If your child has a toothache, cracked or broken tooth, or another dental emergency, we are here for them!

Prompt Treatment for Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Pediatric Dental Emergencies

As a parent, there's nothing more difficult than seeing your child sick or in pain.

Children's dental emergencies can be especially scary because they commonly include trauma, such as a knocked-out tooth.

At Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry, we know that helpless feeling, and we want to resolve your child's dental emergency as quickly as possible. Even if you aren't sure it's an emergency, it's always best to call us at (718) 761-7316 to be safe.

A friendly, helpful member of our dental team will speak with you and ask a few questions about what your child is experiencing. Your child will be scheduled for a same-day visit if necessary. Of course, if the situation is not urgent, your child will be scheduled as soon as possible.

Common Childhood Dental Emergencies

Having an idea of how to handle certain dental emergencies is key to staying calm if an incident occurs. Remaining calm will help your little one feel less stressed and more assured that they are okay.

There are several common dental emergencies that children tend to experience. Here are tips from our dental team on handling dental emergencies until you get to our dental office:

Toothache: Tooth pain is typically a sign of a cavity or an infected tooth that requires prompt treatment. Call our dental team, and we will arrange to see you as soon as possible.
Cracked, broken, or chipped tooth: Our dentists may be able to bond a broken or fractured front tooth back together, depending on the severity of the fracture and the location of the tooth. A cracked back tooth may be anything from a baby tooth falling out to a very large cavity. After examining your child, we will offer you the best advice for the situation.
A knocked-out baby tooth or primary tooth: If your child's trauma includes a knocked-out baby tooth, contact our pediatric dentists. Often, no treatment is needed beyond an x-ray and occasionally antibiotics.
A knocked-out permanent tooth: A knocked-out adult or permanent tooth requires immediate treatment as we have a very small window of time (15 minutes is ideal) where we might be able to save it. Try to replace the tooth in its socket gently; if this isn't possible, transport it to our dental office in a container of milk. Bring your child to our dental office as soon as possible,

Prevent Childhood Dental Emergencies

Kids are kids, and while we'd like to put them in bubble wrap, childhood dental emergencies are very common. There are steps you can take to minimize the risk of cavities and infections, and they begin with bringing your child to Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry for dental exams and cleanings every six months.

During these preventive appointments, Dr. Flanigan and Dr. Lange look for cavities and gingivitis and treat them promptly. Treating a cavity when it is small is better for your child than waiting until it develops into something more serious that may require complex or invasive treatment.

Call Us with Your Child's Dental Emergency

If you live in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Bayonne, or elsewhere in the metro area and need a children's emergency dentist, please call Dr. Michelle and Dr. Yelena at (718) 761-7316. We will get your child on our schedule as soon as possible.

Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry is open Monday through Saturday, with extended evening hours on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Some emergencies must be seen right away, and our extensive operating hours allow for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my child knocks out a baby tooth?

It’s a terrible feeling when your child knocks out a tooth, but a baby tooth isn’t as severe as a knocked-out permanent tooth. Don’t try to place the baby tooth back in the socket, as this could damage the permanent tooth in the gums.

Emergency Dental Care for Your Child

Call Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry as soon as possible, and we’ll work you into our schedule so we can perform an exam and take x-rays. Be sure to bring the baby tooth with you. Our pediatric dentists will look for damage to surrounding baby teeth and unerupted permanent teeth. However, in most cases, treatment is not necessary.

The main concern with a knocked-out baby tooth is that neighboring teeth can start to drift into the space and prevent the permanent tooth from erupting correctly. To avoid this, Dr. Michelle or Dr. Yelena may recommend a spacer to close the gap and prevent surrounding teeth from shifting. You can control any bleeding by applying gauze and holding it in place with light pressure.

Children’s Emergency Dentistry in Staten Island

At Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry, we understand how scary a dental emergency can be, especially when it’s your child. Call our dental office right away, and we will see your little as soon as possible.

What should I do if my child breaks a permanent tooth?

If your child significantly breaks or fractures a permanent tooth, contact Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry immediately. Acting quickly can help us save the tooth, prevent infection, and minimize the need for complex dental treatment.

Steps to Take When Your Child Breaks a Tooth

After you call our emergency dental office in Staten Island, you can take the following steps:

Try to locate and save any broken tooth fragments and bring them with you to your appointment.
If bleeding is involved, apply a gauze pad to the area to control it.
Control swelling with a cold compress on the face near the area of injury for 20-minute intervals.
Help relieve any pain by having your child rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt to one cup of water)
Avoid further damage to the tooth by giving your child soft foods

You can give your child an OTC pain medication cleared by your pediatrician, but do not hold aspirin or any other painkiller against the tooth.

How We Treat Cracked and Broken Teeth

When our pediatric emergency dentists see your child promptly after the trauma, we can evaluate the extent of the injury and look for signs of less obvious damage to the tooth.

The treatment we provide depends on the severity of the trauma to the tooth. If the chip, fracture, or break affects only the outer tooth enamel, placing a tooth-colored filling material may be all that’s needed.

If the tooth is cracked but has no nerve damage, we might recommend a dental crown for protection; if the injury involves nerve damage, we may need to perform a root canal before placing the crown. If the injury extends to the yellow dentin beneath tooth enamel, we may need to prescribe antibiotics to avoid infection.

We Are Here for Your Child's Dental Emergency

The first step with any childhood dental emergency is to call our Staten Island pediatric dentists at (718) 761-7316, and we will see you promptly.

What should I do if my child has a toothache?

If your older child has a toothache, ask if they can be specific: Is the tooth pain constant or severe? Does it only hurt when you bite down? This is information that can help your dentist determine what your child might be experiencing.

Symptoms of a Toothache

Younger children may not be able to communicate verbally, but there are symptoms of a toothache that you can look for:

Headache
Fever
Swelling around the gums and tooth
A bad taste in the mouth

If you suspect your child has a toothache, call our Staten Island pediatric dental office and let us know what’s going on.

Steps to Take If Your Child Has a Toothache

It’s crucial to contact us right away if the toothache lasts longer than a day or two. Be sure to let us know if your child’s experiencing severe pain, as this is may be a sign that a serious condition is developing.

After you call Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry to let us know what’s going on, you can take the following five steps:

Gently clean the area around the affected tooth.
Have them rinse their mouth with warm water.
Use floss to remove any food particles lodged between teeth.
Apply cold compresses if the face is swollen.
Do NOT place aspirin on the tooth.

Call Us with Your Child’s Dental Emergency

Our Staten Island, NY dental office is open six days a week, with extended evening hours on Monday and Tuesday, so there’s a good chance that you can reach us right away.

We are also pleased to provide emergency dentistry for children in Brooklyn, Bayonne, and surrounding areas.

Meet Our Doctors:

Dr. Michelle Flanigan

Dr. Michelle started her education at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School, now known as Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. She then completed ...

Dr. Yelena Lange

Dr. Yelena Lange attended the prestigious New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry for her dental degree. Realizing that she had a passion for helping children get a positive start ...

Dr. Sara Skurnick

Dr. Sara J Skurnick attended Fairleigh Dickinson University Madison in New Jersey. She graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors) in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Biolog after ...