Dental trauma in the pediatric population is fairly common and can present in a variety of ways. Common traumatic dental injuries in children include loosened or displaced teeth, tooth fractures, and avulsions. These injuries require evaluation by a dentist in order to assess the extent of the damage and determine if treatment is necessary.
Loosened Teeth in Children
Minor loosening or displacement can be monitored during routine visits, but a serious injury may require more aggressive treatment, such as splinting or tooth extraction.
Chipped or Fractured Teeth
These injuries require immediate evaluation. Some minor fractures can be smoothed, while others require more invasive treatment.
Knocked Out (Avulsed) Teeth in Children
When a tooth is avulsed, it has been completely knocked out of its socket. This type of traumatic injury isone of the most serious, and therefore timing of evaluation is important for successful reimplantation. If your child loses a permanent tooth, it is important to locate the tooth and store it in a glass of milk (or in a“Save A Tooth” kit). Evaluation by a dentist should be completed as soon as possible in order to ensure successful reimplantation. Primary teeth which are avulsed are not reimplanted due to the risk of infection or damage to the underlying permanent teeth.