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our dental Services

Emergency Dentistry in Sioux Falls

Child smiling at the dentist

The Importance of Prompt Care

We understand that dental emergencies don’t always happen during normal business hours. That is why we provide same-day, after-hours, and weekend emergency appointments so your little one can get the care they need when they need it most. Not only does coming in for emergency care mean that you’ll be able to get back to your normal routine quickly, but you’ll also be able to avoid further complications associated with putting off treatment. For example, if a chipped tooth is left alone, it can become infected and require further, more costly treatment down the line. If you think your child is experiencing a dental emergency, it is important toright away. We’ll help relieve your child’s discomfort, and restore their oral health quickly.

Common Types of Dental Emergencies

There are many different types of dental emergencies, but a good rule of thumb is that a dental emergency is anything that is causing your child pain, discomfort, or bleeding that you can not treat on your own. Here are a few of the most common emergencies to look out for:

Knocked Out Teeth

Even though kids lose baby teeth naturally, if one gets knocked out prematurely, it can cause future complications. If a tooth is lost too early, the other surrounding teeth will gradually shift towards the opening to close the gap. However, this means that the adult tooth below the surface that was meant to replace the lost tooth will have trouble erupting properly. For these cases, we usually recommend placing a space maintainer to ensure the adult tooth can grow in without issue.

Persistent Toothaches

While it may not seem very important, a toothache that won’t go away after a few days is a serious dental emergency. This sensitivity usually indicates that treatment is necessary because there is decay inside of the tooth causing an infection. In these cases, we will usually need to perform root canal therapy to save the tooth and prevent the infection from spreading. If your child is complaining of a sore tooth, give our team a call as soon as possible!

Loose or Missing Dental Work

If your child has received a filling or a dental crown to repair dental damage, it is important that that dental work stays in place. If your child’s filling or dental crown becomes loose or falls out, come see us right away. Dental work can become loose by playing contact sports or even eating extremely chewy or crunchy foods like toffee, caramels, hard nuts, etc. Crowns and fillings are put in place to fill in or cover an area of damage and if it is not there, the treated tooth will be highly susceptible to decay and further damage.

Parent checking on child with mouth injury

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

If your child is experiencing a dental emergency, the first thing to do is stay calm. We understand that emergencies can be scary and stressful, but it is important that your child sees that things are under control. If needed, you can address any bleeding with gauze or paper towels. You can help mitigate pain by giving your child over the counter pain medication like ibuprofen or Tylenol. 

If you are dealing with a knocked-out tooth, find the tooth. Grab it by the enamel crown, not the delicate roots. If it is dirty, you can rinse it in water, but be careful not to scrub or touch the roots. If there is any tissue attached to the tooth, do not remove it as this is crucial to ensure healing. Next, if you can, gently place it back in its socket. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a container of milk. If you don’t have milk on hand, you can use water.  

Next, it is important to come to us as soon as possible. We will be able to take a look at your child’s situation and give them immediate care. No matter the issue, we will provide you with peace of mind and get your child out of pain. If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, call us immediately at (605) 275-5771.