Young children are naturally active and until they develop proper coordination, injuries to the teeth, especially the front teeth, are fairly common. Injuries or trauma may occur due to a fall, playing sports, accidents or any unexpected event. This may result in a broken or chipped tooth, a displaced or knocked-out tooth and injury to the gums, lips, etc. It is important to understand the types of injuries that could happen, how to respond in such situations, and to seek timely professional dental care.
1. Broken or chipped teeth: If a fragment of the tooth is broken, it could range from a small chip in the enamel to one involving deeper tissues. It is important to preserve the broken fragment and carry it with you to the dental office.
2. Knocked-out tooth: If your child’s tooth has been completely knocked out, it requires immediate care. The tooth should be washed with water and carried to the dental office in milk, and our dentist, Dr. JD Desai, will assess the tooth and re-implant the tooth, if possible.
3. Displacement: Sometimes, an impact may cause a tooth to be displaced inwards, outwards or sideways, but not completely knocked out. Depending on the severity of displacement, our dentist may need to reposition and stabilize the tooth.
4. Oral Injuries: Trauma to the lips, gums and the inner cheeks may cause some bleeding, but can be controlled by applying gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze, and an ice pack. It is best to seek immediate dental care in such cases.
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With any oral injury, it is important to stay calm and assess the injury. Perform basic first aid, such as cleaning the wound, applying pressure and an ice pack. Remember to carry the tooth (if knocked out) in milk or a tooth-preserving solution and seek immediate professional care at our practice, Lavista Park Family Dentistry in Tucker, Georgia. Your child’s smile is important to us, and we will do everything we can to help you protect it!