child with mouth open at dentist
Trauma to the teeth is a very common childhood injury. We all hope that it doesn’t happen, but when it does, here are a few words of advice:
Knocked out permanent tooth: Do not rinse, scrub, or touch the root of the tooth. The root has vital cells living on the outside that could help it reattach. The key is to get it back in the socket as fast as you can. The less time it spends out of the socket, the more likely it is that your dentist can save it. If you cannot put it back in, put the tooth in milk, a lot of saliva, or a special tooth saver liquid you can get at the pharmacy. Make sure the tooth is submerged in the liquid. Handle the crown of the tooth only – the top – the pretty part – NOT the root and put it in the liquid. Do not leave it out to get dry. If there is dirt or sand on the tooth and you are afraid to put it back in – just put it in the milk or saliva and get your child and the tooth to your pediatric dentist quickly.
Knocked out baby tooth: do not try to put it back. There is another developing permanent tooth under the baby one, and you don’t want to injure the grown up tooth by pushing something up there. If it is out, call the pediatric dentist. If the tooth is half in/half out, make your child comfortable, call your dentist, and try not to panic. Your pediatric dentist will need a clear description of the injury and what you see. Having a soft washcloth to clear away blood is helpful so you can see what you need to report.
For more information contact Marilyn C. Sandor, DDS at (239) 592-0800 or online at www.goodcheckup.com. Naples Pediatric Dentistry is located at 4529 Executive Drive, Suite 101, Naples.