Oops! Your Child's Tooth Was Knocked Out. Now What?
For children, losing teeth is a common and normal occurrence. But having them knocked out by accident isn't. What should you do if this happens?
First, don't panic. Accidental tooth loss can be bloody, so it's important to assess the child's condition and determine if there are any other injuries aside from the tooth. If there aren't more serious medical issues, here's what you can do.
Baby Teeth
If the tooth that fell out is a baby tooth, the tooth is gone for good. Don't try to reinsert it or expect the dentist to replace it. However, you still need to bring your child to a dentist immediately since he or she can help with analgesics or pain medication if it's needed. Antibiotics might also be necessary to prevent infection in the wound.
Once the emergency is over, your dentist may recommend putting a spacer into the empty spot vacated by the baby tooth. Spacers keep the child's mouth alignment in place and prevent the teeth from shifting to fill in the gap before the adult tooth can come in to fill it. A spacer may help you avoid later dental work to fix problems that resulted from this one incident.
Permanent Teeth
If, however, the tooth was a permanent tooth, take the following steps immediately:
- Find the tooth. When you do, don't hold it by the roots. Handle it by the crown (the familiar part you see when you open your mouth) to avoid damaging the roots. If the tooth appears dirty, use a small amount of saline solution, milk or saliva to rinse it off.
- Attempt to reinsert the tooth. This may not be possible depending on the age of the child and his or her reaction to the accident. But if you can, try to put the tooth back in place and hold it there with a clean washcloth until you can get to the dentist.
- If you can't get the tooth back where it belongs, drop it into a glass of fresh milk. Believe it or not, milk helps preserve the roots and surrounding tissue better than just about any other household product.
- Bring the child, the tooth and the milk (if applicable) to your dentist immediately. He or she will likely prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection whether or not the tooth can be reinserted.
- Unlike temporary baby teeth, a permanent tooth may require restorative dentistry to resolve over the long-term. If the tooth can't be replaced, it will probably require an implant and a crown to fill the gap and keep your child's healthy and confident smile.
When a tooth is knocked out, both you and your child are likely to be surprised and confused. However, by knowing what to do ahead of time, you can take what could be a traumatic experience and make it easier on both you and your child. For more tips or assistance, contact resources like Alliance Family Dental.
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