First Steps
If the lost tooth is a baby tooth, just clean it up and save it for the Tooth Fairy. Trying to reattach a baby tooth can have disastrous consequences for the growing permanent tooth behind it. If bleeding from the mouth occurs, have your child bite down on a piece of clean gauze. Keep the gauze in place and avoid moving it repeatedly. If the tooth is a permanent adult tooth it must be transported to the dentist immediately in a solution so that it can be re-implanted.
The Goal
When an adult tooth is knocked out, the goal is to have a dentist implant the original tooth back into the mouth. For this to be successful, you must bring the tooth to a dentist as quickly as possible. Penny Resnick Graulich, DMD, of Main Street Pediatric Dentistry in Tuckahoe estimates that there is about a 90 percent chance of the tooth being re-implanted and stabilized if the child arrives at the dentist with the tooth within one hour. As more time passes, this percent decreases as the cells in the root of the tooth die.
Transportating the Tooth
While en route to the dentist, the tooth must be kept in conditions like those found inside the mouth. Resnick Graulich notes that a brave parent can try to put the tooth back into place. However, with a child who is probably crying, parents must be careful not to impose a choking hazard. Kavita Kohli, DMD, of Rivertowns Pediatric Dentistry does not recommend trying to insert the tooth. Having seen teeth put in upside down or backwards by well-intentioned parents, Kohli recommends letting a trained pediatric dentist handle it. Both dentists, however, agree on the best solution to transport the tooth in: milk. Water should not be used because it will dehydrate the tooth. Even though Mom’s first instinct after watching her child’s tooth fall into the dirt may be to rinse it off in the sink or give it a scrub, don’t! Using water and scrubbing the tooth may make it impossible to reattach because, as Resnick Graulich says, the goal is to “maintain the vitality” of the tooth until a dentist can be reached.
After Hours
Kohli recommends going straight to a pediatric dentist because they often have the most experience re-implanting teeth, as well as with the behavioral issues a child who is in pain may present. Kohli notes that many dentists will come in after hours for an emergency, so they are still the best people to contact to avoid a long wait in the emergency room. But if a dentist can’t be reached, try an oral surgeon, or an emergency room that offers dental services.
Back-Up Plan
Sometimes the accident occurs on the playground and the tooth is lost among the woodchips and can’t be found. Or maybe, for whatever reason, your child doesn’t make it to the dentist in time to save the tooth. Your child may then need a tooth implant. While an implant (or false tooth) may seem scary, Resnick Graulich stresses that implants are highly successful and not to worry.
If your child suffers an injury to his pearly whites, the bottom line is to get the tooth, keep it in a milk solution, and get to the dentist immediately. If done quickly, the tooth can be re-implanted, and your child will be back to the playground in no time.
Sarah Niss is a frequent contributor to Westchester Family.
