• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Dallas County Dental Society
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Board Members
    • Award Winners
    • Staff
    • Alliance DCDS
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Membership
    • General Membership Meetings
    • Meet Our Members
    • Log In
  • Resources
    • Southwest Dental Conference
    • DCDS Dental Assisting School
    • Job Bank/Practice Sales
    • Continuing Education
    • Dentists Concerned For Dentists
    • Local Study Groups
    • DCDS Connection
    • Facility Rentals
    • Helpful Websites
  • For the Public
    • Find-a-Dentist
    • Dental Health Tips
    • Low Cost Services
    • Mediation
  • Events
  • News
  • Contact
Treating tooth injuries -children

The Tooth of the Matter: Treating Child Tooth Injuries

March 3, 2017 by DCDS

If your child experiences a tooth injury, you may not be sure what to do. Is it considered an emergency? Should you wait to get in to see your child’s dentist? Dallas County resident, Shareese Rowland, was faced with these exact questions as she watched her son knock out his two front permanent teeth in a scooter accident. Seeing your child in pain is frightening, and as parents, we want to act as quickly as possible. Tooth injuries can range in severity from a minor or major chip to a displaced tooth to a fully dislodged (avulsed) tooth. Both baby teeth and permanent teeth can be affected or injured. Whether your child takes a spill riding their bike or a sharp elbow to the mouth on the basketball court, it’s a scary situation for any parent to navigate. In the case of Ms. Rowland’s son Clive, it was most certainly an emergency! Luckily she was able to see DCDS members Dr. Frank Higginbottom and his son-in-law, orthodontist, Dr. Michael Fesler immediately. Together they were able to be the “couple of heroes saving the day” for Shareese and her son, and Clive’s teeth were placed back in their rightful place. The Dallas County Dental Society (DCDS) and our members have seen many teeth injuries and share some tips on what to do if you find yourself in this situation with your child.

If a baby tooth is knocked out

If your child loses a baby tooth, the situation is significantly less urgent. However, it’s still imperative to contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. Help you child rinse their mouth out with clean water, and use cold compresses to help with pain and swelling. Offering an ice pop is an easy way to help your child get some relief from the pain if cold compresses are a bit too challenging to manage. If needed, administer acetaminophen or ibuprofen appropriate to your child’s age and weight. Because this situation is just as scary for your child as it is for you, comfort your little one and give lots of extra hugs and cuddles.

A permanent tooth is knocked out

If your child dislodges a permanent tooth, this is considered a dental emergency. Find the tooth, and rinse it with cold water. If you can’t place the tooth back into the socket, place it in a clean container with either cold milk or your child’s saliva. Do not put it in the container with water. Contact your pediatric dentist immediately.

A tooth is chipped, broken or loosened

If the tooth is chipped or broken, try to find the broken pieces if possible. Contact your child’s pediatric dentist immediately. Acting quickly lessens the risk of infection and increases the odds of saving the tooth. Help your child rinse out their mouth with clean water. If there is bleeding, have your child bite down on a small piece of gauze or hold the gauze in place to stop the bleeding. Apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling. Your child’s dentist will assess the damage and take the appropriate action. Sharp edges may need to be smoothed out, and a loose tooth may be able to be repositioned. However, if the damage is significant, your dentist may recommend extraction.

When faced with a tooth injury, immediate action is always the best option. Treating your child’s tooth injury may be unnerving at first, but now armed with the right information, you can be confident in your ability to safely handle the situation and get your child the dental care they need.

Share

Primary Sidebar

Featured News

continuing education for dental practitioners

Continuing education

February 20, 2017

Has your dentist ever recommended getting checked out by a doctor for a certain symptom? It happens all the time.… continue reading ➤ Continuing education

Refinancing student loans

Is it Smart to Refinance My Student Loans?

May 28, 2019

Written by: Drew Vanderbrook, D.D.S. (Dallas County Dental Society Member) Whether you are graduating from dental school this month or… continue reading ➤ Is it Smart to Refinance

flossing

Tooth Truth | Not a fan of flossing? Here’s why you should be!

March 3, 2017

The Dallas County Dental Society (DCDS) is always on the quest for knowledge in the ever changing and improving world… continue reading ➤ Tooth Truth | Not a

ARCHIVES

  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019

Follow Us

  • Login
  • Events
  • Legal Information
  • Site Map

Dallas County Dental Society logo


© 2017 · Dallas County Dental Society, 13633 Omega Road, Dallas, TX 75244.
Tel: (972) 386-5741, Fax: (972) 233-8636 - email: [email protected]