Tooth injuries.  What do I do?

Chipped Teeth

If your child chips a tooth you should give us a call to arrange an appointment to evaluate the affected tooth and surrounding tooth structures.  Depending on the size of the chip, we may need to smoothen or repair the tooth with a white bonded filling.  Going forward, we will continue to evaluate the tooth to make sure there is no damage to the tooth’s nerve structure.  

Avulsed Tooth (Knocked Out Tooth)
The most significant injury to your child’s mouth is a tooth that is completely knocked out.  Whether it is a baby tooth or an adult tooth this is a dental emergency and requires a call to our office immediately.  Part of our mission is to be available for our patients 24/7.  If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse off the tooth with water and reinsert the tooth into the socket.  If you cannot get the tooth back into the socket, place the tooth in a cup of milk.  Call the office so we know you are on your way.  In the office we will evaluate and treat the affected tooth.  

If the tooth is a baby tooth, do not attempt to reinsert the tooth.  It is not recommended to reinsert a baby tooth because you can potentially damage the developing permanent replacement tooth.  Call the office so the tooth could be evaluated and treated.  Depending on which tooth has been lost, a space maintainer maybe needed to maintain the proper space.

Preventing Tooth Injuries 

One of the most common ways teeth are injured is through playing sports.  The best and easiest way to prevent injuries to teeth while playing sports is to wear a mouthguard.  Mouthguards are inexpensive, readily available and comfortable to wear.  Our doctors believe that mouthguards should be a required piece of equipment for any team sport.  

For any dental emergency please don’t hesitate to give Pediatric Dental Associates of Randolph a call 973-989-7970