Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of MichiganDrs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates

What to do When Your Child’s Tooth is Knocked Out

A Dental EmergencyOne of the scariest and difficult to manage incidents to

occur within the mouth is the misfortune of having a tooth knocked out.

For many parents, seeing their child lose a tooth due to some kind of force is at the top of the list of things they’d rather never have to experience.

Having a tooth knocked out is a high priority dental emergency, requiring immediate medical/dental attention if at all possible.

What to do? In the event that you and your child ever find yourselves in a

situation like this, adherence to these guidelines can ease the process and get your child the care they need: Call your dentist immediately If you can, try to put the tooth back into its socket without

touching the root (this may take a little pressure to accomplish) If the tooth will not stay up within the socket, gently place it

between your child’s gum and cheek If all else fails, drop the tooth into a glass of milk Many schools will have Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution on

premises for these situations. If the event occurs at a school, this is the best place to store the tooth until you arrive at the dental office

Facial SwellingIt will likely be necessary to reduce swelling on your child’s

face after the incident.

To do this, apply a cold compress to the area.

If done correctly (with evenly applied pressure), this should also aid in the stoppage of any bleeding.

If you are able to get your child to the dentist in a short period of time, it is more likely that your dental care provider will be able to reinsert the tooth and stabilize it for the best chance of proper healing.

Prevention

In order to reduce the chances of your child having a tooth knocked out, take care to ensure that your child makes use of mouth guards when playing contact sports.

At the end of the day, a knocked out tooth isn’t the end of the world – but it definitely can be scary!

Be safe out there, and don’t forget that mouth guard.

And, keep our number (586) 286-0700 in your contact list in case you need us in this situation.

Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker and associates has specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. The pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults, including being an Invisalign preferred provider. The ability to treat all special needs patients reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy. Valued hospital affiliations allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John’s Hospital Macomb when needed. Our specialists are also on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.

About Us

Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of MichiganDrs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates

39400 Garfield Rd., Suite 200Clinton Township, MI 48038

586-286-0700www.mychildsteeth.com