Emergency Pediatric Dentists Near You

Need emergency pediatric dental care and can't wait? You can call us now:

Hagerstown: (240) 513-6161 | Frederick: (301) 682-3887

Get directions: Frederick Location | Hagerstown Location

Your Child's Dental Emergency Deserves Immediate Attention, Not Waiting to Hear Back 

If you're here right now because something just happened to your child's tooth, take a breath. You're in the right place, and help is a phone call away.

At Frederick Pediatric Dentistry, we keep same-day appointments available specifically for moments like this one.

Dr. Mike and our  team of pediatric dental professionals our Frederick and Hagerstown offices see pediatric dental emergencies with the kind of calm, kid-focused care that actually works when your child is scared and hurting. By offering emergency coverage throughout the Frederick and Hagerstown areas, wherever you're coming from, we've got you covered.

Call us first before you head out the door. We'll walk you through exactly what to do right now and get you in as fast as possible.

Quick Takeaways

• Knocked-out teeth, severe pain, swelling, broken teeth, and abscesses all count as dental emergencies.
• Frederick Pediatric Dentistry offers same-day emergency appointments with after-hours guidance available.
• We serve families throughout the Frederick and Hagerstown areas from two convenient office locations.
• Always call before coming in so we can prepare for your child and guide you on immediate next steps.
• After-hours guidance is available by phone so you're never left figuring it out alone at midnight.
• Dr. Mike Virts and our team of skilled, compassionate pediatric dental professionals are trained specifically in pediatric emergency dental care, because kids need more than just a smaller chair.
• If a tooth was knocked out, bring any fragments or the tooth itself in a small container of milk. Do not place the tooth or fragments in plain water. .

Is This a Dental Emergency? Common Situations We Treat Right Away

Knowing whether to call us now, wait until morning, or head straight to the ER can feel impossible when your child is upset and you're running on adrenaline. Here's a straightforward breakdown so you can make that call confidently.

Call us right away for these situations:

• Knocked-out permanent tooth, or one that is pushed out of its normal position
• Tooth pushed up into the gum
• Dental abscess (a swollen, painful bump near the gum line)
• Severe facial swelling or signs of spreading infection
• Dental pain that keeps your child from sleeping at night, or wakes them up from sleep
• Bleeding that won't stop after 10 to 15 minutes of pressure

These situations below are urgent, but they can typically wait until the next available appointment:

• Broken tooth with no pain or sharp edges causing irritation
• Lost filling or crown
• Mild toothache without swelling

If your child is having any difficulty breathing or swallowing, go directly to the emergency room. That's not a dental office situation.

For everything else, we take same-day emergency calls seriously. We know what it feels like to be told to wait when your child can't eat or sleep. Our goal is to give you a clear answer quickly so your child isn't left uncomfortable longer than necessary.

What to Do in the First 30 Minutes (Before You Reach Us)

Knowing what to do in those first few minutes can genuinely change the outcome. Here's what to focus on while you're on your way to us or waiting for a callback.

• Knocked-out permanent tooth: Pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse it gently, but quickly, with water if it's dirty. Store it in a small cup of milk or have your child hold it in their cheek. Do not scrub it, wrap it in a tissue, or let it dry out. Time matters here. Important note: if it's a baby tooth, do not try to put it back. Leave it out and bring it with you.
• Bleeding: Fold a clean piece of gauze or cloth and apply gentle, steady pressure to the area. A wet tea bag (specifically black tea) also works very well. Keep it there. Don't peek at it every 30 seconds.
• Swelling: Hold a cold compress or bag of frozen peas against the outside of the cheek. Never place aspirin or any medication directly on the gum tissue.
• Broken tooth: Rinse your child's mouth with warm water. If you can find the broken piece, save it and bring it along.

These steps won't replace treatment, but they protect your options until we can see your child. If you're not sure whether something counts as an emergency, call us anyway. That's exactly what we're here for.

What Happens When You Bring Your Child In

Walking through the door with a hurt, scared kid is stressful enough. From the moment you arrive, the whole visit is designed to move quickly and keep your child as comfortable as possible.

Check-in is fast. The team does an immediate assessment to understand what's going on, and pain management comes first before anything else happens. Your child isn't waiting in discomfort while paperwork gets sorted out.

Parents stay informed at every step. Before any treatment begins, the team will walk you through exactly what they're seeing and what the options are. Nothing happens without your understanding and your go-ahead.

The office itself is designed for kids, not just scaled down for them. That matters when a child is already anxious. The team here is trained specifically in how children experience fear and pain, which is genuinely different from how adults do. A general dentist can treat a child. A pediatric dental team knows how to reach one.

X-rays may be part of the visit. If there's any chance of hidden damage beneath the surface, like a fracture that isn't visible or impact to a developing root, X-rays give the team the full picture. It's diagnostic clarity, not an add-on.

The goal at the end of every emergency visit is simple: your child feels better, and you leave reassured knowing exactly what happened, what was done, and what comes next. You can read more about the team behind that approach at our team page.

Emergency Visit Costs, Insurance, and What to Expect at Checkout

Cost questions are completely normal, especially when you're already stressed. Here's what you can expect before anything is billed:

• We are in-network with several major  dental insurance plans, including Delta Dental, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, United Concordia, United Healthcare, , and Maryland Healthy Smiles. We also see patients all the time as unrestricted “out of network” providers with many other insurance plans, so even if we don’t participate with your insurance plan, we can usually still see your child!  When you call, our front desk will verify your coverage quickly so there are no surprises at checkout. 
• One thing worth knowing up front: the emergency exam fee is separate from any treatment performed that day. We'll always walk through what we found, what we recommend, and what it costs before we proceed. Nothing happens without your go-ahead.
• • If out-of-pocket costs are a concern, we offer financing through CareCredit, which lets you spread payments over time. We'd rather you know your options than skip expert pediatric dental care because the numbers felt unclear.
  • Please ask us about our in-office membership plans, which offer a 25-30% discount off of our regular office fees.

If you'd like to get familiar with how a first visit typically works before you come in, the first visit page walks through what to expect from start to finish.

Why Frederick and Hagerstown Families Choose Us for Pediatric Dental Emergencies

Not every dental office is set up to handle a panicked call at 8 a.m. about a knocked-out tooth or a toddler who won't stop crying after a fall. But we are.

Frederick Pediatric Dentistry is a pediatric-only dental practice, which means every provider here is trained specifically in children's dental development, child behavior, and the unique way kids' teeth and jaws grow and respond to trauma. The doctors all go to school for at least two years beyond dental school to receive specialized training in dentistry for children.  That's not a small distinction when your three-year-old is the one in the chair.

We hold same-day appointments for dental emergencies. When something happens, you're not waiting three days or getting redirected to an urgent care that isn't equipped to handle a child’s knocked-out or broken tooth.

We also take parental concerns seriously. If something looks off to you, that matters. Parents often notice things that are easy to dismiss over the phone, and more often than not, we'd rather see your child and rule something out than have you leave a conversation feeling unheard. That commitment to actually listening is a big part of how we approach care differently, and it's something you'll notice from the first interaction.

We see kids of all ages, including toddlers and infants, at both our Frederick and Hagerstown locations. Wherever you're coming from, there's an office close to you with a compassionate team that knows how to work with little ones who are scared, in pain, or both.  We also specialize in caring for children with complex medical histories or  special developmental abilities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Dental Emergencies

When something goes wrong with your child's teeth, the questions come fast. Here are honest answers to the ones parents ask us most.

My child knocked out a baby tooth. Is that still an emergency?

Yes, call us. Baby teeth are not replanted the way permanent teeth are, but that doesn't mean you can skip the visit. We need to check for damage to the surrounding gum tissue and the developing permanent tooth underneath. We also need to locate the tooth if you are unable to find it.

What if the emergency happens on a weekend or after hours?

Call our office and follow the voicemail instructions. We have an after-hours protocol in place so you're not left guessing. Someone will get back to you quickly with guidance on next steps.

Should I go to the ER, or call you first?

Call us first in most cases. The exception: If your child is unconscious or acting dizzy, nauseous, has a headache, or is just “off,” swelling that's affecting your child's breathing or swallowing, or bleeding that won't stop, you must call 911 IMMEDIATELY. For normal dental injuries, most hospital emergency rooms aren't always set up to definitively treat and follow dental injuries.  So,anything tooth-related, we're the better starting point.

My child is terrified of the dentist. Can you still treat them in an emergency?

Absolutely. Pediatric dentists train specifically in anxiety management for kids, which means we have tools and techniques that a general dentist or ER may not be as experienced with as we are. 

How quickly can you get us in?

For true emergencies, we aim for same-day appointments. Call as early in the day as possible so we can fit your child in before the schedule fills.

We're Here When Your Child Needs Us Most

Dental emergencies are stressful enough without wondering if you're making the right choice for your child's care. When you choose Frederick Pediatric Dentistry, you're not just getting emergency treatment; you're getting a team that understands how children experience fear, pain, and anxiety differently than adults.

Dr. Mike Virts has been caring for children in the Frederick area for over 25 years, and our entire team of pediatric dental care providers is trained specifically to work with kids.

When your child is hurting, you shouldn't have to wonder what to do next. Frederick Pediatric Dentistry is here to guide you through it.