As a parent, you quickly become a professional problem-solver! You are constantly figuring out a range of issues, from schedules to sibling arguments. One of the most challenging is when your child gets hurt physically. Scraped knees with band-aids are one thing…but a knocked-out tooth is another level of stress. Your dentist is here to guide you on the immediate steps to take so your child can return to smiling as soon as possible!
Immediate Steps
After comforting your child and ensuring that they do not need emergency services, now is the time to take immediate action regarding the tooth that was knocked out. If you do not have the tooth in your possession, do your best to locate it; there is a good chance it can be reimplanted within 60 minutes of the accident. If it cannot be found, call your dentist for what to do next.
If you do find the tooth, here are your next steps:
- Hold the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the roots so they will be unharmed for the possibility of reattachment.
- Be sure the tooth is not fractured and is completely intact.
- If the tooth needs to be cleaned, do not wash it under cold water because the root’s surface cells need to stay alive and active. You may briefly clean it in a bowl of lukewarm tap water.
- Attempt to insert the tooth back into the socket (replant). Have your child bite down on a paper towel or gauze to hold the tooth in place until you get to the dentist’s office.
- If their tooth won’t insert into the socket, place it in a small glass of cold milk. Do not use water. If you don’t have milk, you may put it in a small container with some of your child’s saliva.
- Get to their dentist as soon as possible.
Primary (Baby) Teeth
Primary teeth have shorter roots than permanent teeth, so they are more easily displaced during an injury. It is unlikely your dentist will consider a replacement option for the lost tooth since that could damage the underlying permanent tooth.
If the baby tooth can’t be inserted back into the socket, your dentist will likely consider a space maintainer. This metal appliance is inserted in the gap to help keep that area open so the permanent tooth underneath it can adequately emerge and spacing doesn’t become an issue.
Permanent Teeth
If a permanent tooth has been cleanly knocked out, there’s a good chance your child’s dentist can reattach it. This process, which uses a thin metal or plastic wire, is usually a simple one.
When the tooth cannot be reattached, usually the dentist will recommend a dental bridge. A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial ones by “bridging the gap” where the tooth used to be. There are removable bridges that can be detached and cleaned or fixed bridges that can only be removed by your child’s dentist.
You want to protect your child, but sometimes accidents happen! By remaining calm and acting quickly, you and your dentist will patch your child’s smile up in no time.
About the Author
Dr. Megan Snyder and her team proudly serve the families of Garland and the surrounding areas. Providing exceptional care that is smooth and stress-free is one of her top priorities. For over a decade, she has been honored to take care of people’s smiles at all times of their lives, including emergencies! If your child needs help with a misplaced tooth or any other dental emergency contact her through her website or by phone at 972-535-4559.
