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The Critical Rule for a Knocked-Out Tooth in Kids

Young Girl Smiling With Missing Front Tooth

When a child gets hit in the mouth on the playground or suffers a fall, seeing a tooth pop out onto the grass sends any parent’s heart into their throat. Your immediate goal is to help your child, but there is one crucial rule that every parent in Norwell needs to know: how you handle a knocked-out baby tooth is completely different from how you handle a knocked-out adult tooth!

At Advanced Dental Arts, we offer urgent dental care during business hours, and we want to equip parents with the facts so you can react safely in a dental emergency.

Never Replant a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth!

If your young child (usually under age 6 or 7) knocks out a primary baby tooth, do not attempt to push it back into the gum socket. Trying to force a baby tooth back into the jaw can permanently damage the developing permanent adult tooth bud. 

Instead, gently clean your child’s mouth with warm water, place a soft gauze pad over the socket to stop any bleeding, and bring the child to our office. Here, we can take an X-ray and ensure no broken root fragments were left behind.

Always Save and Replant a Knocked-Out Adult Tooth

If your older child or teenager knocks out a permanent adult tooth, every second counts. Unlike baby teeth, permanent teeth should be saved and replanted as fast as possible. Pick the tooth up by the white crown, rinse it gently with milk if dirty (never scrub it!), and try to slide it back into the empty socket. If that isn’t possible, place the tooth in a sealed container of cold milk or saliva and bring your child straight to our Norwell office during business hours. 

Important Note: If the incident happens while we are closed, please seek the nearest after-hours emergency dental clinic. Knocked-out teeth are a time sensitive issue! 

Immediate Urgent Care and Pain Relief

Whether it was a baby tooth or an adult tooth that was knocked out, seeing a dentist right away is essential. During our business hours, our dental team at Advanced Dental Arts will prioritize urgent cases. We will check for hidden jaw injuries, stop any lingering bleeding, soothe tender gums, and re-implant the tooth whenever possible.

Read More: About Dental Emergencies: When You Need Urgent Oral Care

Protect Your Child’s Smile with Emergency Dental Care in Norwell

Whether your child has experienced displacement of a primary or permanent tooth, our emergency dentist in Norwell, MA, at Advanced Dental Arts is here to help. Dead straight to our dentist in Norwell, MA, for urgent care during our business hours. For concerns after-hours, please visit the nearest 24/7 dental clinic.

Experiencing a dental emergency or need fast family dental care in Norwell? Contact or visit Advanced Dental Arts today.

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