Dr. Kelly Hilgers explains dental emergencies

When your child needs urgent dental treatment, Dr. Kelly Hilgers and team stand ready to help. Please keep our emergency number available and convenient. Here are some helpful answers to some recent patient questions. Have a great weekend everyone!


Q: What should I do if my child's baby tooth is knocked out?

A: Contact our office as soon as possible.

Q: What should I do if my child's permanent tooth is knocked out?

A: Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. (Do not scrub it or clean it with soap -- use just water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can't put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva, or water. Get to our office immediately. (Call the emergency number if it's after hours.) The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

Q: What if a tooth is chipped or fractured?

A: Contact Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it with you when you visit Drs. Kelly or Mathieu.

Q: What about a severe blow to the head or jaw fracture?

A: Go immediately to the emergency room of your local hospital. A blow to the head can be life threatening.

Q: What if my child has a toothache?

A: Call us and visit the office promptly. To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with water. Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area.

Q: Can dental injuries be prevented?

A: Of course! First, reduce oral injury in sports by wearing mouth guards. Second, always use a car seat for young children. Require seat belts for everyone else in the car. Third, child-proof your home to prevent falls, electrical injuries, and choking on small objects. Fourth, protect your child from unnecessary toothaches with regular dental visits to our office.

Contact our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kelly. She loves what she does and enjoys every day watching her patients grow and smile as they come to visit her.

How important is your smile? From Dr. Kelly

At Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry, our staff is warm and friendly and we cater to children. We use child-friendly terminology and make going to the dentist a very fun experience. Our office has a shipwrecked island theme for your children to enjoy with a movie theater, arcade and TVs over each treatment chair!

We do everything we can to make your child’s experience fun and fearless, and we love to see your child smile!

And speaking of smiling, in a new poll conducted by Glamour Magazine, people were asked, “If you had to pick between having perfect teeth, eyesight or hair, which would you choose?

Well, 44 percent of folks out there are choosing teeth! In addition, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or AACD, conducted a study and found that 99.7 percent of those polled believed a smile is an important social asset. Respondents said straightness, whiteness, cleanliness, as well as the sincerity and sparkle of a person’s smile were all important factors not only socially, but career-wise as well.

Contact our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kelly Hilgers. She loves what she does and enjoys every day watching her patients grow and smile as they come to visit her!

March is National Nutrition Month!

March marks National Nutrition Month, and Dr. Kelly Hilgers & our team want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity can improve your child's periodontal health.

Small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your child's diet:

• Focus on fruits and vegetables: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your child's diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Think local: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in Goodyear and surrounding communities here in the Phoenix area.

• Make your child's calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients your child needs. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories just aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Expand your and your child's horizons: Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

If you have additional questions about periodontal disease or keeping your child's mouth healthy, please call Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry today at (623) 536-0079.

Why are regular checkups so important?

Is your child brushing and flossing daily? If yes, we think that’s great! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for your child to visit Dr. Kelly every 3-to-6 months (or as recommended).

No matter what your age, visiting Goodyear dentist Dr. Kelly Hilgers on a regular basis will help keep your teeth and gums healthy, and your smile bright!

The American Dental Association recommends that both children and adults visit the dentist every six months for regular checkups and routine teeth cleanings. And we would love to see you here every six months to make sure that your smile is staying healthy!

Our staff at Hilgers Pediatric Dentistry completely understand that you have a busy schedule, so while we like to make sure your appointments are informative, we also like to make sure they don't stop you from doing the things you love! When preparing to visit Drs. Hilgers or Mathieu, please know that your appointment can last anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes.

When it's time for your next dental appointment, please call us at (623) 536–0079, and our friendly office staff will be ready to help you schedule an appointment.