It's common for children to sustain some kind of mouth or tooth injury during childhood. These injuries typically occur after a sports injury, fall, a fight, while playing, or an automobile accident. If you’re unsure if your children’s facial trauma or injury requires immediate help, don’t hesitate to consult with Dr. Gael Delany, Dr. Julian Moiseiwitsch, or Dr. Naghmeh Latifi here at DC Endodontics in Washington, DC, for professional advice.
Treating Common Tooth Injuries
Broken Temporary Tooth
This warrants a visit to the dentist to prevent further complications. Treatment might involve smoothening the tooth’s jagged edges, restoring the tooth with dental bonding or a crown, or extracting the tooth.
Loose or Dislocated Temporary Tooth
Managing this injury is focused on preventing potential harm to the underlying permanent tooth. Don’t attempt to put the tooth back if it has been completely knocked out to avoid damaging the permanent tooth that will eventually take its place.
Dislocated Permanent Tooth
This is an emergency that needs prompt treatment. Ideally, the tooth must be put back in its socket ASAP, within 15 minutes to an hour, longer when stored properly in cold milk. To do this, follow these steps:
- Hold the tooth by the crown and clean it with tap water or saline. Don’t sterilize or scrub it.
- Place it back in its socket.
- To keep it in place, have your kid bite down on a clean hanky or towel.
If this isn’t possible, place the tooth in a clean container with cold milk and head to your dentist.
Fractured Permanent Tooth
If possible, place all the tooth fragments in a container with clean water so your dentist can reattach them. Otherwise, your dentist could try to repair it with dental bonding or a crown that will match your child’s other teeth.
Loose Permanent Tooth
Depending on the severity of the condition, your dentist can try to return the tooth to its proper place and monitor it. But it might be necessary to use splints or stitches to stabilize the tooth.
Treating Common Mouth Injuries
Tears
Tears or tiny wounds inside your child’s mouth as well as tears outside the mouth don’t typically need stitches. On the other hand, big cuts, particularly between the teeth or close to the tongue’s tip as well as wounds in the outer portion of the lips might need stitches. Check-in with your children’s facial trauma professional in Washington, DC, immediately to mitigate any damage to your child’s face.
Call Us For Questions, Concerns, or Advice on Children’s Facial Trauma
Set an appointment here at DC Endodontics in Washington, DC, with Dr. Gael Delany, Dr. Julian Moiseiwitsch, or Dr. Naghmeh Latifi, by calling (202) 364-0234.