Parents don’t always know when to call. A child complains about tooth pain and the immediate question is whether it’s serious enough to come in that day or something that can wait for the next available slot. The answer depends on what’s causing the pain, and tooth pain in kids can come from several different sources with very different urgency levels.
At All Star Kidz Dental in Centennial Hills, Las Vegas, Dr. Lamb, a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and our team hear this question regularly. Below is what we tell families when they call with this question. If you’re ever not sure, our pediatric dental emergencies page covers specific situations in more detail.
Pain That Points to a Dental Emergency
Unrelenting pain is the clearest sign to call us. A child who can’t sleep, won’t eat, or is visibly distressed for more than a few hours without improvement should be seen. Pain at that level typically means there is infection or significant tooth damage involved, not minor irritation that will pass.
Swelling around the jaw, cheek, or gums that came on alongside the tooth pain is another sign to take seriously. Abscessed teeth create infection and pus buildup that can spread, and swelling in that area can progress quickly in children. It’s better to call and hear it can wait than to hold off and have the situation worsen overnight.
A knocked-out permanent tooth is a true emergency. The faster a child is seen after the tooth is displaced, the better the odds of saving it. If your child loses a permanent tooth, keep it moist and get to the office or an emergency dental provider right away.
Pain That Can Usually Wait for a Scheduled Appointment
Not all tooth pain in kids is urgent. Mild sensitivity that comes and goes, discomfort when eating something very cold or sweet, and minor soreness around a loose baby tooth are all common and generally not urgent. A baby tooth that is already loose and causing intermittent discomfort is usually close to coming out on its own.
If a child has had mild tooth discomfort for a few days without it getting worse, that is still worth scheduling an appointment for, but it does not need to happen the same afternoon. Routine checkups and cleanings are how we catch decay before it gets bad enough to hurt.
Why Tooth Pain in Kids Requires Its Own Evaluation
Baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth come in over several years. What causes pain in a child’s mouth is often different from what causes the same symptom in an adult. A permanent tooth pushing through can create pressure and soreness that mimics other problems. A cavity in a baby tooth can also damage the permanent tooth developing underneath it, which is why we treat them even when the baby tooth is going to fall out anyway.
For children who have difficulty with dental visits, we offer pediatric sedation dentistry to help keep the experience manageable. For children with special healthcare needs, our special needs pediatric dentistry services are designed to accommodate a wider range of situations.
How We Help Prevent Tooth Emergencies
Most of the tooth pain emergencies we see in kids started as decay that wasn’t caught early. Two tools that reduce this: fluoride treatments, which strengthen enamel against acid from food and bacteria, and dental sealants, which seal the grooves in back teeth where decay starts most often in children.
Neither is a substitute for brushing, but both reduce how often we see kids coming in because a cavity got bad enough to hurt.
When to Call Our Office
If your child is in significant pain, there is visible swelling, a permanent tooth has been knocked out or severely damaged, or you are simply not sure whether what you are seeing is urgent, call us. Our team can often help assess over the phone whether the situation needs to be seen the same day. Dr. Lamb also responds to texts outside regular hours so families can always reach us when a concern comes up. We accept all major insurance plans, including Medicaid. Contact All Star Kidz Dental in Centennial Hills to reach our team.
