Kid's Teeth

[2long]

My 3-year-ol daughter fell over and got herself a fat lip. My wife's convinced that the front two are loose but I can feel no movement.

If she's right, what are members' opinions re teeth in kids having some movement, fixing themselves etc.

Yes, a trip to the dentist or doctor would be obvious advice, but I really can't feel anything and promised the Mrs to do something and little one REALLY doesn't want to go.

[Boo]

My best friends litle girl took a tumble on the pavement & ended up with one of her front teeth twisted up through her lip (she was nearly 4 so not 2nd set tooth yet) the hospital dentist removed the tooth & said that as there was no root damage it didn't matter that she lost the tooth early & it wouldn't affect her 2nd tooth coming through when it was ready.

Dont' kow what you should get from this but am just relaying 2nd hand info from a Uk dentist on a similar if more extreme story But imo if you can't feel them loose & your lo is ok & not suffering pain when eating etc then why make a mountain out of a mole hill

[2long]

Thank you. I agree, and we'll see in the coming days.

[bjsanook]

Kids fall all the time. The main concerns are if the tooth is driven upward towards the permenant tooth or if it is severely luxated (moved) then it may die. Then always look at the soft tissues-lips, as some of the bad damage is over looked due to fixating on the teeth. Lacerations can not be sutured after 12 hours normally. Also a thru and thru laceration needs antibiotics.

If the child isn't in pain, then just watch. It may darken over time from internal bleeding. The blood dries on the inside and since blood contains iron, it gets dark. No real problems usually. Avoid apples, go to soft foods for a few days.

I try to avoid extracting primary teeth early due to several reasons: They help guide the permanant teeth, maintain the arch and relationship of other teeth and last, sometimes a thicker scar like tissue develops and can delay the eruption of the permenant tooth. Then the child need to be anesthetized and a small incision made to allow free movement to erupt.

BJ