728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Toddler Health › Children's Dental Emergencies

Children's Dental Emergencies

A Parent's Guide to Chips, Fractures and Tooth Avulsions

By Shannon McKelden

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Tooth Avulsion
The recommendation for a knocked-out tooth has been to put it into milk and head for the dentist. That still stands, though both Drs. Landgren and Vann agree that the child's saliva (even bloody) works if milk is not available. The International Association of Dental Traumatology even suggests that the tooth can be tucked between cheek and gum for transport, though obviously only in an older child not in danger of choking on the tooth.

The best thing to be done for an avulsed permanent tooth, though, is to put it back into the socket. The tooth should first be rinsed with water, but not scrubbed. The root of the tooth should not be touched. Gently replace the tooth in the socket if able and hold it with sterile gauze or a clean washcloth.

Most important, seek dental help immediately. "The prognosis for avulsed teeth quickly decreases the longer the tooth is out of the socket," Dr. Landgren says.

Primary vs. Permanent Teeth
Replacing an avulsed primary (baby) tooth is not recommended, but loss of a primary tooth is no less important than that of a permanent tooth. Primary teeth serve as "placeholders" for incoming permanent teeth, maintaining proper spacing in the mouth before permanent teeth come in.

Also, the underlying permanent tooth may have been injured by the impact at the time of the accident, so it is just as important to have that checked out. Close monitoring may be necessary to ensure the permanent tooth did not sustain damage.

Preventing Dental Trauma

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.