Knocking out a tooth is a terrifying experience for anyone, especially parents and their children! The truth is that oral injuries can honestly happen to any child, in many different circumstances. At Medical Center Pediatric Dentistry, we believe it is a vital part of our job to help inform parents on what to do just in case this happens to one of their children.
Losing a tooth is surprisingly a common injury, especially among children and teens involved in contact sports! In fact, there an estimated five million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults. If this happens due to an injury or accident it does not necessarily mean the tooth is lost for good. With the proper emergency oral care and treatments, we can save the tooth so that it can be replanted successfully and last for years to come.
If your child loses a tooth, here is how you can help…
A. Find The Tooth, Even A Baby Tooth
If a child’s tooth is knocked out, even if it is a baby tooth, try to find it! Sometimes a parent may not know exactly how a child has lost their tooth. In these cases, finding the tooth that has been knocked out can help determine how it may have happened. Being able to confirm that the whole tooth has been recovered also aids the dentist in ensuring that there are not any pieces of tooth still stuck in their gums.
When you handle the tooth, remember to handle it gently. If possible, avoid touching the root at all costs. You only want to hold it by the crown, or the chewing surface of the tooth. It is very important that you use only water to gently rinse off any dirt. Do not use soap or chemicals. Don’t scrub or dry the tooth, and don’t wrap the tooth in a tissue or cloth.
Many times dentists are able to save a child’s tooth, baby, or permanent if the right actions are taken by the patient or their parent. Because of this fact, we always encourage parents to look for the child’s tooth if they can. Teeth are not always salvageable however it is still worth trying to find regardless. If you can’t find a tooth, it’s not the end of the world, but it never hurts to look.
B. Next, Place It In Milk Or…
The tooth must stay moist at all times! If possible, you should immediately place the tooth in a container filled with milk or use an emergency tooth preservation kit that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance (such as Save-a-Tooth®). Then, get to your family’s pediatric dental office right away. Such a product will preserve the tooth while you are on the way to see your dentist.
If you don’t have access to milk or an emergency tooth preservation kit, have the child place the tooth in their mouth between their lip and gums. Don’t use regular tap water; root surface cells can’t tolerate that for extended periods of time. The goal is to help preserve the tooth while you are on your way to your family’s pediatric dental office. We only recommend this alternative for children if the child is able to restrain from swallowing the tooth. You can even try to put the tooth back into its socket right away if you feel comfortable trying. Gently push it in with your fingers, by handling the crown, or position it above the socket and close your mouth slowly. Hold the tooth in place with your fingers or by gently biting down on it.
C. Get To The Dentist
By now, your child’s pediatric dentist should be aware of the dental emergency! Bring the tooth with you to your emergency appointment. It's best to see the doctor within 30 minutes; however, it is possible to save a tooth even if it has been outside the mouth for an hour or more. Try to meet up with them as soon as you possibly can. Upon arrival, Dr. Casey or your chosen pediatric dentist will be able to decide if the tooth can be placed back in. They will also be able to ensure that there are no broken pieces of the tooth still lodged inside your child’s gums.
Does It Matter If It Is A Baby Tooth?
The truth is that even baby teeth can often be saved, given the right circumstances. Teeth that are healthy and well taken care of are actually quite resilient. If the tooth that has been knocked out is a baby tooth, the best thing to do is find the tooth, keep it moist and get to a dentist. (Same as a permanent tooth!) Dr. Casey or your chosen pediatric dentist can determine whether the entire tooth or just part of it, was forcefully removed. Your dentist can also determine whether to implant it again.
We know that accidents happen and that knowing how to respond when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. For all dental emergencies, regardless of how serious, it’s important to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Dentists reserve time in their schedules for emergency patients so be sure to call your dentist and provide as much detail as you can about your condition before your arrival if possible. If the accident occurs when your dental office is not open, visit your local emergency room.
What If A Tooth Is Cracked?
For a cracked tooth, it is not quite as serious a situation. However, you still need to treat it and reach out to your dentist immediately. To care for a cracked tooth, rinse your child’s mouth with warm water to clean the area. Do not rinse with anything other than plain water unless advised directly by your child’s pediatric dentist. Put a cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down as you head to see your child’s pediatric dentist. Do not hesitate to contact us in the case of a dental emergency, we always have someone on call. Even though a cracked tooth may not be as serious as a knocked-out tooth, it is still a dental trauma that needs immediate care from a pediatric dentist to prevent further harm to the tooth.
How To Be Prepared “Just In Case”
There are several easy things a parent can do to be sure that they are prepared in case their child has a tooth knocked out. This can be especially important for parents of kids who play sports such as soccer, hockey, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, football, or any other contact sport. The based way a parent can protect their child from dental emergencies is often just being prepared!
- Add a Save-a-Tooth emergency tooth preservation kit to your family’s first aid kit and your child’s sports equipment bag in case they lose a tooth unexpectedly while playing sports. These are also great additions to the emergency kits that your family takes on vacation and adventures too.
- Have your kids wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities where they run the risk of oral injury. Contact sports are one of the leading causes of oral injuries among children. This is why Dr. Casey recommends that all patients who participate in any sportswear them. Custom-fit mouthguards are the safest and most comfortable solution for your little sports star and we can even make them in-house!
As a mother herself, Dr. Casey Elkins knows that we cannot always plan ahead in certain situations. Most of the time this is the case with dental emergencies. If one of your children is experiencing a dental emergency or more information, please reach out to our Medical Center Pediatric Dentistry office immediately. We are always available to help patients and their families through dental emergencies, please reach out to our office as soon as you can.
