Pediatric Emergency Dentist – Coppell, TX

Urgent Dental Care for the Star in Your Life

If you’re a parent, you don’t need us to tell you how accident-prone kids can be. Unfortunately, this sometimes has disastrous consequences for a child’s smile. If your child has damaged a tooth, or if they’ve been complaining of a toothache, the fastest way to bring them relief is to call the dentistry team and pediatric emergency dentist in Coppell, TX, Linda A. Steele, DDS. Dr. Linda has more than 25 years of experience as a pediatric dentist, so she’s seen it all. She’ll ensure your child remains comfortable as she gives their smile the VIP treatment!

Why Choose Linda A. Steele, DDS for Pediatric Emergency Dentistry?

  • Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointments for Kids Available
  • Relaxing Dental Office Environment Helps Kids Feel Safe
  • Sedation Dentistry Offered for Nervous Patients

How We Treat Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Child in dental chair for emergency dentistry

When your young one’s smile is in trouble, the first thing you should do is call our dental office. From there, you can expect us to handle your child’s dental emergency by:

  • Scheduling a same-day appointment – We’ll evaluate your child’s situation and book your appointment as soon as possible, often later that day. Additionally, we can guide you on helping your son or daughter remain calm until then. You can even send pictures over the phone, which we’ll use to recommend a course of action.
  • Assessing the damage – Once you arrive, Dr. Linda will examine your child’s mouth and take X-rays if needed to find out the source and extent of the problem.
  • Going over the treatment options – Dr. Linda will review her findings as well as her recommendations for next steps to take. We can also discuss the associated fees and your financial options.
  • Restoring their smile – Once you and Dr. Linda have agreed on a treatment plan, she’ll get right to work on making your child’s pearly whites fit for the silver screen.

The Most Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies 

No matter what your son or daughter is going through, it’s important to stay calm. Even if you’re not quite sure whether your child’s situation qualifies as an emergency, it never hurts to give us a call just to be safe. One thing is certain: if your child is facing one of these common dental emergencies, you definitely need to book an appointment with us right away.

Understanding the Cost of Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Child holding cheek in pain before emergency dentistry

We know that parents are sometimes concerned about the cost of their child’s dental care, especially if something unexpected happens, like a knocked-out tooth. For that reason, our team is here to help make navigating the financial component as stress-free as possible, starting by providing estimates of the price upfront. We’ve also provided additional information right here, including the factors that go into the cost of emergency dentistry and the financial solutions we offer.

Why Every Dental Emergency is Different

Pediatric dental team reviewing X-ray with child

Since every child’s smile is different, there isn’t a flat fee for emergency dental care. Instead, Dr. Linda needs to evaluate the situation by learning more about what happened, taking X-rays, and conducting a visual exam. At that point, we can determine the specific treatments required and how much they will cost.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?

Tablet with dental insurance information next to desk supplies

Although it’s rare for dental insurance providers to cover the entire cost, there’s a chance they will cover a portion of your child’s visit. For example, many plans cover between 50% and 80% of the cost of restorative treatments, like dental fillings and crowns. So, if you’re insured, don’t hesitate to provide us with your information! We’re happy to accept most dental insurance carriers, including BlueCross Blue Shield, Delta Dental, Cigna, and United Healthcare.

Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable

Teddy bear on counter with dental tools

Since only about 50% of Americans have dental insurance, we recognized the importance of offering other financial solutions as well. To begin, we have in-house membership plans that help you save immediately – no waiting periods, annual deductibles, and the like. If you would like to opt for flexible financing instead, that’s okay too! We welcome CareCredit, a trusted third-party financier that offers several payment plans. This ensures that you don’t have to pay for the entire cost of your child’s treatment upfront.

How Taking Care Of Your Child’s Smile Can Save You Money

Mom and daughter brushing their teeth together

Keep in mind that avoiding treatment for damaged baby teeth may seem cost-effective, but it can actually cost you more in the long term. Even though baby teeth eventually fall out, problems with them can lead to problems in the adult teeth that ultimately become more expensive to treat. For all of these reasons, we strongly encourage parents to reinforce good oral hygiene habits, like brushing for a full two minutes each morning and evening. Your child should also begin visiting us biannually once their first tooth comes in (or by their first birthday) as well as start flossing once they have two teeth that touch.

Keys to Preventing Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Young girl at dental office for emergency dentistry

Accidents happen, so there’s no surefire way to prevent children’s dental emergencies 100% of the time. However, you can reduce the risk by taking some easy precautionary measures, such as:

Schedule a Dental Checkup & Cleaning Twice a Year

Young girl smiling during routine dental cleaning

We can’t emphasize enough how important it is that your child visits our Coppell pediatric dental team every six months for a checkup and cleaning. During these visits, we can monitor their development, catch tooth decay early on, provide pointers on how to improve their at-home oral hygiene regimen, clean the hard-to-reach areas of their mouth, and so much more. At your child’s next appointment, don’t hesitate to ask us whether they could benefit from fluoride treatments or dental sealants too!

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Father and daughter smiling while brushing their teeth in bathroom

In short, establishing and maintaining an oral hygiene routine at home is just the beginning. In addition to making sure that your child is brushing twice a day and flossing consistently, it’s important to provide them with the proper tools as well. The type of bristles on their toothbrush is a great example. While soft bristles can effectively remove debris from their teeth without damaging them, hard bristles can easily irritate their gums and the other soft tissue in their mouth.

Provide Your Child with a Nutritious Diet

Child smiling with plate of healthy food in front of her

If your child is like most kids, they may love soda, candy, and other sweet treats. While everything can be enjoyed in moderation, it’s important to make sure that your child doesn’t eat too many sugary snacks. After all, this is one of the leading causes of cavities. Instead, focus on providing them with a well-balanced diet that has lots of smile-friendly foods as well, such as yogurt, fruit, and vegetables. In addition to keeping their teeth strong, these foods will give their bodies the nutrients it needs to help fight infections!

Make Sure They Wear a Mouthguard During Sports

Child placing blue mouthguard in his mouth

Simply put, a mouthguard helps keep your child on the field and out of our emergency dentist’s chair! Whether your athlete participates in a contact sport (i.e., basketball, football, wrestling) or a solo sport, like surfing, it’s important that they protect their teeth and gums in the process. Before you buy a mouthguard at your local sporting goods store, talk to our team about the benefits of having a custom one made.

Remember, Teeth Are Not Tools!

Pediatric dentist and child smiling while giving thumbs up

Your child’s teeth may be sharp, but they are not good substitutes for scissors! As a result, they should never use their chompers to open plastic wrapping. They also shouldn’t use them to clip their nails or chew on non-food items, like pencils. This can easily result in a chip or fracture that necessitates a same-day visit to our Coppell pediatric dental office for treatment.

Pediatric Dental Emergency FAQs

Child smiling with stuffed animal while dentist and parents talk

If you want to learn more about pediatric emergency dentistry – from what throbbing tooth pain means to what to do if your child knocks out one of their baby teeth – you’ll be happy to know you’re in the right place! This next section is dedicated to frequently asked questions so you can continue your research right here. As always, if you have a specific question or concern, you’re welcome to reach out to us directly as well.

Are knocked-out baby teeth a dental emergency?

If your child knocks out one of their baby teeth, then you should absolutely call our Coppell pediatric dental team ASAP. Over the phone, we will learn more about the situation, like how old your child is. This is important because if the tooth came out months or years before it would’ve naturally fallen out on its own, then we need to conduct an exam and intervene with the necessary treatment right away.

What does throbbing tooth pain mean?

Has your child been dealing with throbbing tooth pain? If so, they may have a cracked, decayed, or otherwise damaged tooth. In the short-term, you can provide them with a cold compress and soft foods to help alleviate their discomfort. However, for long-term relief, they need to get professional treatment. When you bring them in for an appointment, our Coppell pediatric dentist will conduct a thorough exam, determine the source of the problem, and review all of the treatment options available so you can make an informed decision on what’s best for your child’s oral health.

Do chipped teeth heal?

No, chipped teeth do not heal on their own. Don’t worry – that doesn’t mean that your child has to deal with an annoying chip moving forward. Simply bring them in for an appointment, and we will determine the best way to restore the missing structure depending on the size of the chip and the location of the tooth.

What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?

It’s no secret that dental injuries can be quite painful. Plus, even if your child is coming in right away for treatment, it can be helpful to have a few things on hand, including a topical anesthetic, such as Orajel, floss, gauze pads and dressings, and an OTC pain reliever for children. It’s also helpful to keep our practice’s contact information in the same place so you have everything you need.

Are toothpicks safe to use?

Since toothpicks can be deadly if swallowed, we don’t recommend using them. We also don’t recommend using any other sharp objects, like tweezers, to remove debris from between their teeth. Instead, use some floss to gently remove it. If you’re having trouble, then you can always reach out to us to schedule a time for your little one to come in.