Ask a Pediatric Dentist – What to do if a Baby Tooth is Knocked Out

Your pediatric dentist can help if your child loses a baby tooth at an unexpected time. This type of dental issue is common. Almost anything can knock out a baby tooth. Playing with a ball, falling from a bike, or even running in the yard can cause trauma to the child’s face. If you want to know what to do if your child’s baby tooth gets knocked out, here are the details from a pediatric dentist.

Seeing a pediatric dentist

A knocked-out baby tooth is a common occurrence. Children tend to be adventurous even within the limited space of the home and yard. A fall or a facial encounter with a projectile can chip or dislodge a baby tooth. Many parents call a pediatric dentist when this happens.

The good news about this is the weak hold of baby teeth to the gums. Injury to these teeth will not cause permanent damage at all. A pediatric dentist will explain how temporary baby teeth are. An older child will be close to getting permanent teeth. The dentist will perform less intervention if an older child gets a baby tooth knocked out.

What to do first

Finding the knocked-out tooth is important. This will remove the child’s risk of choking on the tooth. Re-implanting the baby tooth is not advisable. Hanging on to the tooth will allow the dentist to see and check it. A child with facial injuries will need emergency medical care. Placing a gauze on the site while applying pressure will help minimize the bleeding.

Things to expect

The child will need to go through dental X-rays. The pediatric dentist will need to see where the tooth came from. The X-rays will show the presence of any nerve damage. It will also tell the dentist if there is damage to the permanent tooth underneath. The dentist will make sure there will be enough space for the erupting permanent teeth. Efforts to ensure the child’s proper jaw development and speech will be in order.

A dental spacer is important for older children. This will secure enough space for the permanent teeth to fill. Some dentists recommend a pediatric partial to fill the spaces left by knocked-out front teeth. Orthodontic bands attach these partials to the back teeth. The pediatric dentist will remove these partials once the permanent teeth start to erupt. These are cosmetic solutions for kids whose parents want to prevent low self-image in their children.

It is not something to panic about

A child losing a baby tooth can be stressful and alarming to kids and parents. The child’s age will influence the pediatric dentist’s decision about the situation. The type of tooth and the degree of damage can also affect the treatments. Bringing the child to see the dentist right away will help ensure the child’s oral health.