“What should be done for a chipped "baby tooth"?”
My 6 year old son fell off his bike and chipped 2 of his baby teeth. What should be done for this? Is teeth aren't loose yet, should we just leave them alone since he may be losing them soon?
15 Answers
The only thing you have to check with your dentist is if the teeth damaged the permanent teeth. And you want to make sure that the chipped teeth aren't sharp enough cut his tongue or cut his lip.
Sorry your son fell and chipped his tooth, very disheartening for a parent, especially your first child. Most small chips are more concerning to the parent because of esthetics and not for the child. As your child can be managed in a dental setting. there is plenty of time to fix the problem if required.
I find most very young children need a little time to warm up to the office, so we decide when to fix or if it needs to be fixed on an individual patient basis, as each child is so different when they will allow us to do simple procedures. Have your dentist perform an oral exam on your child best to bring in at age one for a dental exam, we may only take a look at such a young age, but examine for growth and development concerns, tongue tied, and other oral function. It also allows your child to get use to the dental office so if they need work at ages 3 or 4 we have a better chance of creating a nice experience for your child.
Dr. Joe Ferraro
I find most very young children need a little time to warm up to the office, so we decide when to fix or if it needs to be fixed on an individual patient basis, as each child is so different when they will allow us to do simple procedures. Have your dentist perform an oral exam on your child best to bring in at age one for a dental exam, we may only take a look at such a young age, but examine for growth and development concerns, tongue tied, and other oral function. It also allows your child to get use to the dental office so if they need work at ages 3 or 4 we have a better chance of creating a nice experience for your child.
Dr. Joe Ferraro
Depends upon how badly the teeth are chipped and which teeth are involved. He will start losing his central incisors at age 6. Have a dentist take a look and x-ray to get the best answer.
I would have them bonded just in case they decay or break further. This is normally easy non-invasive and relatively cost effective
That’s one option. If there is no sharp edges. If there is a sharp edge your pedodontist can smooth it out.
Sorry that happened. Your son should be evaluated to see if there is any damage to the root of the tooth or to the developing permanent tooth. If there is a red spot, the nerve may be exposed and can get infected. If the baby tooth is not mobile or discolored, that is unlikely. Nevertheless, he should be examined. If the gums get swollen, or the tooth darkens in color, it may require removal. If the edge is sharp, a dentist can file it down painlessly.
Usually just leave them or have sharp edges polished
For a 6 year old, and assuming it is the two front teeth, hopefully they can be left alone to be lost naturally. It is still best to see a dentist for an assessment to check that nothing else is wrong, for example: nerve exposure or fragments of tooth embedded in the lips and cheeks.
Doing nothing is always an option. At least have him checked by a dentist who will most likely want to Xray the teeth to see how soon the adult teeth may be coming in and to make sure they were not damaged underneath. Then you can decide if fixing them is worth it to you, but at least you will have peace of mind knowing if there is not a bigger problem brewing underneath.
Hi there! Biggest thing you'd want to monitor for is a color change in the teeth i.e. if the tooth or teeth start to turn gray or brown. This does not happen immediately and may take weeks or months to show but if this does start to show, this is a sign that the nerves in the tooth were affected from the fall and may need to be treated. If the tooth isn't treated, the infection could affect permanent teeth that are developing underneath so get to a dentist soon so they can go over the options!
If the chipped teeth are not loose or discolored, leave well alone. If they loosen or discolor, consult a dentist.
If the teeth are asymptomatic and chambers are not opened, leave them alone. Check after a few months. Make sure to remove sharp angles.
The teeth need to checked by a dentist. Sometimes trauma to the tooth can cause nerve damage which can lead to tooth infection.
First, sorry to hear of your child's unfortunate accident. The good news is "chipping" primary teeth on a 6-year-old is rarely a cause for concern. Especially when the teeth are not loose or even if the accident resulted in them becoming loose. The underlying permanent teeth in most children at age 6 are very close to erupting anyway. Although damage to the permanent teeth at this age is a possibility, again, very unlikely.
What to watch for: Most children are very resilient and bounce back fairly quickly after traumatic events like this, but watch for signs of infection like swollen gums around these teeth, etc. If, after a few days, your child starts to develop a fever, loss of appetite (even with soft foods), or just doesn't seem "well" get them checked out by a general or pediatric dentist asap. Keep in mind, it's always best to be seen by a professional just to be sure. They are trained to look for these, as well as less obvious, but potentially problematic conditions. The small inconvenience is worth your peace of mind!
Caesar R. Hearne, DDS, FAGD
What to watch for: Most children are very resilient and bounce back fairly quickly after traumatic events like this, but watch for signs of infection like swollen gums around these teeth, etc. If, after a few days, your child starts to develop a fever, loss of appetite (even with soft foods), or just doesn't seem "well" get them checked out by a general or pediatric dentist asap. Keep in mind, it's always best to be seen by a professional just to be sure. They are trained to look for these, as well as less obvious, but potentially problematic conditions. The small inconvenience is worth your peace of mind!
Caesar R. Hearne, DDS, FAGD
The biggest concern is if the baby teeth were pushed upwards, as this could cause potential damage to the permanent teeth that are under the gum/bone as this time. If the baby teeth were not moved from the original position, then I would monitor them for changes in color (usually a grayish hue). The color change indicates that the nerve is damaged and dying and can result in an abscess. The abscess can negatively impact the permanent teeth. Outside of the chips being an aesthetic concern, if your child is not experiencing any discomfort, the chips do not need to be repaired. In any case, I would recommend visiting your dentist so that a baseline assessment can be obtained.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rankin
Sincerely,
Dr. Rankin
