Emergency Kids’ Dentistry – Buffalo Grove, IL
Accidents Happen, & We’re Here to Help!
Same-day emergency care is just a phone call away if the unexpected happens to your little one. Whether they’re experiencing a painful toothache, accidentally knock out their tooth, or their cavity filling disappeared, Drs. Capezio and Loiben have decades of combined experience to provide fast and effective treatment. Our front desk staff can also walk you through first-aid recommendations on the phone, too! Don’t wait to contact our dental office if you find yourself in need of urgent dental care, and we'll be happy to offer emergency kids' dentistry in Buffalo Grove, IL for your child.
Why Choose Capezio Loiben Pediatric Dentistry
for Emergency Kids’ Dentistry?
- Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments
- Dental Insurance Welcome
-
Trusted by
the Community
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
The first step you should always take if your child experiences out-of-the-ordinary oral pain or trauma is to call our team. We’ll walk you through steps to help them calm down and ease their pain as you’re making your way to our dental office. Below, we’ve included some additional tips to prepare your child for their examination and treatment.
My Child Has a Toothache
Toothaches could be a result of a lodged piece of food between their teeth or an infection. Gently maneuver a piece of dental floss around the tooth that’s aching, trying to dislodge any debris. If that doesn’t work, you can give them an over-the-counter children’s pain medication to ease their discomfort in the meantime.
My Child Has a Chipped/Broken Permanent Tooth
If you’re able to locate the broken-off piece of their permanent tooth, be sure to clean it off and bring it to their appointment. To stop the tooth from scraping against the inside of their mouth, you can place a piece of orthodontic wax over it.
My Child Has Knocked-Out a Baby Tooth
Time is of the essence in this situation, so try to arrive at our dental office within an hour of the accident. You can pick up their tooth (being sure to only handle it by the biting surface) and rinse it gently under cool water. Store it in a sealable container of milk or saltwater to preserve it. We’ll try to place it back in its socket, or we may suggest an orthodontic space maintainer.
My Child Has Knocked-Out a Permanent Tooth
Just like with a knocked-out baby tooth, you’ll need to get to our dental office within an hour of the accident, if possible. Pick up their tooth, being sure to not touch the roots, and gently rinse it under cool water. Store it in a container filled with milk or saltwater and bring it to their appointment.
My Child Lost a Filling
If you notice a black spot on one of your child’s teeth or decay that wasn’t there the day before, they may have lost one of their fillings. If you’re able to find it, you can rinse it off and place it back on the tooth using a dab of denture adhesive or toothpaste. It’s important to receive timely treatment to prevent the tooth from becoming infected.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
If you want to help your child prevent dental emergencies in Buffalo Grove, there are a few things you should know. First, good oral hygiene habits should begin early on in life. By teaching your child how to properly brush and floss and what they can do to minimize their risk for injury, they can expect to enjoy a happier, healthier smile for the rest of their life. Second, seeking treatment for an injury should be done sooner rather than later, as waiting too long will only result in worsening problems.
Keep Your Regular Dental Appointments
Children should have their first dental appointment scheduled by the time their first tooth erupts or before they reach the age of one. This allows for our team to not only establish a relationship with you and your little one early on, but we can get a baseline for your child’s oral health. We can also begin working on good oral hygiene habits at home. Starting these appointments early in life helps to set your child up for future success. From that point on, we will want to see your child every six months for a regular checkup and cleaning.
Keep Brushing and Flossing
Brushing and flossing are necessary components of any good oral hygiene routine. Because children are still learning, it’s essential that you work with them to properly clean their teeth and get to those hard-to-reach areas. Until your child reaches the age of two, they should only use a smear of toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice). Once they turn three, you can begin to increase it to a pea-sized amount (as long as they can spit). As soon as you notice their teeth touching, you can start helping them to floss in between their teeth to remove plaque and bacteria that can cause decay and gum disease. If necessary, you can use a flossing aid to make this process easier.
Be Mindful What You Eat
It’s natural for kids to have cravings for sugary and starchy foods; however, too much of these is a bad thing, no matter your age. This is why it’s important that you monitor your child’s eating habits and make sure they’re consuming plenty of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, lean proteins, and dairy. Fruit and sports drinks also contain a lot of sugar, which is one of the many contributors to cavities. Instead, swap out these beverages for water, which will help keep them hydrated while ensuring their salivary glands continue working properly. As a result, they’ll avoid serious decay and possible infection.
Wear a Mouthguard to Protect Your Teeth
If your child is an avid athlete, one of the most worthwhile investments you can make is a customized mouthguard. It is believed that children between the ages of 7-10 have the highest number of dental injuries that are sports-related (59.6%).
Designed to better protect against unnecessary pressure, it fits over their upper arch of teeth to minimize and absorb a hard-hitting impact. They’re also beneficial if your child is prone to grinding and clenching their teeth while sleeping. Worn tooth enamel and jaw pain are common with bruxism, so wearing a mouthguard can alleviate these symptoms and improve the status of their smile.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
As a parent, you may be guilty of opening a package with your teeth. If your child has seen you do this, they’re likely to mimic your actions. Make sure they do not but instead, find a pair of scissors or another appropriate tool. Tooth enamel is strong but not indestructible. Allowing your child to use their teeth to open items will land them in the emergency dental office in Buffalo Grove quickly. Let the tools do their job, and make sure your child’s teeth remain damage-free.
The Cost of Treating Your Child’s Dental Emergencies
The cost of your child’s emergency dental visit will depend on a number of factors, including what procedure they need to restore their oral health, whether they require follow-up appointments, and many others that we’ll discuss during their examination. Once we’ve had a chance to examine the situation and map out a treatment plan, we’ll discuss the cost with you along with your dental insurance coverage and financing options.
Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs
If your child has experienced a sudden injury and needs immediate attention, you may be looking for an emergency dentist in Buffalo Grove. At Capezio Loiben Pediatric Dentistry, we’re proud to offer safe and effective services when your little one needs it most. We understand you may have several concerns regarding our emergency dental care, which is why we’ve decided to answer some frequently asked questions below. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Feel free to contact our friendly team today!
Should I Take My Child to the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
Believe it or not, most emergency rooms are not equipped to handle dental emergencies. That’s mainly because they often don’t have a licensed dental professional on staff. You should only take your child to your local ER if they’re experiencing life-threatening symptoms, such as:
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Fractured or broken jawbone
- A serious cut or laceration to the face that causes continuous bleeding
In any other situation, you should bring them to our dental office in Buffalo Grove for a proper oral examination. Our team will take X-rays if needed to identify the root cause of your child’s dental emergency.
Are Knocked-Out Baby Teeth a Dental Emergency?
Since baby teeth are meant to come out eventually, you may think it’s no big deal when they fall out. However, they need to stay in the mouth for as long as possible. If your child’s baby tooth gets knocked out, do not reinsert it into the vacated socket. You should make an emergency appointment with our team as soon as possible so we can determine whether or not your little one needs a space maintainer. Remember – it’s always a good idea to take your child to the ER if their bleeding does not stop or you think they may have damaged their jaw in any way.
Do Chipped Teeth Heal?
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. However, it’s unable to heal on its own. That means if your child ever chips a tooth, it will not grow back. The only way to restore the shape and condition of the tooth is with restorative or cosmetic dentistry. If your child has a chipped tooth, you should bring them to our office as soon as you can for treatment. Otherwise, they’re vulnerable to further damage or infection.
What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?
It’s always a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected, especially as a parent. That said, you should keep an emergency dentistry kit with you at all times that contains the following items:
- Dental floss
- Ice pack
- Your dentist’s contact information
- A topical anesthetic like Orajel
- Dental cement
- Cotton balls
- Sterile gloves
- Petroleum jelly
- Small sealable container
Pediatric Dentistry Adolescent Dentistry Orthodontic Referrals