Emergency Pediatric Dentist in Richmond, VA | RPDO

“From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed and comfortable. The entire team was incredibly nice, caring, and professional.”

If your child has a dental emergency in Richmond, VA, call Richmond Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics right away at (804) 741-2226. Our team will triage the situation on the phone, get your child in to see a doctor the same day when it is a true emergency, and recommend the right next step if a hospital is needed.

Our specialty-trained pediatric team treats knocked-out teeth, broken teeth, and sudden tooth pain. For trouble breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or a head injury, call 911 or go to the nearest ER first.

If your child has a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth, or sudden severe tooth pain, you need help fast, and you need someone who knows how to care for kids. Richmond Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics is here for families across the Richmond area when a dental emergency happens. We treat children’s dental emergencies at four pediatric offices in Short Pump, the West End, Mechanicsville, and Midlothian, and our team understands that when your child is hurting, every minute feels long.

If your child is having trouble breathing or swallowing, has uncontrolled bleeding, a possible broken jaw, or any head injury with loss of consciousness, this is a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room right away.

We provide emergency pediatric dental care at our offices in Short Pump, the West End, Mechanicsville, and Midlothian, helping families throughout Richmond, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, and Hanover County get urgent care close to home.

Same-Day Emergency Pediatric Dental Care in Richmond, VA

When you call our office during business hours, we triage the situation over the phone to see how urgent it is. For true emergencies, we do our best to get your child in to see a doctor that same day at whichever of our four offices can accommodate them. For situations that are not emergent, we book the soonest available opening. And when a problem is best handled at a hospital emergency department, we will tell you that directly. Having four pediatric offices across the Richmond area gives families a real advantage in an emergency, because the question is not “can you fit us in this week” but “which office can see us today.”

When Should You Call an Emergency Pediatric Dentist?

You should call an emergency pediatric dentist if your child has a knocked-out permanent tooth, severe tooth pain, facial swelling, bleeding in the mouth, a broken or chipped tooth, or a dental injury after a fall or sports accident. If your child is having trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or a head injury, call 911 or go to the emergency room first.

Is This a Dental Emergency? How to Tell

Not every dental problem needs same-day care, and not every situation belongs at the dentist’s office. Here is how to know quickly when you are not sure.

When in doubt, call us. Our team can talk through what is happening and help you decide whether your child needs to be seen today, in the next day or two, or sent for medical care first. You will never be made to feel like you are overreacting. We would always rather hear from you.

What to Do Right Now for Common Emergencies

While you get in touch with us, these quick steps can make a real difference. For full first-aid guidance on each situation, see our pediatric dental emergencies guide.

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown, the white part you chew with, never by the root. Do not scrub it. If you can, gently place it back in the socket and have your child bite softly on a clean cloth. If you cannot, keep the tooth moist in a cup of cold milk. Milk is the most universally available storage solution and it works well at preserving the cells that allow a tooth to be reimplanted successfully. A tooth that stays dry for more than about 60 minutes has a very poor chance of being saved, so do not wait. Call us immediately.

Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

Do not try to put a baby tooth back in, doing so can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Control any bleeding with a clean, cool, damp cloth and call us so we can check that nothing else is injured.

Broken or Chipped Tooth

Have your child rinse with warm water. Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek to reduce swelling, and save any tooth fragments to bring with you. Call us to get your child seen. Depending on the damage, treatment may involve a restorative repair such as a filling or crown.

Toothache

Rinse with warm water and gently floss around the sore tooth in case food is trapped. You can give an age-appropriate dose of children’s pain reliever. Do not place aspirin directly on the gum or tooth. If the pain is severe, persistent, or comes with swelling or fever, call us.

Why a Pediatric Dentist Matters in an Emergency

In a stressful moment, it helps to have a team that works with children every single day. A general dentist or a hospital emergency room can stabilize a situation, but they are not always set up to care for a frightened, hurting child the way a pediatric office is.

Our pediatric team is specialty-trained in treating infants, children, teens, and patients with special needs. That means we know how to calm an anxious child, explain things in a way that makes sense to them, and treat little teeth and developing mouths correctly. A knocked-out baby tooth, for example, is handled very differently from an adult tooth, and getting that right protects the permanent tooth coming in behind it.

There is another advantage to choosing RPDO. Because we are a bi-specialty practice with pediatric dentistry and orthodontics under one roof, an injury that affects your child’s bite or alignment can be evaluated by the right specialist without starting over somewhere new.

A Team Richmond Families Trust

After-Hours and Weekend Emergencies

Dental emergencies rarely happen at convenient times. If your child has an emergency when our offices are closed, call our regular office number and our on-call dentist will be able to help guide you. We may not be able to see your child the moment you call, but our team will help you understand what to do and get your child cared for as soon as possible.

For a severe injury, uncontrolled bleeding, trouble breathing or swallowing, a possible broken jaw, or any head trauma, do not wait. Go to your nearest emergency room or call 911. In the Richmond area, families are often directed to the pediatric emergency departments at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU or Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital for after-hours dental trauma.

Looking for an Emergency Dentist for Kids Near You?

If you are searching for an emergency dentist for kids near you, Richmond Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics is here to help. With four pediatric dental offices across the Richmond area, we make it easier for families to get urgent care quickly when a child has a tooth injury, swelling, or sudden dental pain.

We care for families throughout Henrico County, Chesterfield County, and Hanover County, including Short Pump, the West End, Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, and Bon Air. No matter which office you reach, your child is seen by a specialty-trained pediatric team.

Office hours vary by location and day. If you are not sure which office can see your child soonest, call and our team will help you find the fastest option. Because your child’s records follow them to any RPDO office, you are never starting from scratch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see my child if we are not already patients?

Yes. We welcome new families, and a dental emergency is a perfectly good reason to call us for the first time. Call the pediatric number for the office nearest you and our team will help you right away. To get your child seen faster, have your child’s basic information and any dental insurance details handy when you call.

How fast can my child be seen for an emergency?

When you call during office hours, our team triages the situation on the phone first. If it is a true emergency, we do our best to get your child in to see a doctor the same day at whichever of our four offices has availability. If it is not emergent, we will book the soonest opening. If the situation is best handled at a hospital, we will tell you so. Calling is the fastest path to a clear answer.

Should I go to the ER or call the dentist?

For most dental emergencies, including a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth, or a bad toothache, a pediatric dentist is the right call. The emergency room is the right choice when there is difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, a possible broken jaw, or a head injury. When breathing or swallowing is affected, go to the ER first. If you are unsure, call us and we will help you decide.

My child knocked out a permanent tooth. What is the most important thing to do?

Act quickly and protect the tooth. Pick it up by the crown, not the root, and either place it back in the socket if you can or keep it moist in cold milk. Then call us immediately. A permanent tooth that stays dry for more than about 60 minutes has a very poor chance of being saved, which is why getting your child seen within the first hour gives the tooth the best chance of being reimplanted successfully. Do not wait.

My child’s baby tooth got knocked out. Is that an emergency?

It is worth a call, even though it is usually less urgent than an adult tooth. Do not try to put a baby tooth back in. Unlike adult teeth, baby teeth are not reimplanted, because trying to do so can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. We will want to make sure there is no other injury and that the permanent tooth coming in is protected, and we can advise whether a visit is needed.

How do I know if a toothache is serious?

Mild, occasional soreness can often wait for a regular appointment, but call us if the pain is severe, keeps your child awake, lasts more than a day or two, or comes with swelling, fever, or a bad taste. Those can be signs of infection that needs prompt care. When breathing or swallowing is affected, treat it as a medical emergency and go to the ER.

My child’s face is swollen and their tooth hurts. What should I do?

Facial swelling along with tooth pain can be a sign of a dental infection, which should be looked at promptly. Call us so we can advise you and get your child seen. If the swelling is spreading quickly, affecting the eye, or making it hard for your child to breathe or swallow, treat it as a medical emergency and go to the ER right away.

My child’s tooth pain is worse at night. Is that normal?

Tooth pain often feels worse at night because lying down increases blood flow to the area and there are fewer distractions. You can offer an age-appropriate dose of children’s pain reliever, keep your child’s head slightly elevated, and use a cold compress. Call us in the morning, or sooner if the pain is severe or comes with swelling or fever.

What happens if we have an emergency after hours?

Call our regular office number and our on-call dentist will help guide you on what to do and how soon your child can be seen. For severe trauma, heavy bleeding, trouble breathing, or a head injury, go to your nearest emergency room or call 911 without delay.

Do you accept dental insurance for emergency visits?

We accept most major dental insurance plans and are happy to help you understand your coverage. We also accept Virginia Medicaid dental benefits at our pediatric offices and offer flexible payment options to help make care accessible. You can learn more on our insurance information page, read about our Medicaid coverage for Richmond families, or ask our team when you call.

Can you help a child who is scared or has special needs?

Absolutely. Helping nervous children feel safe is at the heart of what a pediatric practice does, and our team is experienced in caring for children with anxiety and a wide range of special needs. For children who need extra support, we also offer sedation options and a dedicated approach to keeping kids calm and comfortable.