When children play at home or if they play sports where there is a lot of physical contact, there is a possibility that a tooth could get hit, injured, fractured or knocked out. If this happens, the first thing to do is not panic. Your child will probably be afraid enough, and that child doesn’t need you to show how worried you might be about the tooth. There are some things to do that can help save the tooth if you can get to a dentist.
In dealing with the knocked out tooth, if you are able, and your child is old enough, place the tooth back into the socket and let your child hold it with his fingers and go to your dentist immediately so that he/she can place a splint, if not place the tooth it in a cold glass of milk as soon as possible. Take the child and the tooth to the dentist so that the tooth can be re-implanted and the dentist can place the splint, the dentist will also examine the gums, the bones, the tissues and the other teeth in the mouth.
Placing the tooth in milk will help keep it at a pH level appropriate enough so that the dentist or pediatric dentist can try to put it back in the mouth. If the tooth is a baby tooth, you should have a dentist examine your child to see if there is a need for a space maintainer, a “baby tooth does not go back into the socket, especially if the tooth was loose to begin with, putting the baby tooth back may damage the permanent tooth under it. If a child loses a tooth early, it can create issues with spacing in the mouth and how the adult teeth grow.
The timing of placing the tooth back in the socket is of utmost importance. There is only about a15 minute window for the dentist to place the tooth back in the socket, even if more time has elapsed you should still have the tooth repositioned. Damage to the enamel of the surrounding teeth needs to be examined as this can lead to possible early decay, sensitivity, discoloration and can be not esthetically appealing.
There are some preventive steps that can help prevent teeth from getting injured and in some cases minimize the damage caused:
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Wearing a custom made mouth guard when playing sports
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Keeping plastic covers on the corners and edges of tables at home when children are learning to walk.
