The world can come to a screeching halt when your little one experiences a dental emergency, especially if the situation unfolding is a knocked-out tooth! But the last thing you should do in these scenarios is panic; with a little quick thinking, you can ensure that your child’s smile is in no long-term danger. Here are three must-know steps your pediatric emergency dentist wants you to keep in mind whenever you’re addressing your child’s knocked-out tooth.
Step 1. Keep a Cool Head & Assess the Situation
The very last thing you should do when your child has suffered a knocked-out tooth is panic; life is unpredictable, and these things aren’t uncommon! That said, if you panic, it might also cause your little one to feel extra stressed or anxious. You should keep calm and assess the situation; be sure that your child hasn’t suffered any other injuries by inspecting their mouth. If they’re bleeding, have them bite down on a piece of gauze or a clean washcloth.
Step 2. Secure the Lost Tooth
Look for the lost tooth if its location is unknown. After you’ve found it, gently pick it up by its chewing surface (never by its root) and store it in a plastic container or glass of milk, not water. In some cases, you might be able to replace the tooth in its socket by having your child bite down on gauze to hold it in place until you arrive at the dental office, assuming it’s an adult tooth. It’s worth stating that retrieving baby teeth usually isn’t a priority since replacing them would potentially disrupt the growth of permanent teeth—however, you should still contact your child’s dentist and let them know.
Step 3. Contact Your Pediatric Dentist
When it comes to knocked-out teeth, time is of the essence—ideally, you should try to get your child to the dentist’s office within an hour, as this gives the tooth the best chance of being replaced in its socket. That means calling your dentist quickly, explaining the situation and setting up an appointment is absolutely crucial. They’ll also be able to provide you with care tips over the phone so that you can assist your child leading up to their appointment. But once your child is seated in the treatment chair, you can rest assured that they’ll get the care they need and that their smile won’t be in any long-term danger!
About the Practice
Here at Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, our team is ready to deliver quality and caring dental care to patients and families in the New Britain community. We’re proud to offer a wide range of services including emergency dentistry, so if your little one has suffered a knocked-out tooth or some other type of oral injury, don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance! Telephone: (860) 224-2419.