Emergency Pediatric Dentist in Honolulu

Dental emergency

Call Uchida Pediatric Dentistry at (808) 739-0878 right away for a knocked-out permanent tooth, a broken tooth, facial swelling or severe tooth pain. We are at Kahala Mall in Honolulu. If you can't reach us and it can't wait, or there is trouble breathing, a head injury or bleeding that won't stop, go to the ER or call 911.

Go to the ER or call 911 for trouble breathing, a head injury or bleeding that won't stop.
Call the office now
Call (808) 739-0878
Kahala Mall, 4211 Waialae Ave, Suite 307, Honolulu, HI 96816

The website does not take appointment requests through a web form, so calling is the fastest way to reach the team.

Dental emergencies are frightening for a child and for you. Use this page to decide whether to call us or go to the emergency room, and to know what to do in the first 30 minutes while you reach the office.

Call Us or Go to the ER?

When is a child's dental problem an emergency?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) lists facial swelling, infection, uncontrolled bleeding, pain and injury to the mouth or face as dental emergencies. The real question is where to go first. This table sorts the common situations.

Where to go first for common children's dental problems
SituationGo first toWhat to do right nowSource
Knocked-out permanent toothCall us nowKeep the tooth moist, put it back in the socket if you can, and come in right away. Go to the ER first only if there is a head injury, heavy bleeding or another serious injury.AAPD trauma flowsheet; ADA MouthHealthy
Knocked-out baby toothCall us the same dayDo not put it back. Press gauze on the spot to control bleeding.AAPD avulsion guidance
Chipped or cracked toothCall usRinse with warm water, use a cold compress and save the pieces. Call right away if there is pain, bleeding or a pink or red spot in the break.ADA MouthHealthy
Severe toothache or a bump on the gumCall us nowRinse, floss gently, use a cold compress on the cheek. No aspirin on the tooth or gum.ADA MouthHealthy
Facial swelling without fever or breathing troubleCall us nowSwelling near a tooth can mean infection. Call right away and do not wait overnight.AAPD emergency oral care policy
Facial swelling with fever, or swelling spreading toward the eye or neckERInfection that spreads can need hospital care. Go now.AAPD oral surgery guideline
Jaw injury, jaw looks out of line, or teeth no longer meetERNeeds medical evaluation before dental care. Call us on the way if you can.AAPD trauma flowsheet
Blow to the head with passing out, vomiting or confusionER (911 if severe)The head injury comes first. Bring any tooth stored in cold milk.AAPD trauma flowsheet
Bleeding that will not stop after 15 minutes of firm pressureERKeep pressing with clean gauze while you travel.AAPD emergency oral care policy
Trouble breathing or swallowingCall 911 or go to the ERDo not wait for a callback.AAPD oral surgery guideline
Lost filling or crown, small painless chip, loose baby toothCall the officeKeep the area clean and avoid chewing on that side. This is not an ER visit.ADA MouthHealthy

Not sure which row fits? Call (808) 739-0878 and describe what happened. If your child has been hit in the head or is struggling to breathe, go to the ER first.

Call (808) 739-0878
The First 30 Minutes

What should I do in the first 30 minutes?

Stay calm, check your child first, then follow the steps for your situation and call us while you do. The steps follow American Dental Association (ADA) and AAPD first-aid guidance. For more detail, read our guides on chipped or broken teeth, toothache and swelling and knocked-out teeth and dental trauma.

A permanent tooth was knocked out

Call us now
  1. Check your child first. If there was a hard blow to the head, loss of consciousness, vomiting or confusion, go to the ER before anything else.
  2. Pick the tooth up by the crown, the white chewing surface. Do not touch the root.
  3. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline for a few seconds. Do not scrub it, use soap or wrap it in tissue.
  4. If you can, slide it back into the socket and have your child bite gently on a clean cloth. If you cannot, keep it moist in cold milk or a tooth-preservation product with the ADA Seal. Do not let it dry out or sit in plain water.
  5. Call (808) 739-0878 and come in right away. The sooner a permanent tooth is back in place, the better its chance of surviving.

A tooth is chipped, cracked or broken

Call us
  1. Rinse your child's mouth with warm water.
  2. Hold a cold compress on the outside of the lip or cheek to limit swelling.
  3. Save any pieces and bring them with you.
  4. Call us right away if your child has pain or bleeding, or you can see a pink or red spot in the break. A small painless chip still needs a call and a check, because the damage can be deeper than it looks.

Severe toothache

Call us
  1. Rinse with warm water and floss gently around the tooth to remove trapped food.
  2. Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek.
  3. Never place aspirin on the tooth or gum. Ask us or your pediatrician which pain reliever suits your child's age and weight.
  4. Call right away if the pain wakes your child at night, keeps coming back, or comes with swelling or fever.

A baby tooth was knocked out

Call us the same day

Do not put a baby tooth back in the socket. AAPD guidance says primary teeth should not be replanted, because pushing one in can damage the permanent tooth growing underneath.

Press clean gauze on the spot to control bleeding, then call us the same day. The dentist can check that no piece of tooth stayed behind and that the permanent tooth was not moved.

Swelling in the face or a bump on the gum

Call us now

Swelling can mean infection, so call us right away.

Go to the ER if the swelling comes with a fever, spreads toward the eye or neck, or your child has trouble breathing or swallowing.

A bitten lip, tongue or cheek

Clean the area gently with water, press clean gauze on it firmly for 10 minutes without lifting it to peek, and add a cold compress.

If it is still bleeding after 15 minutes of firm pressure, or the cut gapes open, go to the ER or urgent care.

Something stuck between teeth

Use floss to work it out gently. Never use a pin, needle or any sharp tool. If it will not come out, call us.

A filling or crown came out

Call the office

Keep the area clean, avoid chewing on that side and save the filling or crown if you have it. Call us for a repair visit. It is uncomfortable but not an ER problem, and the exposed tooth is easier to protect the sooner it is seen.

Before You Call

What should I tell the office when I call?

  • Your child's age, what happened, what time it happened and how your child is acting now.
  • Which tooth is involved, and whether you found it and how you are storing it.
  • Whether there is bleeding, swelling or fever, and whether the bleeding has slowed with pressure.
  • Whether your child hit their head, passed out or vomited, even if they seem fine now.
  • Where you are now and how long it will take you to reach Kahala Mall.

Save (808) 739-0878 in your phone now, and in the phones of grandparents and childcare providers. Keiki are active at the beach, the pool and the playground, and accidents rarely wait for both parents to be home.

Getting Here

How do I get to the office, and where do I park?

Kahala Mall
4211 Waialae Ave, Suite 307, Honolulu, HI 96816

Uchida Pediatric Dentistry is at 4211 Waialae Ave, Suite 307, Honolulu, HI 96816, at Kahala Mall. Enter the address in your maps app and make sure the pin says Suite 307. Kahala Mall is easy to reach from the H-1 freeway and has multi-level parking structures with more than 2,100 free spaces. See directions and contact details.

Directions and contact details →
New Patients

I'm a new patient. What are the steps for an emergency?

  1. Call (808) 739-0878. The website does not take appointment requests through a web form, so a phone call is the fastest way to reach the team.
  2. Describe what happened using the checklist above: your child's age, the time, the tooth involved, any bleeding, swelling or fever and any head injury.
  3. The team will help you decide the right next step, whether that is coming to the office, home care for now or going to the ER.
  4. If you are heading to the office, bring a knocked-out tooth in cold milk, any broken pieces and your insurance card if you have one.
  5. After an injury, keep your follow-up visits. A tooth that turns gray or dark in the weeks after a knock should be checked, even without pain.
Insurance

Does insurance cover a pediatric dental emergency?

Coverage depends on your plan. Most plans cover exams and routine X-rays, but coverage for fillings and emergency treatment varies.

  1. Call your plan to ask what applies.
  2. Tell our team about your coverage when you call.
  3. Ask what to expect before treatment starts.

For general guidance, read our guide to pediatric dentist cost, insurance and Medicaid in Hawaii.

ER or Dentist

What can a pediatric dentist do that an ER cannot?

Emergency room

An ER is the right place for head and jaw injuries, heavy bleeding, breathing trouble and serious infection. Many emergency rooms do not have a dentist on site to repair or reposition a tooth.

Pediatric dentist

A pediatric dentist can examine the tooth, take pediatric dental X-rays when they are needed, and recommend treatment such as a filling or crown.

Knocked-out and displaced permanent teeth need a dentist's follow-up either way.

Why Uchida Pediatric Dentistry

Why choose Uchida Pediatric Dentistry for a child's dental emergency?

Our three pediatric dentists, Dr. Clyde Y. Uchida, Dr. Cherie Uchida-Moribe and Dr. Renee Uchida, care for infants, children and teens in one Kahala Mall office. Families who already have a dental home know exactly who to call. If your child is not a patient yet, a first dental visit before anything goes wrong makes an emergency far less stressful. Learn more about our practice.

Dr. Clyde Y. Uchida, pediatric dentist at Uchida Pediatric Dentistry in Honolulu

Dr. Clyde Y. Uchida

Pediatric dentist
Dr. Cherie Uchida-Moribe, pediatric dentist at Uchida Pediatric Dentistry in Honolulu

Dr. Cherie Uchida-Moribe

Pediatric dentist
Dr. Renee Uchida, pediatric dentist at Uchida Pediatric Dentistry in Honolulu

Dr. Renee Uchida

Pediatric dentist

Families call us from Honolulu, Kahala and across Oahu. See our pages for a pediatric dentist in Honolulu and a kids dentist on Oahu. Visiting Oahu with your family? Call the same number and describe what happened. For a severe injury, go to the nearest ER.

Prevention

How can I prevent dental emergencies?

  • Sports

    Wear a mouthguard for sports and active play, as the ADA recommends.

  • Habits

    Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, and use scissors, never teeth, to open or cut things.

  • Checkups

    Keep regular cleanings and exams, fluoride treatment and dental sealants on schedule so decay is caught before it becomes a toothache.

  • Car kit

    Keep a small kit in the car: clean gauze, a lidded container, a cold pack and a small carton of milk.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

8 quick answers for Honolulu parents
Where can I find an emergency pediatric dentist near me in Honolulu?

Uchida Pediatric Dentistry is a pediatric dental office at Kahala Mall, 4211 Waialae Ave, Suite 307, Honolulu. Call (808) 739-0878 and tell the team what happened, and they will help you decide the next step. If your child has trouble breathing, a head injury or bleeding that won't stop, go to the nearest ER.

Is a chipped baby tooth an emergency?

Usually not an ER emergency, but it should be checked. Baby teeth sit above developing permanent teeth, so a hard hit can matter even when the chip looks small. Rinse with warm water, use a cold compress and call us. Call right away if there is pain, bleeding, swelling or a pink or red spot in the break.

What should I do if my child knocks out a tooth?

First check for a head injury. For a permanent tooth, hold it by the crown, rinse it gently with milk if it is dirty, and put it back in the socket if you can. If not, keep it in cold milk and call (808) 739-0878 right away. Never replant a baby tooth. Press gauze on the spot and call the same day.

Should I go to the ER or a pediatric dentist for a toothache?

Call a pediatric dentist for tooth pain without fever, facial swelling or breathing trouble. An ER can ease symptoms but usually cannot fix the tooth. Go to the ER if the pain comes with a fever, swelling that spreads toward the eye or neck, or trouble breathing or swallowing.

Is facial swelling from a tooth an emergency?

Yes. Swelling near a tooth can mean infection, so call us right away. Go to the ER instead if the swelling comes with a fever, spreads toward the eye or neck, or your child has trouble breathing or swallowing. Do not wait to see if it improves overnight.

What if my child's dental emergency happens after hours or on a weekend?

Call (808) 739-0878 anyway and follow any instructions you hear. If you cannot reach the office and the problem cannot wait, go to the nearest ER. Do not wait for a reply if your child has a head injury, trouble breathing or bleeding that will not stop. Go to the ER or call 911.

Do I need to call before I come in for a dental emergency?

Yes, please call first at (808) 739-0878. The website does not take appointment requests through a web form, and the team can tell you the right next step. If you are coming in, bring a knocked-out tooth in cold milk, any broken pieces and your insurance card if you have one.

Does insurance cover emergency pediatric dental care in Hawaii?

It depends on your plan. Most plans cover exams and routine X-rays, but coverage for fillings and emergency treatment varies. Call your plan to ask what applies, and tell our team about your coverage when you call (808) 739-0878 so you know what to expect before treatment starts.

Is your child hurting right now? Call (808) 739-0878.

Describe what happened and the team will help you decide the right next step.

Call (808) 739-0878
Emergency pediatric dentist Honolulu

Help for children’s tooth pain and dental injuries

Dental emergencies can be stressful for both children and parents. Uchida Pediatric Dentistry helps Honolulu families understand what to do when a child has tooth pain, swelling, a chipped tooth, a knocked-out permanent tooth, dental trauma, or a concern that should be checked quickly.

Call the office for guidance when a child has dental pain, facial swelling, bleeding, trauma, or a broken tooth.

A knocked-out permanent tooth should be handled by the crown, kept moist, and evaluated urgently.

Prompt pediatric dental care can reduce pain, protect developing teeth, and help parents avoid guessing during stressful moments.

When is a child’s dental problem an emergency?

Severe tooth pain, swelling, fever, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, a knocked-out permanent tooth, or signs of infection should be treated as urgent. Parents should call for professional guidance as soon as possible.

Helpful next steps

What to do in a pediatric dental emergency
Pediatric dental services
Kids dentist on Oahu
Call Uchida Pediatric Dentistry
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