emergency dental care for kids San Francisco

Emergency Dentistry in
San Francisco

Kids Under 2 Get Free Cleanings

Our Approach

We’re Here For You!

Emergencies are scary for little ones. That’s why Dr. Erin Shah offers a variety of solutions to solve “tooth problems” and work with your family’s values and lifestyle to determine treatment options that are in your child’s best interest. Unsure if your child is having an emergency? Call Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry in San Francisco, and we can help you assess the situation and provide solutions.

For your convenience, we offer same-day appointments!

415.825.3323

2690 3rd St San Francisco, CA 94158

smiles@mbpedsdentist.com

What is a Dental Emergency?

Seeing your little one hurt from a tooth injury is stressful. Not knowing what qualifies as an emergency and what can be treated comfortably at home is part of the stress.

A dental emergency is where a tooth needs immediate attention. Instances include a severe toothache, knocked-out teeth, a cracked or broken tooth, or a loose tooth due to an accident. If your child is suffering from any of these issues, give our office a call! At Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry, we offer same-day appointments to get your kid out of pain and back to playing, laughing, and smiling.

More Information

Chipped or Broken Tooth

Chipped or fractured teeth from trauma are common in growing children, those who children who play sports, are learning how to walk, or just roughhousing with siblings and friends. Locate any tooth fragments, if possible, and save. Most chips to primary teeth can be monitored, but a tooth that exposes a pink or red core of the tooth, or makes the tooth sensitive or painful too cold and eating should be addressed in a more timely fashion. Please reach out to our office to schedule an evaluation for chipped or fractured teeth.

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Infected Tooth

Symptoms of an infected tooth include inflamed gums, swelling, pain, pus coming from the tooth, and in some cases, a fever. Swelling that has spread to the face or jaw is an emergency that requires attention at your nearest emergency department, with a follow up at our office. Facial swelling may indicate a tooth infection that is spreading to other areas of the body which can progress rapidly, causing systemic complications.

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Loose/Fallen Tooth

If your child has knocked out a permanent tooth, time is of the essence. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. Rinse it gently and reinsert it into the socket, applying gentle pressure with gauze. If that's not possible, store the tooth in a secure container, covered with Hank's Balanced Salt Solution ("Save a Tooth"), the child's saliva, or milk. Contact our office immediately for guidance.

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Treatments for Healthy Smiles

New Patient Consultations & Regular Checkups

Whether you are looking for a new dental home for your children, or you want to get a second opinion, we are here to provide timely and tailored information, a positive environment, and peace of mind. At each check-up, we evaluate your child’s development, habits, and overall oral health to provide support for healthy adult smiles.

Infant Exams

It all begins with the first tooth. We recommend bringing your infant in when their first tooth erupts or between 12 and 18 months, whatever comes first. At this exciting first visit, we discuss your lifestyle and find opportunities to promote your child’s oral health, setting them up for success in the long term. An early visit is key to establishing good habits before not-so-good, harmful ones take root (no pun intended!). Take the drama out of your kiddo’s nightly routine and accomplish a healthy routine for even the wiliest of toddlers (yes, really!)

Dental Cleanings

Keep those pearlies shiny! We tailor dental cleaning to your child’s needs for a fresh smile at each visit. We remove stains, goo, and “plaque fossils” that cause decay and inflamed gums, polishing them until they sparkle. Cleaning time is also teaching time. We work with kiddos still developing their teeth-cleaning skills and reinforce positive habits and techniques!

Fluoride Treatments

Did you know regular fluoride treatments significantly reduce your child’s risk of cavities? We apply the fluoride treatment directly to teeth with a small brush. The sticky formula adheres for several hours strengthening those pearly whites with maximum mineral intake. Think of it as vitamins for their teeth. They help replace minerals lost during acid attacks during normal eating and drinking. The enamel absorbs the mineral into these weak spots and creates a harder tooth structure that resists future acid attacks and breakdowns.

Dental Sealants

As a prevention-first dental practice, we pride ourselves on providing dental sealants according to the highest AAPD standards. Dental sealants are applied to high-risk grooves of teeth, where food gets and stays stuck. It can be difficult for learning brushers to consistently clean these tricky spots as they can be so narrow that a toothbrush cannot properly clean them. Fortunately, dental sealants are a fast and easy treatment, kind of like getting a manicure, but for teeth! This small measure makes a huge difference in your child’s oral health!

Minimally-Invasive Cavity Arresting Treatment - "SDF" or Silver Diamine Fluoride

Oops! Your child has a weak spot in their tooth or maybe even a small cavity. It happens! We offer a treatment that slows the growth of the cavity which requires no numbing or operating on the tooth. This allows us to buy time for your child to mature so they can tolerate tooth restoration. And sometimes, Silver Diamine Fluoride helps completely avoid having to fix the tooth altogether.

How We Help.

Our team is by your side with same-day appointments that prioritize your child’s well-being. In a comforting atmosphere, we strive to treat their dental emergency with the utmost compassion and attention to detail.

When you come in, we will perform a problem-focused exam, listening to what happened, pinpointing the issue, and developing a comprehensive plan to save their oral health and get them out of pain. We recognize this is a scary, stressful experience but we are here for you, every step of the way!

frequently asked questions

What should if my child is having a dental emergency?

Stay calm, there are no problems that are unsolvable. If your child has a knocked-out tooth, grab it by the crown (the top of the tooth) and place it in a secure container, stop any bleeding with fresh, clean gauze, and give us a call.

What happens if I don’t treat it in time?

Delaying treatment is painful for your kiddo. It can also damage their oral health and may require more complex procedures to correct. An infected tooth can lead to life-threatening conditions like sepsis. If you suspect a dental emergency, contact us right away. We provide same-day care to get your child back to health and happiness.

My baby’s tooth fell out! What do I do?

Baby teeth are the blueprint for healthy adult teeth to erupt. Without that, the adult teeth won’t know where to go! That’s why it’s important to give us a call if this happens. We will examine your child’s tooth to ensure there is no infection and determine if a space maintainer, a small appliance that prevents teeth from shifting into the empty space, is required.

Join Our Dental Family

Gift your child a smile that shines as bright as they do with personalized comfort visits and warmhearted care that'll make them feel right at home. From our family to yours – we can’t wait to meet you both!

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