Managing Pediatric Dental Emergencies When a child walks into a dental office clutching their face in pain—or worse, with a tooth in their hand—time, temperament and tenderness all matter. Dr. Nikhil Sharma, a pediatric dental specialist in Toronto, knows this all too well. “Dental emergencies in children are different from adults,” Dr. Sharma says. “Sure, there’s still tooth pain and infection, but with kids, trauma is a huge factor— and sometimes you don’t even know what’s going on until they’re in your chair.” Dr. Sharma categorizes pediatric dental emergencies into four main categories: pain, infection, trauma, and what he calls the “mysterious unknowns.” “Tooth pain is common,” he says. “Infections are also frequent, especially in primary teeth where decay can rapidly advance. Trauma peaks between the ages of two and four—usually because kids have falls, that’s just what they do. And then there’s other wildcards: soft tissue injuries, viral infections, or irritations that leave parents puzzled and kids uncomfortable.” Dr. Nikhil Sharma 28 | 2025 | Issue 5
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