Try as we might to protect our children from the world, accidents happen. Maybe your little one took a blow to the face while playing sports, or maybe they took a tumble while playing with friends. Or maybe you weren’t looking when it happened, but your child knocked out a tooth. Would you know what to do? These situations are understandably quite alarming, so it’s important that you know how to handle them ahead of time. Read on as we cover step-by-step what you should do if your child knocks out a tooth.
1.) Don’t Panic & Call Your Dentist
Children get many of their emotional cues from their parents. If you begin to panic in this situation, they’ll internalize your reaction and begin to panic themselves. Do your absolute best to stay calm, but maintain a sense of urgency. You should call your pediatric dentist as soon as you possibly can to schedule an emergency appointment.
2.) Locate the Tooth
If your child knocked out a baby tooth, your dentist isn’t likely to try to put it back into place. Instead, they’ll probably recommend a space maintainer to keep the neighboring teeth from shifting into the gap and trapping the permanent tooth underneath.
However, if your child has knocked out a permanent tooth, your dentist may be able to save it if you handle it carefully and reach them within 30-60 minutes. Be sure to only handle the tooth by the crown (the white biting surface) and not the roots.
3.) Protect the Tooth
Have your child rinse their mouth out with water. You should also rinse off the tooth if it’s dirty, but don’t scrub off any remaining tissue or use soap. Next, the tooth needs to be kept moist in order for it to remain viable. If your child is old enough, you can try to place it back in its socket and have your child hold it there with their tongue or a piece of gauze. Alternatively, the tooth can be stashed between the gums and the cheeks, or you can store it in a small container of milk or saliva.
4.) See Your Dentist ASAP
In the case of a knocked-out permanent tooth, your pediatric dentist will almost certainly schedule you for a same-day emergency appointment. When you arrive, they’ll inspect the tooth to see if it’s still viable and evaluate the surrounding teeth for damage. Hopefully, they’ll be able to place the tooth back into its socket and secure it to the surrounding teeth as it heals back into place over the coming months.
Your dentist may not need to see your child for a same-day emergency appointment for a knocked-out baby tooth, but they will want to see them right away. During your appointment, they’ll inspect your child’s remaining teeth and the permanent tooth underneath the gums for any potential damage. Then, they’ll typically fit your little one with a discreet space maintainer.
Hopefully, your child will never have to deal with a knocked-out tooth. However, if they do, just remember to follow the steps above to keep their smile safe!
About the Practice
Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is proud to serve the growing smiles of Nashua and the surrounding communities. Our experienced team offers personalized preventive care like dental sealants, fluoride treatments, and athletic mouthguards to minimize the risk of dental emergencies. However, should your little one suffer a knocked-out tooth or other urgent dental situation, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can be reached online or at (603) 880-5002.