We all remember what it was like to lose our baby teeth.  Most of us couldn’t wait to lose them because it meant we were growing up (not to mention the possibility of a quarter from the tooth fairy under my pillow).  Yes the loss of baby teeth is a natural part of dental development.  But many have a few concerns about that process. 

 

Tooth Loss Questions

·         What should I do if my child’s baby tooth is knocked out?

Baby teeth don’t get knocked out very often.  They usually just fall out by themselves because a permanent tooth is pushing it out. If we were to attempt to re-implant the baby tooth, the permanent tooth could be damaged, so that is not an option. 

 

It is, however, important to keep that gap open if the baby tooth is knocked out early.  This is important because if the permanent tooth doesn’t have enough room to come in, it may come in crooked.  A good option to keep the space open is a space maintainer.

 

·         What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth is knocked out?

The first thing you want to do when a permanent tooth has been knocked out is clean it off with cool water, but be careful not to scrub it. Try to put the tooth where it was in the child’s mouth and use clean gauze to hold it in place.  If that’s not possible, keep the tooth in a cool container of milk (or water if you don’t have any milk handy). Once everything is stable and protected, visit your dentist ASAP!  If you act quickly, the tooth just might be saved!

 

·         What should I do if my child’s tooth is fractured or chipped?

Chipped teeth are never a fun experience.  Besides looking kind of funny, they are sometimes painful.  If nothing but enamel is chipped, the pain is minimal, because enamel has no nerve supply.  In this case, simply smoothing the rough edge is sufficient. If a front tooth is chipped, plastic bonding can make the tooth look as good as new and prevent more damage.

If the dentine layer has chipped along with the enamel, it can become a painful experience.  The same treatment for minor chips applies in this case, with one addition. With the dentine layer having been exposed, the repaired tooth will need to be monitored closely with frequent visits to the dentist.