If your child knocks out a tooth, it can seem like a nightmare. However, there’s no need to panic. First and foremost, we need you to stay calm so you can help your child move quickly and improve their chances of saving the tooth. 

The protocol for a knocked-out tooth in a child depends on the type of tooth that was lost. If it was a permanent tooth, they should locate the tooth if possible and only hold it by the crown, not the root. If it’s dirty, they should rinse it off because we recommend trying to reinsert it as soon as possible by placing the tooth back in the socket and firmly biting down. 

If your child is unable to reattach the tooth, they should store it in a little bag or container of saliva or milk which will preserve the tooth. Bring it along to the dentist and schedule an emergency appointment. 

You will be seen as soon as possible because lost teeth need to be treated within an hour to save the tooth. A splint may be needed to stabilize the tooth. However, if the lost tooth is a baby tooth, you should not try to reinsert it, as this can cause damage.

You will still need to contact the dentist and may require an emergency appointment if there is uncontrollable bleeding or further damage. Your child will likely need a space maintainer to prevent the other teeth from shifting.

Unfortunately, with young kids, it happens. They run around, fall, or get hit in the face with something and suddenly they have a damaged or broken tooth. It’s not the end of the world but you should make sure your child hasn’t sustained serious injuries by assessing the tooth and looking for signs of blood or tooth fragments. 

Rinse out the mouth with a saline solution to clear away any broken pieces of their tooth which could cut the inside of their mouth or be accidentally swallowed. If bleeding persists, have them bite down on some gauze or a wet caffeinated tea bag to encourage blood clotting. 

Contact us right away and let us know how severe the damage is. We recommend that you bring any tooth fragments you can find with you to the dentist in case we can reattach them. We will need to take x-rays to look for signs of an infection which may require a pulpotomy. If there is no damage to the tooth’s pulp, your child may just require a filling or a dental crown.

A lost baby tooth may seem like no big deal because they’re supposed to fall out anyway. However, baby teeth serve important functions. They help your child chew, speak, and smile. More than that though, they maintain space in the mouth. 

Without this baby tooth, the surrounding teeth will begin to lean into the space and block the eruption of the underlying permanent tooth. The sooner your child’s tooth is lost before it was supposed to be, the worse the consequences. 

Teeth will shift drastically and the permanent tooth will likely be impacted. This is why baby teeth require the placement of a space maintainer or a partial denture to prevent teeth from moving and holding the space open for the permanent tooth.

If a permanent tooth is lost, it should be replaced. Failure to replace a permanent tooth will also cause shifting teeth and difficulty eating and speaking. Bone loss can also cause changes to their facial structure There are many options to replace a permanent tooth, including bridges, dentures, and dental implants.

Toothaches can be caused by a variety of things – tooth decay, teething, something stuck between the teeth, an infection, injury, or eroded enamel. You should ask your child how bad the pain is and ask them to point to where the pain is coming from, if possible. 

If your child is old enough, ask them to describe any other symptoms that they are experiencing. It may be difficult to ascertain the cause of the toothache without visiting the dentist so we recommend calling right away and letting them know if there is any swelling, sensitivity, discoloration, or an abscess. 

This is a sign of an infection and requires immediate emergency care. Otherwise, we will schedule you for the earliest available appointment and you can treat their discomfort at home until then. 

You should floss their teeth to make sure there are no food particles lodged between the teeth that are causing pain. If that doesn’t do anything, have them rinse with a warm saltwater solution which can relieve pain and kill bacteria. 

A cold compress will reduce swelling and anti-inflammatory pain medication will provide pain relief. Just make sure you’re giving them an age-appropriate dose. Just don’t put off seeing the dentist, as these tips will only provide temporary relief. A toothache is a sign of an underlying oral health problem that will only worsen without treatment.

If your child is experiencing facial swelling, severe pain, uncontrollable bleeding, or severe damage to your teeth or restorations, they need prompt treatment. Without an emergency dentist, they’ll be left in pain, unsure of what to do, and wasting precious time.
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Many dental emergencies are time-sensitive and we must stop infections, control bleeding, and reattach knocked-out teeth as soon as possible or it may be too late. This can result in the loss of a tooth, which comes with its own set of consequences, such as bone loss and the need to replace the tooth.