Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

Whether you're standing in the bleachers when a ball hits your son or daughter in the face and knocks out a tooth, or your child tripped and smashed into the concrete before losing a primary tooth, there are many different events that could prompt the need for an emergency kid dentist. Therefore, given the importance of good oral health and the brief period of time during which it might be possible to save that tooth, it only makes sense that you need to be familiar with the facts discussed below as to what needs to be done and what might be available if that tooth cannot be saved. 

When The Tooth In Question Is A Baby Tooth

It is important to note that you will need to know whether the knocked-out tooth was a primary or permanent one. That is because the steps that are needed to save a baby tooth are different from the steps to save an adult tooth. It has been estimated that about half of all kids incur some sort of dental trauma before they turn 18, so your child isn't likely to be the only one on the playground with an imperfect smile. 

For instance, the roots on a baby tooth are not as strong or thick as those of an adult's tooth. That means that even though you should still plan to have your child seen by their dentist as soon as possible after losing a baby tooth unexpectedly, the situation itself is not as dire as it often is for an adult tooth. It should not be placed back into the jaw in order to avoid injuring the gum, the permanent tooth that might be underneath, or the primary tooth that was lost. It can be stored in milk, water, or even a damp paper towel since the dentist might be able to integrate that tooth back to its original space.     

If The Tooth Cannot Be Saved

If the tooth cannot be found, is not intact, or simply does survive being re-integrated into the jaw, the dentist might recommend a spacer to hold the space where the tooth used to be in order to prevent bite difficulties later on. In addition, if you or your child are upset about the use of the spacer or having an empty spot in the jaw for the foreseeable future, a pedo-partial might be a good choice.

A pedo-partial can be described as a partial denture that is cemented into the area where the missing tooth was, in order to preserve the child's appearance. It will fall out on its own or it can be removed by the dentist when an adult tooth is ready to take its place. While your child has the pedo-partial, it is important for him or her to avoid sticky, hard or chewy foods to prevent damaging the unit.   

In conclusion, children lose baby teeth prematurely on a regular basis, and in order to protect his or her dental health, it's crucial to know what you can do to save the tooth. Since baby teeth cannot be saved, it is therefore equally important to know what can be done to maintain your child's future dental health, as discussed above.