Permanent Teeth

If your child experiences an injury that makes them lose a permanent tooth, a fast response can save your child’s tooth, stop infection, and reduce extensive dental treatment. Follow these guidelines:

  1. Find your child’s tooth, if possible. Make sure to handle the tooth by the crown—never from the root.
  2. Rinse the tooth with water only. Never use soap or handle the tooth more than necessary.
  3. Check the tooth for breakage.
    • If it is whole, try to re-insert it into the socket. If you need to use excessive force, do NOT continue to reinsert the tooth. Ask your child bite down on a piece of gauze to hold the tooth in place.
    • If it is broken, collect all the pieces you can find and transport them as instructed in step 4.
  4. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, carry the tooth in a cup of milk or your child’s saliva to keep it moist.
  5. CONTACT OUR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY! We will need to see your child as soon as possible. Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.
  6. Ensure your child has no head injuries apart from the teeth. You may need to have the child’s physician perform a head/neck exam.

If your child breaks or chips a permanent tooth:

  1. Rinse the area with warm water.
  2. Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.

CALL OUR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY! You will need to collect any fragments of the tooth you can find and bring them with you to our office.