Is A Broken Baby Tooth An Emergency?

A broken tooth is one of the most common types of dental emergencies. However, when it’s a baby tooth, parents might understandably wonder if it poses the same level of concern.

After all, the baby tooth will fall on its own sooner or later. So does a broken baby tooth make that much of a difference?

Well, even if it’s a baby tooth, it’s very important to take your child to a pediatric dentist as soon as possible. But whether it’s an emergency or not will depend on some factors.

Signs Your Child Is Experiencing a Dental Emergency

Broken, cracked, or chipped baby teeth aren't always serious. A lot of the time, the child can wait until a regular appointment.

However, if the child is experiencing any of the following symptoms, swift care may be necessary:

1. Pain

If your child broke their tooth during a fall or any other type of accident, they will also experience some pain and start crying.

But once the emotions wear down a bit, ask the child if their tooth is hurting. If it does, and the area also begins to swell, the damage might be more severe, and an emergency appointment is needed.

2. Bleeding

Oral bleeding is another common reason to see an emergency dentist. You can apply a gauze to try and control it, and if the damage is minor the bleeding should stop in a few hours.

If that’s not the case, the child likely needs to see a dentist right away.

3. Trouble Breathing

If the child has trouble breathing, they need to be taken to the emergency room right away. They may have swallowed the piece of tooth that broke off and is now obstructing their airway.

How Are Broken Baby Teeth Fixed?

Fixing a broken baby tooth can depend on the extent of the damage, but it can usually be done in the following ways:

• Reattachment - Some broken teeth can be glued back together, so if you can find the piece, bring it with you to the child’s appointment;

• Filling or bonding - Dental resin can be used to reconstruct the tooth and restore its strength;

• Dental crown - If the damage is severe, the tooth might need a dental crown placed on top of it;

• Extraction - In some cases, the broken tooth just cannot be saved, and the dentist will recommend an extraction. The child might also need a space maintainer as a result to preserve the space for the permanent tooth

Dealing with a Dental Emergency? Don’t Wait for a Regular Appointment

If your child is dealing with a broken tooth or any other kind of dental emergency, Dr. Julia and Dr. Chun are here to provide swift care.

Call us at (832) 305-6507 today for immediate oral healthcare.

For a regular visit, you can book your appointment at Cavity Patrol Pediatric Dentistry online.