Traumatic dental injuries are common among children; they can result from an accident or a sports injury. The injury can be minor, a simple fracture, or severe in which the tooth becomes totally dislodged from the socket. Yet, do you know that even in that last case, the dentist can return the tooth back to its normal position? In this article, you will learn the necessary steps if you have witnessed any traumatic dental injury, maybe you can become a smile saver for a child one day!
Dental injuries affect 1–3% of the population, with 12-year-old boys having the highest prevalence since they are more active and participate in more sports at that age, which increases their risk of dental injuries. Although it is challenging to prevent dental injuries, contact sports, such as American football, ice hockey, boxing, and rugby, seem to show encouraging potential for prevention with the use of well fitted, custom-made mouthguards(1)(2).
If you ever see a tooth being completely knocked out of its socket, knowing the right steps could mean saving that tooth and preserving someone’s smile for a lifetime.
- Stay calm and reassure the child.
- Make sure that the child is conscious and there is not any other severe injury.
- Check to make sure that it is a permanent tooth—primary teeth should not be replanted.
- Handle with care. Pick up the tooth by its top, the crown, which is the white part. Be careful not to touch the root, as it has delicate fibers that are essential for reattaching the tooth.
- Clean it gently. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it for about 10 seconds under cool, running water. After cleaning, try to put the tooth back into its socket. To hold it in place, have the person bite down on a clean cloth or handkerchief.
- Store it safely if replanting is not possible. If you cannot put the tooth back in its place, it is crucial to keep it moist. The best options are a glass of milk or a saline solution. You can also have the patient hold the tooth inside their mouth, between their cheek and molars. For a young child who might accidentally swallow it, a safer option is to have them spit into a container and then place the tooth in it.
- Never store a tooth in water. Plain water is harmful to the tooth's surface cells. This irreversible damage significantly reduces the chances of the tooth being successfully re-implanted.
- Get immediate dental help. Call your dentist or an emergency dental clinic right away. The sooner you get professional treatment, the better the chance of saving the tooth.
- Even if only a small fragment of the tooth is broken, try to find it and keep it to give it to the dentist so the dentist can reattach it again.
- Give the tooth to the dentist when you arrive at the dental clinic so that it can be replanted in its original position(3)(4).
Dental emergencies may strike in a moment, but the impact can last a lifetime. By staying calm, acting quickly, and knowing the right steps, you can turn a traumatic injury into a story of recovery and resilience. Whether it is a child on the playground or a teammate on the field, your knowledge could be the difference between a lost tooth and a saved smile. Be a smile saver.
References
clinicalkey.com
onlinelibrary.wiley.com