PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DENTIST SATELLITE BEACH

In the Midst of Comm-Ocean, We’re Here for You

Girl holding her face in pain needing pediatric emergency dentist in Satellite Beach

Dental emergencies always happen at the worst possible times. In moments when your child is in pain or has just knocked out or damaged a tooth, it can be hard to make sound decisions. Fortunately, a pediatric emergency dentist in Satellite Beach is just a phone call away. If your child needs urgent dental attention, call our office immediately. We’ll work to fit them into our schedule as soon as possible here at Beachside Smiles Pediatric Dentistry.

 

Why Choose Beachside Smiles Pediatric Dentistry for Children’s Emergency Dentistry?

  • Two Experienced, Certified Pediatric Dentists
  • Multiple Dental Sedation Methods Offered
  • We Accept & Maximize Dental Insurance

 

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Young girl in dental chair looking at up the camera
  1. Call: When you call our office, our team will provide you with first aid guidance over the phone to help preserve your child’s teeth and ease any pain that they’re feeling. We’ll then schedule an appointment at the earliest possible opening.
  2. Get Examined: As soon as you arrive at our office, we’ll take diagnostic images, and a pediatric dentist will examine their teeth and gums. Based on our findings, we’ll discuss our diagnosis with you and proceed to the next step of the process, which is treatment planning.
  3. Plan Treatment: Based on our diagnosis, we’ll come up with a treatment plan to address the oral health concerns at hand. Before moving forward with any procedures, we’ll answer any questions you may have and provide you with a detailed cost estimate so you know what to expect throughout the process. As soon as you consent to move forward, our team will perform the procedure.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell what situations warrant a visit to a pediatric emergency dentist and which ones will go away on their own. Below, our team has compiled a list of some of the most common oral health concerns that we see for your convenience. If you’re ever hesitant about how to proceed, please give us a call!

Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry

Grimacing young girl with a toothache

The cost of treating your child’s dental emergency will depend on the nature of the problem and the details of the required procedure. After we get a chance to examine your child’s mouth, we can provide a cost estimate and help you understand your payment options. For example, your insurance may cover a portion of the cost of treatment. We also welcome financing through CareCredit.

Every Dental Emergency Is Different

Young boy talking to his dental team

Just like your child’s smile is unique, so is their dental emergency! In order to formulate a treatment plan, we will need to thoroughly examine your child’s mouth and understand the problem that is causing their discomfort. Typically, an emergency exam is quite affordable.

Following the exam, we can discuss treatment options, which may be something as simple as a filling or as complex as pulp treatment and a crown. In some cases, we also recommend sedation. We can provide an itemized estimate for each service that we recommend so there are no unpleasant surprises when you pay for your child’s care.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Mother and son talking to dentist

It is common for dental insurance to cover at least one emergency exam each year.  Your family’s policy may also provide coverage for the treatments that are commonly used to address urgent oral health problems, such as fillings, pulp therapy, extractions, antibiotics, and more. Coverage levels can range from 50% to 80%, depending on whether a service is classified as basic or major. Our team welcomes PPO insurance, and we will be happy to help you understand how your benefits may apply to your child’s care.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Mother and child interacting with front desk team member in dental office

Beyond insurance, another option that might make your child’s emergency care more affordable is financing through CareCredit. This special credit card is designed exclusively for use on medical and dental services, and it offers low-interest and no-interest payment plans that can fit within many families’ budgets. The application process is fast and easy; our team can walk you through it if necessary.

We want to make the financial aspect of your child’s care as stress-free as possible, so do not hesitate to ask our team if you have questions about your options!

Taking Care of Your Child’s Smile Can Save You Money

Family brushing their teeth together in bathroom

Some dental emergencies are inevitable, but most can be prevented via practical steps. You should:

  • Help your child stick to good habits. For example, they should thoroughly brush and floss their teeth on a regular basis. They should also wear a mouthguard when they play sports. Regular preventive dental visits are key as well.
  • Pay attention to signs of problems. If your child complains of tooth pain or sensitivity, do not ignore or dismiss their concerns. Remember, dental problems are only likely to worsen with time. Scheduling a treatment sooner rather than later can reduce the need for extensive (and expensive) procedures.

Are you interested in learning more about the cost of urgent oral care for children? Call our team — as a friendly and skilled emergency dentist in Satellite Beach, we will be happy to answer your questions.

Keys to Preventing Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Dentist showing mother and daughter model of teeth

Even relatively minor dental injuries, like a small chip, can lead to considerable pain and discomfort. While our emergency dentist in Satellite Beach is always just a phone call away, we also want to help protect your child’s smile from harm. With this in mind, keep reading to learn a few ways you can reduce their chances of needing same-day care.

Schedule a Dental Checkup and Cleaning Twice a Year

Dentist using mirror to look at child's teeth

Remember, routine dental checkups should begin around their 1st birthday. These visits ensure that we can monitor their development, catch oral health problems in the early stages, and answer any questions either of you has.

Of course, the second component of these visits is equally as important: the cleaning. One of our talented, friendly, and caring team members will gently remove plaque and tartar as well as clean the hard-to-reach areas of your child’s mouth. This helps prevent common oral health problems, like decay, from developing between visits.

Reinforce Good Oral Hygiene Habits

Father and son smiling while brushing their teeth

As your child’s fine motor skills are developing, they’ll need your help to brush and floss properly. It’s a good idea to continue to supervise to make sure they are consistently brushing for two minutes and flossing between every two teeth that touch. When they are older (usually in the teenage years), they can start using mouthwash to prevent plaque buildup, kill harmful bacteria, and keep their breath minty-fresh.

Steer Clear of Added Sugar

Child smiling while eating eggs

If it were up to your child, would they eat sugar morning, noon, and night? Although sweet treats are certainly fine on occasion, it’s important to remember that sugar is one of the leading causes of cavities. So, for the sake of their oral and overall health, it’s important to fill their plates (and their tummies) with lots of nutrient-dense foods, like plain yogurt, oatmeal, and apples.

Protect Your Child’s Smile with a Mouthguard

Young girl smiling while holding soccer ball on field

Does your child love playing soccer with their friends? Maybe they prefer a solo sport, like skateboarding or rollerblading. Either way, they need to wear a mouthguard. After all, this small dental device dramatically decreases their risk of sustaining a serious injury, like a knocked-out tooth.

Tip: Don’t buy a one-size-fits-all mouthguard online or at a sporting goods store. Instead, schedule an appointment with us so we can have a custom one made!

Break Bad Habits

Closeup of child biting his nails

Over the years, your child might pick up an unhealthy habit or two, like biting their nails or using their teeth as tools to open things. Although these might seem harmless, they dramatically increase the chances of a chip, crack, or fracture. So, do your best to redirect your child when you see them engaging in bad habits.

Toothaches

Is my child’s toothache an emergency? One of the most common reasons that a pediatric dental emergency occurs is toothaches. While they can be distracting and uncomfortable, they can also be a sign of an underlying issue, such as gum disease, cavities, or an infection. For this reason, if your child is experiencing swelling, fatigue, fever, or a bump in the gums, it’s best to schedule an emergency appointment.

How you should handle your child’s toothache: Until you’re able to bring your child to our office, you’ll want to prioritize reducing any discomfort in your little one’s mouth. Try getting them over-the-counter pain relievers or even a cold compress to alleviate pain and swelling. Make sure NOT to use aspirin directly on the gums, as this can make matters worse.

How we treat toothaches in children: Toothaches that persist or get worse over time can often be due to an infection, which will need to be addressed with pulp treatment. Other methods for treating a toothache might include dental sealants and fillings. Our team will first evaluate your child’s smile to determine the root cause so that we can develop the proper way to restore their oral health.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Pulp Treatment

Learn More About Dental Sealants

Chipped Tooth

Is my child’s chipped tooth an emergency? A chipped tooth isn’t always a dental emergency, as it sometimes won’t even cause much or any discomfort. Still, you don’t want to allow bacteria to find its way to the inner layer of your child’s teeth, which can easily turn into decay or infection. Bring your little one to our office sooner rather than later so that we can prevent more complications down the road.

How you should handle your child’s chipped tooth: Find and gather the chipped-off pieces of your child’s tooth so that you can bring them with you to their appointment. Our team may be able to bond them back in place with resin. Otherwise, make sure your child avoids crunchy food and that they refrain from biting down on that side of their mouth. You might even place orthodontic wax over the tooth to keep the soft oral tissue from getting hurt from any sharp or jagged edges.

How we treat children’s chipped teeth: Once you bring your little one to our team, we can assess their situation and provide treatment with composite resin to fix their teeth. We might also recommend that you invest in athletic mouthguards for your child, that way they can keep their teeth safe during physical activities or sports.

Learn More Sports Mouthguards

Cracked Tooth

Is my child’s cracked tooth an emergency? This will depend on the level of damage to your child’s tooth. If it’s a minor crack, they might be able to wait a few days for treatment if necessary. More major cracks will need urgent care. Some damage can be hidden or in the inner layer of the tooth, so you’ll want to schedule pediatric emergency dentistry as soon as possible.

How you should handle your child’s cracked tooth: Your child might experience some soreness and/or sensitivity if they’ve cracked a tooth. Make sure to have them take pain relievers to minimize discomfort. They should also avoid crunchy foods and hot/cold beverages that can irritate or further harm the affected tooth.

How we treat children’s cracked teeth: In many cases, our team can repair mildly cracked teeth with composite resin so that your child’s pearly whites can remain healthy and strong. We will be sure to thoroughly evaluate their situation and discuss the proper method for improving their bite. This way you can be well-informed about how we’ll fix your little one’s smile.

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth  

Is A Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? A knocked-out tooth is absolutely a dental emergency, so do your best to call us ASAP. The sooner you do, the more likely it is that we will be able to schedule an appointment at our office in Satellite Beach within the hour and save your child’s tooth!

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth If you can’t locate your child’s tooth, don’t worry – just focus on bringing them to our office for their emergency appointment. If you are able to find it, then pick it up by the crown and place it in a clean container filled with milk. If that’s not available, you can also see if the tooth will slide back into the socket (but only if that doesn’t require force).

How We Treat Knocked-Out Permanent Teeth Hopefully, we’ll be able to save your child’s tooth. If that’s not possible – whether it’s because it was lost or damaged beyond repair – we’ll need to explore their tooth-replacement solutions, like a dental bridge.

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth  

Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth a Dental Emergency? You may be surprised, but a knocked-out baby tooth IS a dental emergency, particularly if it comes out sooner than anticipated. After all, each of your child’s teeth plays a crucial role in their ability to smile confidently, chew properly, and enunciate clearly.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth In addition to scheduling an appointment with us, we recommend having your child gently rinse their mouth with clean, room-temperature water and using gauze to apply pressure/stop the bleeding. You can also use a cold compress to alleviate swelling.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Baby Teeth Sometimes, there’s nothing left to do but wait for the adult tooth to emerge. Other times, a space maintainer is needed to ensure the teeth surrounding the new gap don’t move out of position, negatively impacting your child’s bite in the process.

Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek  

Is a Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek an Emergency? Although soft tissue injuries sometimes bleed a lot (causing parents to panic), they can usually be handled at home in a few simple steps. That said, you’re always welcome to give us a call if you have any questions – we’re here to help!

How You Should Handle Your Child's Soft Tissue Injury First, have them gently rinse their mouth with clean, cool water. Once you can clearly see the cut, apply pressure to it with some gauze or a clean, damp washcloth. Within 10 minutes, the bleeding should stop.

How We Treat Soft Tissue Injuries in Children Simply put, you know what’s best. So, you shouldn’t hesitate to bring your child in for a visit if you’re concerned. From there, we can take a look at their cut, assess the condition of their teeth and gums, and determine if further care is necessary.

Dental Concussion

Is My Child's Dental Concussion an Emergency?

Yes, it can be. A dental concussion happens when a tooth is bumped or knocked without being dislodged. While there may be no visible damage, the tooth or nerve could be bruised or otherwise affected. If your child’s tooth turns gray or becomes painful after an impact, it’s time to call a kid's emergency dentist in Satellite Beach.  Dr. Robison and Dr. Millard are standing by!

How You Should Handle Your Child's Dental Concussion:

  • Have your child rinse with warm salt water.
  • Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
  • Avoid hard or crunchy foods.
  • Call our pediatric dental practice to schedule an emergency visit.

How We Treat Dental Concussions in Children:

At Beachside Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we start with a gentle exam and digital X-rays to check for internal damage. Treatment may include a protective splint, a root canal, or simple monitoring depending on the severity of the injury. No matter what the best way forward is, your child’s comfort is our priority.

Sensitive Teeth

Are My Child's Sensitive Teeth an Emergency?

Not always, but sudden or severe sensitivity could point to an underlying issue, especially if it affects just one tooth. Sensitivity could be caused by cavities, gum disease, gum recession, or worn enamel. It’s always best to err on the side of caution and give us a call to make sure it’s nothing serious.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Sensitive Teeth:

  • Avoid hot, cold, or sweet foods.
  • Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle toothpaste.
  • Schedule a visit with our Satellite Beach dental office to find the cause.

How We Treat Sensitive Teeth in Children:

Depending on the cause, we may apply a fluoride treatment, fill a cavity, or recommend special toothpaste. Our goal with any procedure is to ease your child’s discomfort and prevent further damage.

Lost Filling or Crown

Is My Child's Lost Filling or Crown an Emergency?

It can be. When a filling or crown falls out, the exposed tooth underneath is vulnerable to sensitivity, infection, or damage. This is why, even if there isn't immediate pain, it’s important to contact our team at Beachside Smiles Pediatric Dentistry right away for treatment.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Lost Filling or Crown:

  • Rinse the area gently with warm water.
  • Keep the crown or filling in a small container if you can find it.
  • Have your child avoid chewing on that side of their mouth.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns in Children:

We’ll assess the tooth and figure out whether it needs a new filling or crown. In most cases, fillings need to be replaced, but if it’s a crown and still in good shape, we may be able to reattach it.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is Having Something Stuck Between My Child's Teeth an Emergency?

Usually not, but if it causes pain, swelling, or won’t come out after gentle attempts, it’s time to call our pediatric dental office in Satellite Beach.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between Your Child's Teeth:

  • Gently use dental floss to try and dislodge the object.
  • Never use sharp tools like toothpicks or needles.
  • If the object or debris doesn’t come out easily, give us a call.

How We Treat Something Stuck Between Your Child's Teeth:

We use safe, gentle tools to remove the object without harming gums or enamel. Getting care quickly helps prevent infection and keeps your child smiling comfortably.