PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DENTIST SOUTH PORTLAND & AUBURN

When You Need Us, We’re There

Young boy wincing and holding his cheek needing pediatric emergency dentist in South Portland and Auburn

Accidents always happen when you’re least expecting them, quickly transforming a relaxing day at the park into a stressful urgent situation. Fortunately, Dr. Sara (Yun Ae) Kim and our reliable team at Maine Pediatric Dentistry offer same-day appointments for children in pain. We’ll quickly jump into action to help ease your child’s discomfort and create a plan to repair their smile. If you need pediatric emergency dental care for your child in South Portland or Auburn, call our office immediately.

Why Choose Maine Pediatric Dentistry for Children’s Emergency Dentistry?

  • Pediatric Dentist with Ample Experience
  • Evidence-Based Approach to Children’s Dentistry
  • Nitrous Oxide & Oral Conscious Sedation Offered

How We Treat Dental Emergencies

Young girl grinning in dental chair
  1. Call Us: Amid a dental emergency, never hesitate to give us a call. You’ll speak directly with one of our knowledgeable dental professionals who will guide you through necessary first-aid steps and help ease your child’s discomfort until you’re able to reach our office. We always do our best to accommodate our patients on the same day.
  2. Come In: Once you arrive, Dr. Sara (Yun Ae) Kim will thoroughly examine your child’s smile in search of any signs of lingering oral health issues as well as assess any damage that has occurred. Based on her findings, she will put together a tailored treatment plan to restore your little one’s smile to its full health and function.
  3. Get Your Child Treated: Once Dr. Sara (Yun Ae) Kim has explained the treatment plan and answered any questions you may have, and you consent to move forward, our team will schedule your child’s procedure.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies

It can be hard to know what situations require emergency pediatric dental care and which ones can wait. That’s why, regardless of the situation, if you feel concerned about your child’s oral health, we encourage you to give us a call. Below, we’ve also listed some of the most common emergency cases we see so you have a better understanding of what necessitates same-day care.

Tooth with two lightning bolts icon

Toothaches

Chipped tooth icon

Chipped
Tooth

Tooth surrounded by circle of vanishing lines icon

Knocked-Out
Tooth

Tooth with a lost filling icon

Lost Filling
or Crown

Tooth wiggling in gums icon

Loose
Tooth

Wide open mouth icon

Gums Injury

Row of teeth with braces icon

Orthodontic
Injury

Understanding the Cost of Treating Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Money going into a piggy bank

We know that guiding your child through a dental emergency can be difficult, so we do what we can to ensure that paying for your services from us won’t make the process any more stressful than it has to be. While it’s not always possible to tell what emergency treatment will cost before we meet your child in person, we’ll make sure to provide you with a full estimate of the cost of our services before they’re performed.

Until then, here’s some information about the price of treating dental emergencies in children.

Every Dental Emergency Is Different

Tooth on a stretcher

A dental emergency is any situation that requires immediate attention from a dentist. As such, they can include a vast number of different problems, and addressing them could involve various kinds of treatment. All of this means that the cost of dealing with a pediatric dental emergency can vary wildly from child to child.

You might be able to deal with your child’s dental emergency via inexpensive solutions, like fillings or prescription mouthwash. In more severe cases, extractions or root canals may be necessary. Once we have a good sense of what your child’s treatment plan will look like, we’ll be able to give you a better sense of what you’ll pay.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Pediatric Dental Emergencies?

Dental insurance form on a table

Typically, if your child is covered under your dental plan, you’ll be able to get some level of reimbursement for pediatric dental emergency treatment. Many dental plans provide one complimentary emergency exam each year, while the treatments themselves will have around 50-80% of the total cost of your services covered.

The details of this can vary from plan to plan, so we’ll work with you to make sure that you’re getting the most out of your child’s dental benefits.

Other Options for Making Pediatric Dental Emergencies Affordable

Money being put into a jar

We believe that your child ought to get the care that they need, even if you don’t actually have insurance. For that reason, we do what we can to make our care affordable for everyone.

One of the best tools at the disposal of uninsured patients is financing, which can allow you to split the cost of your services across several months. We frequently work with CareCredit and can help you to navigate the paperwork involved in applying for your services.

We’ll be sure to talk to you in greater detail about what you can do to make your care much more affordable when we meet you in person.

Taking Care of Your Child’s Smile Can Save You Money

Picture of a smiling child

It’s always worth noting that between prevention and treatment, the former is almost always the more affordable option. You can save you and your child a lot of money and headaches by preventing serious oral health problems before they come to a head.

We know that it can be difficult to manage your child’s dental hygiene, and that getting kids excited about oral healthcare is a tall order. Thankfully, you don’t have to go it alone. We’ll partner with you and your child to help you manage their oral hygiene, ensuring that your child’s smile can keep shining for a long time to come. If you’re ready to get started, make an appointment with us today!

Keys to Preventing Kid’s Dental Emergencies

Child smiling while playing on playground

Oftentimes, dental emergencies end up being painful for both the child and their parent! That’s why – although we are always a phone call away – we do our best to prevent a same-day visit to our office from ever being necessary. That starts with providing thorough dental cleanings and extends to sharing all of our tips on how to avoid chips, cracks, and other forms of dental damage. If you want to learn more about the latter, then keep reading!

Schedule a Dental Checkup & Teeth Cleaning Every Six Months

Child smiling at dentist during checkup

Dental checkups and teeth cleanings are crucial, especially as your child’s smile is growing and their fine motor skills are developing. That’s why we recommend bringing them to our office every six months! We’ll conduct a comprehensive exam and clear away harmful plaque and tartar with the goal of preventing oral health problems from surfacing or progressing.

Brush and Floss Consistently

Child smiling while brushing teeth in bathroom

Many parents are curious when they should introduce oral hygiene into their child’s routine. The answer is “as soon as possible!” Before their teeth emerge, use a damp, clean washcloth to wipe down their gums after feedings. Then, start brushing their teeth as soon as they make an appearance, and start flossing as soon as two teeth touch. Together, these habits will help prevent a myriad of issues.

Keep Added Sugar to a Minimum

Parent preparing meal together in kitchen

Like most kids, your child might love all things sugar. In fact, if they had it their way, they might have sugar for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! While everything is fine in moderation, it’s important that they don’t go overboard since this sweetener is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. Instead, do your best to offer them a well-balanced diet that’s filled with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

Have a Mouthguard Made for Sports

Closeup of child putting mouthguard in

Whether your child participates in soccer after school or plays on their school’s football team, they need to wear a mouthguard. That way, there’s a significantly lower chance of them knocking out a tooth. If you don’t already have a mouthguard for them, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We can have a custom one made so it fits comfortably (increasing their motivation to wear it) and protects their teeth properly.

Reinforce Good Habits

Child giving thumbs up in dentist's office

Over the years, your child might develop an unhealthy habit or two. A few examples include biting their nails, chewing on ice cubes, or putting the back of their pencil or pen in their mouth. These all have the potential to lead to dental damage, like a cracked or fractured tooth, which is why it’s important to reinforce better habits, like chewing on sugar-free gum or squeezing a stress ball.