PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DENTIST IN CROWN POINT
Moving Fast When It Matters Most
The world stops when your child is hurting, but we keep moving so you don’t have to wait. LMK Pediatric Dental Care sets time aside every day so we can accommodate emergencies the same day you call, and we also offer after-hours reservations. Whether it’s a toothache or a knocked-out tooth, we’ll treat your child like they’re one of our own, offering the urgent care they need without delay. If your child needs help, schedule a reservation right now by calling our pediatric emergency dentist in Crown Point.
Why Choose LMK Pediatric Dental Care for Children’s Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day & After-Hours Emergency Dentistry Available
- Calm Dentistry: Multiple Treatment Options to Ensure a Smooth Visit
- Team of Fellow Moms & Pediatric Specialists
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Initial Call: The quickest way to get in touch with our team is to call us. On the phone, we’ll have you describe your situation, let you know what to do next, and offer in-the-moment guidance so your child can stay safe and comfortable until we can see them.
- Emergency Exam & Plan: After you and your child arrive, we’ll examine their teeth and take X-rays (if needed) to determine the scope and source of the problem. From there, we’ll present you with treatment options and discuss the details like timeline and cost so you can make an informed decision.
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Relief: Our priority will be to stop your child’s immediate pain, and then we’ll repair their teeth if time allows. We’ll make sure they aren’t hurting by the time you leave, and if necessary, we’ll schedule a follow-up if more work is needed to reverse any damage.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
If your intuition tells you that something is wrong with your child’s teeth, don’t hesitate to call us. Click the icons below to see how we can help, but be sure to reach out even if your situation doesn’t neatly fit any of these descriptions!
Understanding the Cost of Pediatric Emergency Dentistry
Since dental emergencies often happen unexpectedly, many parents are a bit worried about the cost. Rest assured, our team at LMK Pediatric Dental Care is here to help both you and your child. That starts with offering same-day care and extends to welcoming several financial solutions, including flexible financing. If you are interested in learning more about the price, you can also read on to learn the different factors that play a role and if dental insurance usually covers a portion of it.
Every Pediatric Dental Emergency is Different
One misconception of emergency dentistry is that there is a flat fee. The truth is that there are several factors that need to be considered, including the type of dental injury, which restorative treatment is needed, and whether or not you have dental insurance. With all of that said, you don’t have to worry – we will provide you with an estimate of the cost upfront. We will also discuss the different financial solutions available so the price can fit comfortably within your budget.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Pediatric Dental Emergencies?
If you have dental insurance, then you shouldn’t hesitate to read through the fine print on your plan to see what is and isn’t covered. Of course, that isn’t always easy when there are rules and restrictions, like waiting periods and annual maximums. The good news is that we can help! In fact, we work with many popular PPO dental insurance plans, so we can assist with both understanding and utilizing your benefits.
Other Options for Making Pediatric Dental Emergencies Affordable
A great option for our patients who are uninsured is flexible financing! At our Crown Point pediatric dental office, we work with two trusted third-party financiers: Cherry and CareCredit. As a result, you don’t need to pay for the entire cost of your child’s care in one lump sum if it doesn’t fit in your budget. Instead, you can break up the total cost into smaller, more manageable installments over the course of several months.
How Caring for Your Child’s Smile Can Save You Money
Fortunately, many common dental injuries, including knocked-out teeth, are largely preventable with the right best practices in place. That’s why we are always encouraging our patients and their parents to incorporate healthy habits into their routine, like brushing twice a day and scheduling a checkup twice a year. Doing so helps protect growing smiles from harm!
Note: If your child starts to experience considerable sensitivity, pain when biting down, or any other unusual symptoms between visits, then schedule an appointment with our emergency pediatric dentist in Crown Point right away. Since we offer same-day appointments for patients who are in pain as well as after-hours reservations, we’ll have your child’s healthy, pain-free smile back on track in no time!
Keys to Preventing Pediatric Dental Emergencies
As a parent, there’s nothing worse than seeing your child in pain. Fortunately, many common dental injuries – from small chips to painful cavities – are largely preventable. In this next section, we’re covering a few habits we recommend incorporating into their routine (as well as a few that we recommend avoiding) to protect their smiles from harm.
Schedule a Dental Visit Twice a Year
Remember, even if your child is diligent about brushing and flossing, their oral hygiene regimen is ultimately incomplete without routine dental visits. After all, the exams play a crucial role in catching tooth decay and other common oral health problems in the early stages. Plus, the cleanings ensure that plaque and tartar are removed from the hard-to-reach areas of their mouth.
Important reminder: If you suspect that something is wrong between visits because your child’s gums are bleeding when they floss or they are favoring one side of their mouth while chewing, don’t wait – schedule an appointment with one of our dedicated emergency dentists in Crown Point.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
Naturally, your child’s at-home oral hygiene regimen matters, too. The best place to start is by brushing; your little one should use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste to gently scrub the surface of their teeth each morning and evening. Then, once they have two teeth that touch, introduce flossing into their routine.
Keep Sugary Snacks and Drinks to a Minimum
If it were up to your child, would they have sugar for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? They’re not alone! Unfortunately, overindulging on soda, ice cream, and other sweet treats can quickly lead to decay. So, it’s important that they eat more nutrient-dense foods as well. It’s also a good idea to make water their go-to beverage because it’s sugar-free, it helps keep them hydrated, and it helps prevent dry mouth.
Have a Mouthguard Made If They Play Sports
Is your child on their school’s football team? Do they like to play pickleball with their friends on the weekend? Maybe they prefer a solo activity, like rollerblading or skateboarding. Whatever the case may be, it’s important that their teeth and gums are protected from harm with a mouthguard. Fortunately, we can have a custom one made right here at our office!
Break Harmful Habits
Over the years, your child might develop an unhealthy habit or two. A few examples include biting their nails when they are nervous, using their teeth to remove plastic wrapping, or chewing on the back of their pencil while doing their homework. It’s best to redirect habits like these because, although they may seem harmless, all it takes is one time for their teeth to give under the pressure.
Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs
What if My Child’s Toothache Suddenly Disappears?
If the dull, persistent ache or sharp, stabbing pain your child has been experiencing goes away seemingly overnight, then you might be perplexed. Did their tooth heal on its own? Do you still need to schedule an appointment with our team at Pediatric Dental Care? Usually, the change in symptoms is due to the nerve of the tooth dying, which means the root of the problem is very much still present. So, it’s important that you schedule an appointment for them with our emergency dentist in Crown Point (if you haven’t already, of course).
Should I Bring My Child to the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
If your child is struggling with a painful toothache, a dental filling came loose, or they knocked out a tooth on the playground, then your first call should be to our Crown Point dental office. The reason for this is simple: hospitals don’t usually have dentists on staff. So, you should only bring them to the ER if they are experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding, trouble swallowing, or difficulty breathing.
Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth a Dental Emergency?
Although baby teeth are meant to come out, several issues can arise if they fall out too soon. For that reason, we recommend giving us a call. Once we know more about what’s going on, including if your child is in pain, we can schedule an appointment at our office and walk you through how to handle this dental injury in the meantime.
Do I Need to Bring My Child to The Dentist for a Small Chip?
Since teeth cannot heal on their own, we do recommend scheduling an appointment with us. With that said, a same-day visit may not be necessary. For example, if the chip is so minor that your child isn’t struggling with discomfort, sensitivity, or any other unusual symptoms, then scheduling an appointment with us within the next day or two should suffice.
Is It Safe to Use A Toothpick?
If your child gets something stuck between their teeth, like a piece of food, we don’t recommend reaching for a toothpick. After all, the sharp edge often irritates the gums and pushes the debris further into place, causing more harm than good. Instead, have your child rinse their mouth several times with warm saltwater (always spitting it out when they are done). Then, use a strand of floss to gently clean between their teeth.
What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?
Painful dental injuries can happen at a moment’s notice, so it’s helpful to have an emergency kit ready. In it, we recommend storing:
- A small storage container for teeth or restorations
- Sterile gloves
- Gauze pads
- Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen
- Floss
- Our phone number and address
