Child Knocked Out a Tooth? Here’s What To Do

Whether you’re mom, dad, grandma or grandpa, you probably know a thing or two about first aid when a child gets hurt. When it comes to dental emergencies, even small wounds can seem like a catastrophe—the gums, after all, are extremely sensitive and rich with blood vessels. Even small dental injuries tend to bleed!If your child’s baby tooth falls out, leave it out, otherwise you may damage the adult tooth growing underneath. If your child’s adult tooth is knocked out, you can save it by taking a few important steps.

How to Fix a Knocked-Out Tooth

It is possible to re-implant a knocked out tooth—the ligaments connecting the tooth to the bone can be reformed, but you have to store the missing tooth in a specific way. If your child knocks out an adult tooth:

1. Don’t scrape off any dirt from the tooth as you may risk damaging the root.
2. Rinse the tooth gently with a saline solution, carefully handling the crown and not the root.
3. Put the tooth back in the socket if possible or put the tooth in a small container of saline or milk if the tooth cannot be put back into the socket. Do NOT put it in antiseptic, doing so could cause the root to dry out and die.
4. Contact your dentist, or an emergency dentist if it is after hours. If you cannot see an emergency dentist, take your child to your local emergency room for help.
5. Place pressure onto the gums to reduce bleeding and pain while you travel to the dentist.

Do not delay seeing a dentist—you could end up losing your child’s tooth. If done correctly, a successful re-implantation should heal significantly in three to four weeks, and become completely repaired within two months.

Get Help for Your Broken Tooth!

Dr. Roderick Garcia, DMD, is an Albuquerque dentist who has more than 30 years of experience providing emergency dental services to patients. Dr. Garcia can ensure that your child maintains a healthy smile through routine dental care, sealants, and restorative dentistry.Make sure your child grows up with a healthy smile that he or she is proud to show off. Contact us at 505-369-2673 to schedule an appointment with at our dentist’s office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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