Services
Emergency Pediatric Dentistry
Overview
A dental emergency can be stressful for both children and parents. If your child chips a tooth, develops severe tooth pain, or sustains a mouth injury, prompt dental care can help relieve discomfort and protect their oral health.
At Northside Pediatric Dentistry in Ann Arbor, MI, Dr. Minjoo Sanker and our team provide emergency dental care for infants, children, and teens. We use a calm, kid-friendly approach, explain what is happening in age-appropriate language, and focus on helping your child feel as comfortable as possible throughout the visit.
When Does Your Child Need Emergency Dental Care?
Some dental problems can wait for a regular appointment, while others should be evaluated quickly. Call our office if your child experiences:
- Severe or persistent tooth pain
- Significant swelling in the mouth or face
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- A chipped or broken tooth
- A loose or displaced tooth after an injury
- A permanent tooth that has been knocked out
- Fever or other signs that may indicate a dental infection
- A change in the way your child's teeth fit together after a fall or injury
If you are unsure whether your child's symptoms require immediate attention, call Northside Pediatric Dentistry. Our team can help determine the appropriate next step and provide guidance before you arrive.
For serious facial trauma, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or other potentially life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
What Should You Do If Your Child Knocks Out a Tooth?
What you should do depends on whether the tooth is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth.
Knocked-out permanent tooth
A knocked-out permanent tooth requires prompt attention. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. If it is dirty, gently rinse it without scrubbing. Keep the tooth moist, such as by placing it in milk, and contact our office as soon as possible.
Bring the tooth with you to the appointment.
Knocked-out baby tooth
Do not try to place a knocked-out baby tooth back into the socket. Replanting a primary tooth can potentially affect the developing permanent tooth beneath it.
Contact our office so we can evaluate the area, check for additional injuries, and explain what to do next.
How We Help Children Feel Comfortable During Emergency Visits
When a child comes to our office in pain or after an injury, comfort is an important part of their care. We explain each step in language children can understand and use age-appropriate behavior guidance to make treatment feel less intimidating.
Our team is experienced in working with children who may feel nervous, tired, scared, or restless. We may use distraction, reassurance, and other simple comfort measures to help your child settle into the visit.
We also review your child's medical history and any medications they have taken to provide safe, appropriate care. Phone triage may help our team understand what happened before you arrive and prepare for your child's needs.
What Happens During an Emergency Dental Visit?
The first goal of an emergency appointment is to identify the problem, relieve discomfort, and protect your child's oral health.
Dr. Minjoo Sanker may perform a focused examination and take digital X-rays when needed to look for fractures, decay, root problems, or injuries that may not be visible during the exam.
Depending on your child's condition, treatment may include:
- Temporary or permanent restoration of a damaged tooth
- Stabilization of an injured tooth
- Treatment to relieve pain or address the cause of a toothache
- Topical or local anesthetic when appropriate
- Referral to another specialist when additional care is needed
Before treatment, we explain the available options and answer parents' questions. We also discuss whether additional treatment or follow-up appointments may be necessary.
Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies We Treat
Chipped or broken tooth
A chipped tooth can leave a sharp edge or expose more sensitive parts of the tooth. Depending on the extent of the damage, treatment may include smoothing the tooth, bonding, or another type of restoration.
If you find a broken piece of the tooth, place it in a clean, sealed container and bring it with you.
Severe toothache
A toothache can have several causes, including decay, infection, or injury. We evaluate the tooth and may use digital X-rays to determine the cause of the pain before recommending treatment.
Severe pain, swelling, or fever should be evaluated promptly.
Loose or displaced tooth
If a permanent tooth becomes loose or shifts position after an injury, it may need to be stabilized while the surrounding tissues heal.
Contact our office after the injury, especially if your child's bite feels different or the tooth appears noticeably out of position.
Soft tissue injuries
Injuries to the lips, cheeks, gums, or tongue can sometimes occur along with dental trauma. We can evaluate the mouth, help clean the injured area, and provide home-care instructions.
If bleeding cannot be controlled or the injury appears severe, seek immediate medical attention.
Aftercare Following a Dental Emergency
Before your child leaves, our team will explain how to care for the affected area at home and what symptoms to watch for. If medication is appropriate, we will review how to use it. We may also schedule a follow-up visit to monitor healing.
Contact our office if pain or swelling worsens, bleeding returns, or you notice any other concerning change after treatment.
How Can You Help Prevent Dental Emergencies?
Not every dental injury can be prevented, but a few habits can reduce your child's risk.
- Have your child wear a properly fitted mouthguard during contact sports and other activities with a risk of dental injury.
- Keep gauze and a cold pack available at home for minor mouth injuries.
- Schedule regular dental checkups so potential problems can be found before they become painful.
- Encourage consistent brushing and healthy oral hygiene habits.
- Limit frequent sugary drinks and encourage water between meals.
Northside Pediatric Dentistry can also provide custom-fitted mouthguards and help parents choose preventive strategies that fit their child's age and activities.
Call for Emergency Pediatric Dental Care in Ann Arbor
If your child has a dental emergency, call Northside Pediatric Dentistry in Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. Minjoo Sanker and our team will evaluate the problem, explain your child's treatment options, and focus on relieving discomfort while protecting their long-term oral health.
We accept emergency calls and aim to provide timely care when children need prompt dental attention. Call Northside Pediatric Dentistry today if your child has a severe toothache, injured tooth, swelling, or another urgent dental concern.
Related Services
Questions?
We Are Happy to Help
Call our New Patients at (734) 627-6038, and our team will help you choose the next right step.
What Ann Arbor Families Are Saying
Real families, real visits — a few notes from our neighbors.
“Dr. Minjoo Sanker was great! Took my highly anxious child and relaxed her and made her visit super easy and successful!”
“Great experience! Dr. Minjoo was amazing — so fast but thorough with our little one!”
“Dr. Minjoo is awesome! She is so good with my six-year-old, and doesn’t get frazzled with his anxiety and tears.”
“Dr. Minjoo did an excellent job on a tooth extraction for our very nervous eleven-year-old. Our daughter was really surprised how quickly and easily it went.”
“My son is a very anxious kid when it comes to doctors and dentists. Dr. Minjoo was so soothing and gentle, and took her time explaining everything to him.”
“I wanted to thank Dr. Minjoo Sanker — she was so professional, kind, and patient with my daughter getting crowns put in her teeth! She was wonderful making sure to walk her through the process.”
“We absolutely love the experience and their care. Dr. Minjoo goes above and beyond. We also love all staff. They are very nice, caring, and very professional.”
“Dr. Minjoo Sanker was awesome. I appreciate her for getting me in fast. My son got the care he needed same day!”
“Dr. Minjoo is the best! So skilled and so sweet and keeps the kids distracted and comfortable!”
“My daughter was happy and I was happy too as a mother. Dr. Minjoo and her assistant treat my daughter like their own child very warm.”
“Very sweet staff and a wonderful experience. Very convenient, love the location, plenty of parking and just an overall wonderful experience for my daughters first dental visit.”
“I can't believe how patient and sweet she is. I felt so bad with how terrible my daughter was acting but she really is a rockstar. Unbelievable how kind and nurturing she is.”
“My 10 year old son has anxiety when going to the dentist and the staff was very patient and caring. Dr. Minjoo took the time to answer my questions and set up a treatment plan that was best for my son.”
“Would highly recommend. Dr. Minjoo is great with children and the staff is top notch. They all took great care of my daughter.”
“Both ladies were so sweet and greeted us so warmly. The hygienist and Dr. Minjoo was loving and patient and explained everything so clearly.”
“To say they were wonderful is an understatement! Dr. Minjoo walked my son through every single detail of what she was doing in terms he could understand and checked in with him repeatedly.”
“If I could give a million stars I would! Everyone was amazing. They explained everything to my son, showed him what they were going to do and what each instrument was.”
“The team here is outstanding. They were all so kind, patient, and guided us through the whole produced. Dr. Minjoo would pause and take a break when she knew it was getting overwhelming for my son.”
“Dr. Minjoo was so sweet and patient with my child. My daughter was so nervous but she was able to calm her down. I am truly grateful for the Dentist and her assistants.”
“Dr. Minjoo walked into the room with a very calm demeanor which immediately put my kid at ease. She went over and beyond making sure he knew what was happening and explained every step of the way.”