Emergency Dentistry for Kids
in South Austin, TX

Dental emergencies never happen on your schedule. So what should you do when your child has a dental injury or another emergency like a toothache? Sometimes your dentist can save you a trip to the emergency room. Contact our team at Kids Tooth Team! We offer same-day and after-hours appointments and expert emergency dental care for patients in Buda, South Austin, Kyle, and Pflugerville, TX! Call us to schedule an emergency appointment.

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What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is any oral health problem that is causing your child pain or discomfort, or is causing serious oral bleeding. It’s that simple. If your child is in pain and you don’t know what to do, you need help from an experienced emergency dentist in Buda or South Austin.

Dental trauma is the cause of a lot of emergencies like cracked and broken teeth, loose and missing teeth, and oral cuts and lacerations. These are all very serious problems, and demand immediate care.‍

However, there are a lot of other conditions that also count as emergencies, such as a pulled-out or loose crown or filling, a serious toothache, or even a piece of food that’s stuck between your child’s teeth and won’t come out. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so give Kids Tooth Team a call and tell us about your situation. We’ll help you get the care your child needs.‍

Our team of doctors are also available for an at-home teledentistry consultation for emergencies. Through a 2-way video chat, we may be able to address the concern or situation without you even having to come into the office.

The Importance of Immediate Care

Immediate dental care is very important if your child has a dental emergency, for several reasons.

Save Your Child's Tooth!

Additionally, if your child’s tooth is cracked or knocked out for whatever reason (especially an adult tooth) it is essential that they are seen by a dentist quickly to be able to give that tooth the best chance of surviving. Please call us ASAP if your child has experienced a dental trauma such as this so that we can get them taken care of immediately.

Pain Relief, Fast

Seeing a dentist right away also helps your child get relief from their pain and discomfort, and allows them to get back to their day-to-day life. After treatment, you’ll also get peace of mind, knowing that your child’s smile is healthy and free of any major dental issues.

Reduce Further Complications

First, it ensures that your child does not experience any further complications related to their condition. This saves you both time and money. For example, by treating a serious cavity early, you can avoid the need for a more invasive procedure like a nerve treatment.

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The Importance of Immediate Care

Immediate dental care is very important if your child has a dental emergency, for several reasons.

Save Your Child's Tooth!

Additionally, if your child’s tooth is cracked or knocked out for whatever reason (especially an adult tooth) it is essential that they are seen by a dentist quickly to be able to give that tooth the best chance of surviving. Please call us ASAP if your child has experienced a dental trauma such as this so that we can get them taken care of immediately.

Pain Relief, Fast

Seeing a dentist right away also helps your child get relief from their pain and discomfort, and allows them to get back to their day-to-day life. After treatment, you’ll also get peace of mind, knowing that your child’s smile is healthy and free of any major dental issues.

Reduce Further Complications

First, it ensures that your child does not experience any further complications related to their condition. This saves you both time and money. For example, by treating a serious cavity early, you can avoid the need for a more invasive procedure like a nerve treatment.

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Common Dental Emergencies

Whether you’re the parent of a toddler or a teenager, there are a lot of different things that can happen to your child’s mouth and require emergency treatment from the team at Kids Tooth Team. Wondering what the most common dental emergencies are for kids? Here’s a look at the most common emergencies, as well as the procedures that are required to treat them.

Toothaches/Infected Teeth

Toothaches can happen for lots of reasons. But if your child is complaining of a painful toothache that won’t go away or gets worse after a day or two, they may have an infected tooth. This happens when oral trauma or tooth decay destroys the outside of their tooth, exposing the “pulp” inside the tooth to bacteria.Depending on the tooth, your child may need treatment with a pulpotomy or a root canal. In these procedures, Dr. Alex will remove the source of the infection, then treat your child’s tooth and cover it up with a crown to protect it in the future.

Broken, Chipped, & Cracked Teeth

Dental trauma can happen to kids when you least expect it. Whether they're horsing around, playing sports, or just have a nasty slip and fall, this can damage their teeth. Chipped, cracked, and broken teeth all count as dental emergencies, and require immediate care to relieve pain and prevent further complications.If your child damages one of their teeth, you need to contact Kids Tooth Team right away. Dr. Alex will provide the care they need. This may be a filling or a crown depending on the severity of the damage, and a pulpotomy or root canal may also sometimes be necessary for deeper cracks.

Loose Teeth

If your child has a loose baby tooth, this is not usually a concern unless it’s due to oral trauma. However, if your child has a loose adult tooth or their baby tooth comes loose earlier than it’s supposed to, this is a dental emergency. In kids, loose teeth are usually caused by dental trauma. Gum disease can also cause loose teeth, but this is extremely rare in younger kids.To treat a loose baby tooth, Dr. Alex will begin by making sure their tooth is in good condition. If your child has a loose baby tooth, she will usually remove it and place a space maintainer in the area. This maintains the proper gap in your child’s smile until their permanent tooth emerges.For loose adult teeth, tooth splinting is usually the best option. Dr. Alex will use special materials to hold the loose tooth in place and attach it to nearby healthy teeth. This allows the tooth to heal and re-attach properly to your child’s gums.

Knocked-Out Teeth

A knocked-out tooth is always a dental emergency. If your child knocks out one of their teeth, call Kids Tooth Team right away. Unless the tooth is replaced within 1–2 hours, it may not be possible to save it. Recover the tooth, put it into a container of cold milk, and bring it with you to our office.Again, if your child loses a baby tooth early, Dr. Alex may simply recommend a space maintainer. But if they knock out an adult tooth, Dr. Alex will place it back into the proper area and splint it to the other teeth. If you get treatment right after your child’s oral injury, it’s usually possible to save their tooth.

Lacerations & Cuts to the Mouth

If your child falls or is struck in the face, their teeth can cut their cheeks, tongue, and lips. Minor cuts usually do not require any treatment. But in some cases, deep cuts may not stop bleeding on their own. They will also cause pain and can present a serious infection risk.If your child has deep lacerations or cuts to their mouth and the bleeding doesn’t slow down within a few minutes, you should call Kids Tooth Team for an emergency appointment. Dr. Alex can clean your child’s mouth, suture the wound, and ensure that it heals properly.

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What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Call Us Right Away

First, call Kids Tooth Team to set up a same-day or after-hours appointment. We’re always here to help when your child needs emergency dental care.

Recover the Tooth or Dental Work (If Applicable)

If your child loses a tooth or chips their tooth, you need to put the tooth or tooth fragment into a container of milk or in a cup of your or your child’s spit to keep it moist, and need to be seen within an hour at the office. (Never put a tooth in cold water or on ice). If their dental work like a filling, crown, or space maintainer is pulled out or falls out, put it into a small plastic baggie or container to bring it in with you.

Treat Pain & Discomfort

Over-the-counter medicine like children’s Tylenol or Motrin can help with pain. If your child’s mouth is bleeding, you can use clean paper towels or gauze to absorb the blood. Please, never apply an over-the-counter numbing medicine or teething gel to your infant or child’s mouth or gums. These medicines can cause serious, life-threatening reactions. Though pain medicine or ice may help in the short term, they are all temporary measures. This pain could be a sign that something serious is going on with your child’s teeth or in their mouth.

FAQs

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Should I Go to the ER to Address My Child's Tooth Pain?

In most cases, no—your best bet is to see a pediatric emergency dentist.

The Emergency Room is designed for life-threatening medical situations, and while dental pain can be distressing, it’s rarely a true medical emergency. Most ERs don’t have dentists on staff—and if they do, they’re typically not trained in pediatric care. That means you could end up waiting for hours, paying a high bill, and still being told to follow up with a local emergency dentist like Dr. Alex.

At Kids Tooth Team, we specialize in kid-focused dental emergencies, whether your child is in pain from a cavity, a cracked tooth, or a dental injury. Visiting our offices in South Austin, Buda, or Kyle is usually faster, more affordable, and far more effective than going to the ER.

That said, there are exceptions. If your child has trouble breathing, can’t swallow, or may have a broken jaw, go to the ER right away. Use your best judgment—if it’s truly life-threatening, don’t wait.

But for most dental emergencies, we’ve got you covered with expert, compassionate care right here at Kids Tooth Team.

What Do I Do if My Child is Experiencing a Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies can feel stressful, but knowing what to do can make all the difference. If your child has lost consciousness or you suspect a head or neck injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room first. Medical providers will need to rule out a concussion or more serious trauma before we address any dental concerns.

For dental-related injuries, here’s what to keep in mind:

  • If an adult (permanent) tooth is knocked out or broken with visible bleeding inside the tooth, your child should be seen immediately. The sooner we can assess the injury, the better chance we have to save the tooth—often using a dental splint.
  • If an adult tooth has a small chip or feels slightly loose, we still recommend coming in the same day to check for root or jawbone damage and determine whether stabilization is needed.
  • If a baby tooth is knocked out or broken and there’s bleeding, it’s important to visit our office as soon as possible—ideally the same day or next day. While baby teeth aren’t reinserted, we need to make sure there are no root fragments left behind and no soft tissue injuries that require treatment.
  • If a baby tooth has a small chip or is slightly loose, your child should be seen within a day to rule out nerve involvement or root fractures.

If you’re unsure whether the situation is urgent, it’s always best to call our office. We’ll help you determine the next steps and make sure your child gets the right care—right away.

Still have questions?

Give us a call to chat with one of our friendly team members!

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