Emergency Info

Dental emergencies can catch you off guard, but Dr. Sierra, Dr. Patel and Dr. Kwon at Kids Smiles are here for you during your time of need!

We provide emergency pediatric dentist services in the Tampa Bay Area, including virtual consultations for children experiencing dental emergency concerns!

Examples of common dental emergencies include:

Pain in the mouth including toothache

Injury to face or mouth

Abcess or infection

Tight or short frenulum in babies

Not sure if your child is experiencing a dental emergency? Use the following questions as a guide:

Do you have swelling on your gums?

Is your mouth or facial area swollen?

Are you experiencing pain?

Are you bleeding from the mouth?

Have you incurred an injury to the face or mouth?

Is your child experiencing a problem with pain or difficulty eating?

Are you experiencing maternal pain?

Are you a mother experiencing milk transfer issues when breastfeeding?

Is your baby struggling to latch while breastfeeding?

Is your baby experiencing weight gain issues?

If you answer yes to any of the questions above, your child may be experiencing an emergency and should be connected with an emergency pediatric dentist as soon as possible.

For true medical emergencies, please call 911 immediately.

Depending on your child’s condition, we can schedule an immediate emergency appointment in our office. We want to alleviate you and your child’s concerns and assess his or her condition in a way that’s comfortable, convenient, and safe.

In the meantime…

If Your Child is in Need of a Tongue & Lip-Tie Revision

If your child is struggling to latch while breastfeeding or experiencing weight gain issues, this may indicate the need for an emergency tongue and lip-tie revision. If you notice these signs, we urge you to reach out to us immediately.

Mothers experiencing milk transfer issues or maternal pain should also contact us immediately, as these signs may indicate the need for an emergency procedure.

If Your Child Loses a Permanent Tooth

Keep the tooth wet until you get to the dentist. If possible, place it back into the socket. If this is too painful for your child, keep it between his or her cheek and gums or place it in milk to try to save it. Please do not put the tooth in your child’s mouth if you are concerned that he or she might swallow it.

If Your Child Has a Cracked Tooth or Bitten Tongue or Lip

Always have the child rinse his or her mouth with warm water. A warm compress will help reduce swelling. If your child has something stuck in his or her teeth, gently use floss to get it out. Do not try to remove it with something sharp. To avoid Reye’s syndrome, children should not be given aspirin for pain.

Protect Your Child’s Smile

Children should always wear a mouthguard during sports and other physical activities. Children should avoid chewing hard food like candy, ice, and popcorn kernels. These foods can break teeth. Everyone should use scissors instead of their teeth to cut or tear things.

Still have questions about dental emergencies?

We’re here to answer your questions, and we want you and your child to know your options! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time.

Dr. Sierra, Dr. Kwon, Dr. Pettit and our team are here to help guide you and your child. We offer kinder, gentler dentistry for kids and teens. It is our goal that your child develops and maintains a positive association with dental care and we do everything we can to create a pleasant, supportive, and fun environment for our little patients.

Ready to schedule an appointment? Let’s get started. Visit us in Town & Country, South Tampa, North Tampa or Bradenton!