When your child started playing sports, you may have daydreamed about them excelling to the point that they become college or professional stars. But, for now, you watch them learn in practices and games—until one day, they are hit in the face and a tooth is knocked out of its socket.
What should you do in this dental emergency? What can be done to fix the problem? The specific answer may depend on what type of tooth it is, but regardless, they will need a visit to their pediatric dentist.
Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
At first, a baby tooth coming out may not seem like a big deal. These primary teeth fall out anyway, right? Although they eventually will be replaced by permanent teeth, losing baby teeth prematurely can become a serious issue for your child’s smile.
Without baby teeth, your child will not be able to try various foods, especially nutritious fruits and vegetables. As a result, they may become picky eaters with habits that are harder to break as they get older. In addition, baby teeth create better aligned slots for permanent teeth to erupt, leading to potentially straighter teeth. In other words, when baby teeth are lost too soon, the alignment of the permanent teeth can be thrown off kilter.
If your child loses a baby tooth before it naturally falls out, take your child to see their dentist. Don’t try to put it back in. Although your child’s dentist will likely not re-implant the small tooth, they may put in a space maintainer to facilitate the adult tooth’s eruption later.
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
Whether your child just got their permanent teeth or they’re a teenager, permanent teeth are supposed to last the rest of their life, so it’s a problem if one is knocked out. In fact, the chances of successfully re-implanting the tooth drop an hour after the injury, which means you need to take them to the dentist as quickly as possible.
If this unfortunate situation happens to your child, pick up the tooth by the crown or white part. Gently rinse the tooth with clean water and either put it back in the socket or put it in a container of milk to keep it properly moist before the dentist puts it back in.
Why You Should Seek Help from a Pediatric Dentist
Although many general dentists offer emergency dental services, a pediatric dentist is uniquely qualified to work with children and teens. Not only are they educated about issues for growing smiles, but they study how to help younger patients feel more comfortable—even in an emergency like a knocked-out tooth.
In the end, a knocked-out tooth may disrupt your day, but it doesn’t have to derail your child’s sports aspirations. Working with a pediatric dentist can keep your favorite smile in healthy condition even if a dental emergency happens. Whether they become a sports star or not, a confident, winning smile is essential as they grow.
About the Practice
Dr. Patrick Bowman and Dr. Samantha Gardner are both board-certified pediatric dentists, which means they studied for three additional years after dental school for issues specifically for patients under 18 years of age. At Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry in Denver, they make patients comfortable and teach healthy habits that lead to a lifetime of strong smiles. To schedule an appointment, contact the office online or call 720-647-6310.