PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DENTIST – PROSPER, TX

You Can Trust Us in Your Moment of Need

Girl holding her cheek in pain before pediatric emergency dentistry in Prosper

Some species of penguins march over 60 miles across rough terrains like the sea and ice to reach their colonies each year, and we’re not much different! If your child experiences a dental emergency that leaves them in distress, you can count on Dr. Peng and our team to be there to help, rain or shine. We offer same-day pediatric emergency dentistry appointments in Prosper, as well as fast and effective treatment if your child is experiencing oral discomfort. Simply call our office so we can schedule you a time to come in as soon as possible!

Why Choose Little Penguin Pediatric Dentistry for Children’s Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
  • We See Children of All Ages
  • Several Sedation Methods Available

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Young girl with headband holding her cheek in pain
  1. Give Us a Call: The first step you should always take if your child is complaining of a toothache, unexpectedly knocks out a tooth, or is experiencing any other type of oral discomfort is to call us. We’ll schedule an appointment time for them as soon as possible and provide you with over-the-phone first aid guidance.
  2. Bring Your Child In: As soon as you arrive with your child, we’ll capture any diagnostic images we may need and Dr. Peng, your pediatric emergency dentist in Prosper, will conduct a thorough examination of their mouth.
  3. Treatment Plan: Based on Dr. Peng’s findings, she’ll diagnose the problem at-hand and create a treatment plan. Our team is happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have before you consent to moving forward with our recommendations.
  4. Treatment Begins: As soon as you give us the word, our team will jump into action healing your little one’s smile.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

Below, we’ve outlined some of the most common types of dental emergencies we see. However, we recommend calling our office if your child is experiencing any out-of-the-ordinary dental symptoms, like severe sensitivity, pain while biting down, or toothaches.

Keys to Preventing Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Happy infant with open mouth

If your child knocks out a tooth, sustains a soft tissue injury, or is struggling with any other dental injuries, you can have peace of mind knowing that you can turn to our exceptional emergency dentists in Prosper, Dr. Peng and Dr. Louie. With that said, our goal is to help maintain your child’s healthy smile so they hopefully never have to come in because of a painful dental emergency. That’s why we’ve dedicated this next section to covering how to prevent pediatric dental emergencies!

Bring Your Child in for a Checkup and Cleaning Biannually

From the time your child’s first tooth emerges (or their 1st birthday), they should come in for a checkup and cleaning twice a year. This allows us to monitor the condition of their teeth and gums, ensuring that any problems that develop are detected and treated ASAP. We also use these appointments to share our recommendations on how to protect issues like tooth decay from developing, including using the right-sized toothbrush and flossing as soon as two teeth touch.

Reinforce Good Oral Hygiene Habits At Home

Between your child’s biannual visits at our office, they need to brush and floss consistently. Of course, that’s often easier said than done. We recommend doing your best to make dental care fun at a young age and providing rewards and positive reinforcement throughout the years to ensure good habits, like brushing for a full two minutes, stick. If you’re ever unsure of which oral hygiene products to buy or what the proper technique is, you’re welcome to give us a call too!

Keep Foods and Drinks with Added Sugar to a Minimum

Did you know that sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay? It’s true! That’s why it’s so important to keep foods and drinks with added sugar to a minimum, especially when your child’s fine motor skills are developing/they are learning how to brush properly. Instead, fill your child’s plate with foods that will help keep their teeth and gums healthy, like fresh fruits and vegetables.

Have a Custom Mouthguard Made

Does your child participate in sports at school? Maybe they enjoy playing football, soccer, or baseball with their friends in the afternoons. Either way, it’s important that they have a custom mouthguard to protect their teeth and gums from harm. In fact, they should even wear one during solo sports, like skateboarding or bike riding. That way, their smile is protected if they accidentally fall.

Redirect Unhealthy Dental Habits

Over the years, your child might pick up an unhealthy habit or two, like biting their nails or chewing on the back of their pencil when doing homework. It’s important to redirect these habits before they result in a serious dental injury, like a large crack or fracture.

Dental Emergency FAQs

Will My Child’s Toothache Go Away on Its Own?

Typically, dental problems don’t resolve themselves and only get worse over time. If your child is complaining or showing signs of a toothache, contact us right away so we can schedule an appointment with one of our emergency dentists. There are many potential causes, and we want to be able to identify the problem to provide appropriate solutions as soon as possible. If you wait, the issue could worsen which often results in more complicated (and costly) treatments later.

Should I Take My Child to the ER First for Dental Emergencies?

In most cases, emergency rooms aren’t equipped with the right training and instruments necessary to accurately identify and resolve dental issues. If your kid is having a problem, it’s best to contact us first. However, if they have sustained physical trauma that has fractured or dislocated their jaw, sustained serious lacerations to their face or mouth, or have an abscess or infection that has impaired their breathing, please take them to urgent care immediately.

Are Knocked-Out Baby Teeth a Dental Emergency?

Many parents wonder whether they need to take their kid to an emergency dentist if a baby tooth is knocked out because they eventually fall out anyway. While you don’t need to be as concerned about immediately replacing their tooth, they should be examined to ensure that there’s been no additional damage. Plus, permanent teeth can erupt too early if the primary tooth falls out prematurely. Our team will monitor your child’s situation so that everything continues to develop properly.

What Should Be in My Family’s Emergency Dentistry Kit?

While you can’t fully anticipate exactly when a dental emergency will occur, you and your family can avoid potential pitfalls by being prepared. Our team recommends keeping a dental emergency kit at home that includes:

  • A small storage container to hold teeth that are knocked out. Whether your child lost a baby tooth or a permanent one, it can help us to have it available when we’re working on a solution.
  • Sterile gloves. These prevent potential infection by keeping unwanted germs at bay when you’re treating oral issues.
  • Gauze pads. Biting down on these firmly can slow any bleeding.
  • Cotton balls. These can be used to slow bleeding or apply an anesthetic.
  • Dental cement or other temporary filling material. If a tooth is broken or lost, this can fill the space and protect your child’s mouth from jagged edges.
  • Pain medications like Tylenol and ibuprofen. (We do not recommend aspirin because it can increase bleeding).
  • Topical anesthetic like Orajel. Applying this to your child’s teeth and gums can provide temporary relief from aches and pains.
  • Floss. Sometimes food gets stuck between your little one’s teeth and needs extra help being removed.
  • Ice pack. If your child sustained an injury, this can numb the area and reduce swelling.
  • Our contact information. Having our details readily available ensures that you can reach us quickly if something happens.
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Toothaches

Is My Child's Toothache a Dental Emergency? If your child lets you know that they have a toothache (or you notice that they are favoring one side of their mouth), then do your best to monitor their symptoms. If their discomfort persists for more than 24 hours or they’re experiencing other abnormal symptoms, like swollen gums, then bring them in for a visit with our Prosper emergency dentist.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Toothache Fortunately, there are a few ways you can alleviate your child’s discomfort in the short term. First, make sure they avoid hot/cold foods and beverages. Second, place a cold compress against the outside of their cheek. Third, have them rinse with a mixture of salt and warm water to reduce uncomfortable inflammation.

How We Treat Toothaches in Children Sometimes, all that’s needed is a tooth-colored filling. Other times, the decay or infection has progressed to the point where we need to intervene with pulp and root canal treatment. As always, we will share all of your child’s treatment options beforehand so you are fully informed of what we found during the exam and why we recommend the restorative service we do.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PULP & ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Cracked Tooth  

Is My Child's Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Whether your child sustained a small crack from biting down on a popcorn kernel or a large one from a sports-related injury, you should call our Prosper dental team ASAP so we can schedule a time for them to come in for treatment.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Cracked Tooth Even a small crack can cause considerable discomfort. To alleviate it in the short term, you can use OTC pain medicine for children. Additionally, we recommend avoiding cold, hot, acidic, spicy, and sugary foods. Lastly, have your child rinse periodically with clean, room-temperature water to keep their mouth clean.

How We Treat Children's Cracked Teeth If the crack is small enough that we can save it with a dental crown, root canal treatment, or a combination of the two, then we will. However, there are some cases where the crack is significant enough that the best thing to do is to have the tooth pulled.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILDREN’S TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT PULP & ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Chipped Teeth  

Is My Child's Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Although chipped teeth always warrant a visit to our Prosper dental office, you may not need to bring your child in the very same day. If you’re ever unsure if you should schedule an appointment right away, you can give us a call – we’ll help!

How You Should Handle Your Child's Chipped Tooth First, have your child rinse their mouth thoroughly with clean, room-temperature water. Since the sharp edge of their tooth can result in a soft tissue injury, like a cut on their gums, we recommend placing a piece of dental wax or sugar-free gum over it to help prevent that from happening.

How We Treat Children's Chipped Teeth The good news is that there is a painless, affordable, and quick way to repair a chipped tooth: dental bonding!

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

Is a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? If your child has knocked out one of their permanent teeth, time is of the essence, which makes this situation a dental emergency. We recommend calling our office immediately so we can try to schedule an emergency appointment for your child within the hour. Our team will also provide you with instructions on how to preserve their tooth.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth: If you’re able to find their knocked-out tooth in Prosper, pick it up and avoid touching the roots. Gently rinse the tooth under cool water to remove any debris, and don’t use any soaps or disinfectants. Also, don’t scrub away any of the lingering tissue on the tooth, as these could be vital to its preservation. You can either try to place the tooth back in its socket or store it in a sealable container filled with milk.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Permanent Teeth: As soon as you arrive with your child, our pediatric dentist will jump into action by making sure that your little one is comfortable and assessing the damage. If the tooth is still viable when you arrive, we can try to place it back into its original socket to see if it will reattach to the jawbone. However, if the tooth isn’t able to be saved, we can discuss other options with you to preserve your favorite smile.

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth a Dental Emergency? The best case scenario is that a temporary tooth falls out naturally on its own. Unfortunately, accidents happen that can lead to a prematurely knocked-out baby tooth in Prosper, causing your child pain and potentially affecting the development of their smile. In this situation, call our office immediately so we can make sure that their permanent tooth underneath wasn’t damaged and to make sure they don’t require a space maintainer.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth: If they are able to, supervise your child as they rinse their mouth with water. Use a piece of clean gauze to place a slight amount of pressure onto the area if it’s bleeding. If your child is in pain, you can place a cold compress on their cheek in 10-minute increments, and make sure that it’s wrapped in a clean towel to prevent the area from becoming too cold. Until you’re able to reach our office, we recommend having them avoid eating foods that are crunchy, acidic, or sticky.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Baby Teeth: We will first evaluate your child’s smile to determine whether any action needs to be taken. In some cases, if a tooth was about to fall out to begin with, a space maintainer may not be necessary. However, if it fell out prematurely, we may recommend one to prevent their surrounding temporary teeth from drifting to fill the gap, altering the alignment of their permanent teeth when they grow in.

Bitten Tongue, Lip, Cheek

Is a Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek an Emergency? In many cases, a bitten tongue, lip, or cheek in Prosper is nothing to cause alarm. Some parents often panic during these situations because oral wounds tend to bleed quite a bit. However, it’s very rarely the case that this requires urgent professional treatment. If you aren’t able to control the bleeding after 10 or 15 minutes, we recommend going to the local ER.

How You Should Handle Your Child's Soft Tissue Injury: If they bite their tongue, lip, or cheek hard enough that it begins to bleed, the first step you should take is to have them rinse their mouth with water. Apply pressure to the wounded area with clean gauze, and if necessary, apply a cold compress to the outside of their mouth to relieve any discomfort they may feel.

How We Treat Soft Tissue Injuries in Children: It’s rarely if ever the case that a bitten tongue, lip, or cheek requires emergency attention from a pediatric dentist, so in these situations, we encourage parents to trust their instincts. If you’re concerned about how much it’s bleeding, we encourage you to give us a call so we can help you take the right next steps.

Dental Concussion

Is My Child's Dental Concussion an Emergency? We use the term “dental concussion” to describe when a tooth has been pushed out of its socket, but it isn’t completely knocked-out. This usually occurs in children who are actively playing sports or roughhousing. Whether or not it requires emergency attention from Dr. Peng depends on the severity of the situation.

 

How You Should Handle Your Child's Dental Concussion: Have your child gently and carefully rinse their mouth with lukewarm salt water to remove any bacteria. If their injury is causing them pain, you can give them an appropriate over-the-counter pain medication or place a cold compress on their cheek for 10 minutes at a time. Don’t forget to wrap the ice pack in a towel to keep it from coming in direct contact with their skin and getting too cold! Ensure that they don’t fuss with their tooth until their appointment, including feeling it with their fingers or tongue.

 

How We Treat Dental Concussions in Children: Dr. Peng and her experienced team will conduct an examination of the tooth in question to determine what treatment would be most appropriate. If the damage is more severe, root canal treatment or a tooth extraction may be necessary. In less serious cases, the problem may be able to heal itself with time and it may just require an observant eye.

Learn More About Children’s Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Pulp Therapy & Root Canal Treatment

Sensitive Teeth

Are My Child's Sensitive Teeth an Emergency? Dental sensitivity in Prosper can be a result of a variety of underlying factors, like cavities. Some children are also just born with sensitivity due to a genetic condition called enamel hypoplasia. Schedule an emergency appointment for your child if they experience persistent, prolonged, or severe sensitivity or you believe they could have a cavity or tooth infection.

 

How You Should Handle Your Child's Sensitive Teeth: Be sure to call our office so our team can assess your child’s symptoms. We’ll offer guidance to minimize their discomfort over the phone as well as some helpful tips, like avoiding sweet or spicy foods and using desensitizing toothpaste.

 

How We Treat Sensitive Teeth in Children: If your child’s sensitivity is the result of an underlying oral health problem, our team will diagnose the issue at hand and develop a treatment plan. Treatments can range from preventive dental sealants and simple tooth-colored fillings to root canal treatment in more extensive cases.

Learn More About Dental Sealants

Learn More About Fillings

Learn More About Root Canal Treatment & Pulp Therapy

Lost Filling or Crown

Is My Child's Lost Filling or Crown an Emergency? Dental restorations like fillings and crowns can’t last forever, which is why it’s not uncommon for children to experience a lost filling or crown in Prosper. We advise parents to call our office to schedule an appointment for as soon as possible to have their restoration repaired or replaced. This will prevent an infection or further dental damage from occurring.

 

How You Should Handle Your Child's Lost Filling or Crown: If you’re able to find their restoration, rinse it off using water and bring it to your child’s appointment. Have them avoid eating foods that are sweet, spicy, or acidic to prevent them from experiencing dental sensitivity. If necessary, you can give them an over-the-counter pain medication.

 

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns in Children: If we’re able to repair their restoration, our team may be able to recement it into place on their tooth. Otherwise, we’ll likely need to replace it.

Learn More About Fillings & Dental Crowns

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is Having Something Stuck Between My Child’s Teeth an Emergency? Typically, something stuck between the teeth doesn’t require a trip to your child’s emergency pediatric dentist in Prosper. However, some cases may require special instruments and a trained eye. That’s why we recommend calling our office if you’re having difficulty removing something stuck between your child’s teeth.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between Your Child’s Teeth: We recommend first trying to dislodge the stuck item using dental floss. Gently maneuver the floss between their affected teeth, making sure to not drive it into their gumline. You can also have your child rinse their mouth with warm water. Please do not try to use sharp objects like toothpicks to try to remove stuck debris, as this could damage their gums. If you aren’t able to remove it on your own, please give us a call.