per Month
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available For Existing Patients
- Child-Friendly Sedation Options
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
Your first step should be to contact us as soon as you can. We do everything we can to see emergency patients the same day they call us, and one of our experienced team members will walk you through how to manage your child’s situation until you can reach us. When you arrive, your children’s emergency dentist in Arlington Heights will see your little one for an examination.
Our top priority will be to soothe your child’s pain and to keep them as calm and comfortable as possible while we look for the root cause of the problem. Since no two emergencies are the same, a treatment plan will be provided to you once we have completed a thorough evaluation of your child's smile. Sometimes the issue will be simple enough to resolve with a filling, but more complex issues might involve treatments such as pulpotomy. We’ll fully explain every treatment option and work with you to choose the ones that are best for your family’s situation.
The Most Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies
You need to be prepared to perform dental first aid for your child so that they can handle the pain while waiting for an emergency dental appointment. If you call our pediatric dental office, we’ll be able to give you tips on taking care of your little one’s teeth and gums. The tips below cover some of the most common dental emergencies, but every situation is different, so make sure that you describe your child’s symptoms in as much detail as possible when you call. Below, you’ll find basic information on some of the most common dental emergencies we treat.
Preventing Pediatric Dental Emergencies
While some emergencies are simply unavoidable, many of them are genuinely preventable. So, while our emergency dentist in Arlington Heights is always a phone call away if you need us, we also want to share helpful tips and recommendations to keep your child’s smile safe from harm. With this in mind, keep reading to learn a few habits that will help do just that!
Make Sure Your Child Brushes Their Teeth Twice a Day
Although it may not be your child’s favorite task, it’s important that they brush their teeth twice a day, every day. Not only that, but they do so for the full two minutes each time and use the right products, like a toothbrush that’s the appropriate size for their age. That way, they are significantly less likely to develop oral health problems, like tooth decay.
Schedule a Dental Checkup and Cleaning Twice a Year
Even if your child brushes and flosses consistently, their oral hygiene regimen would ultimately be incomplete without routine dental checkups and cleanings. After all, these visits play a crucial role in catching small problems before they get larger. Plus, they allow us to clean the hard-to-reach areas of their mouth, remove plaque build-up, and provide feedback on how they can improve their at-home dental care routine.
Teach Them to Use Scissors Instead of Using Their Teeth
If your child is having a hard time removing the plastic wrapping surrounding their new toy, do they use their teeth? Do they use their teeth to open bags of chips or remove a bottle cap on a soda? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then it’s important to teach them to use the appropriate tools instead. That way, they are significantly less likely to experience a painful dental injury.
Give Them a Mouthguard If They Play Sports
There’s a common misconception that mouthguards are only necessary during contact sports, like football. The truth is that they can also protect your child’s smile from serious harm during non-contact sports as well, like skateboarding and rollerblading. So, if you haven’t already, buy a mouthguard! We can have a custom one made to ensure it fits comfortably while also protecting their smile from serious harm.
Encourage Them Not to Overindulge on Sugary Foods
For many children, sugar is their favorite food group. Unfortunately, this sweetener is one of the leading causes of cavities. That’s why we encourage parents to do their best to stick to nutrient-dense, well-balanced meals and snacks. It’s also a good idea not to offer extremely crunchy foods, like hard pretzels and peanut brittle, since they can cause a considerable chip or crack in their enamel.
Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs
What if My Child’s Toothache Suddenly Disappears?
If your child’s toothache goes away, you might be wondering if you can cancel their upcoming appointment. The short answer is “no.” Oftentimes, soreness, sensitivity, and discomfort that disappears overnight is a sign that the nerve has died. While this does render it unable to register pain, this means that there is only a small window of time left where the tooth can be saved. So, it’s still vital that you bring your child to our Arlington Heights dental office ASAP!
Should I Bring My Child to the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
If your child is experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, like trouble breathing or uncontrollable bleeding, then you should head to the ER or call 911 immediately. If that’s not the case, then your first call should be to our office since hospitals don’t typically have dentists on-staff. So, if you bring your child there because of a toothache, the most they will be able to do is alleviate their pain and refer them back to their dentist.
Should I Worry About a Chipped Tooth If It Doesn’t Hurt?
Sometimes, a chipped tooth leads to considerable sensitivity and discomfort. Other times, there are no abnormal dental symptoms at all! If the latter is the case for your child, you might be wondering if scheduling an emergency visit is necessary. To put it simply, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. While we do recommend calling us right away so we can get an appointment on the calendar within the next day or two, same-day care likely isn’t necessary if your child isn’t in pain.
Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth a Dental Emergency?
There’s a common misconception that a knocked-out baby tooth isn’t a dental emergency because baby teeth are supposed to fall out. While that’s true, several problems can arise if they come out too soon, including dental drift and trouble chewing properly. So, make sure to call us! In addition to scheduling an appointment with one of our talented dentists, a helpful member of our team will walk you through how to handle this dental injury in the meantime.
What If I Can’t Afford Emergency Dentistry?
If you have a set budget, you might assume that you can’t afford emergency dentistry. Fortunately, there are several ways you can make the cost less costly, including dental insurance. So, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment! In addition to providing you with an estimate of the price, we will discuss the financial solutions available to you so there aren’t any unpleasant surprises.
Important note: Taking the “wait and see” approach may seem like a good way to save money. However, the more time that passes, the worse the root of the problem will get. So, it can actually cost you a lot more in the long run. To put it simply, the best thing for your child’s smile and your wallet is to get them the restorative care they need ASAP.
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