My Child Has A Chipped Tooth, What Should I Do?




If your child has fallen and chipped their tooth, it can be scary. Learn what your options are in order to improve their smile. Today’s technology allows for multiple options and ultimately it will depend upon where the chipped tooth is located. Here are three suggestions from pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller. 
  1. If it is a baby tooth that is chipped it is usually recommended that it be left alone until it falls out. Another option is to have the dentist smooth the tooth and afterwards polish it. This is a viable option if the child feels sensitivity when eating and drinking.
  2. A filling can be utilized if the chip is too big to smooth. Dr. Fuller recommends using this option for permanent teeth where the chip is large.
  3. A crown may be done if the cracked portion of the tooth is larger and there is a risk of bacteria entering the pulp. A root canal may need to be done in order to clean out the infected area, and after a crown will be placed.
No one answer is the right one. The choice will depend on the professional opinion of the dentist, how much damage is done, and the location. Call Dr. Cameron Fuller today for more information.  

Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 18, 2015 at 12:44 PM

    My son fell down the other day and chipped one of his front teeth. As you say it is a baby tooth, so I am planning on just leaving it alone until it falls out on its own. I am just worried that the tooth might get infected of he might have increase sensitivity on that tooth. Would you still recommend that I take him to see our dentist just to make sure he is ok till it does fall out? http://www.mandurahdental.com.au

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownMarch 24, 2015 at 6:30 AM

      Hello,
      I would recommend you call his pediatric dentist and have it looked at just encase. It may be nothing but a quick check can ensure that is the situation and that there isn't something more going on.

      Delete
  2. Avalaurie86March 23, 2015 at 3:33 PM

    I had a lot of cases where I chipped a tooth. I was a pretty crazy dare devil back then. My parents decided to leave it because it was going to fall anyways. I do remember having a little bit of a lisp for awhile though. http://www.aboutfaceortho.com.au/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownMarch 24, 2015 at 6:30 AM

      Hello,
      Yes, chipped teeth can impact kids differently.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Your comment will be approved after it has been read by one of our staff.

Popular posts from this blog

What is a dental abscess?

Image
One of the most common conditions affecting children's teeth are dental abscesses.  Children with severe cavities often have teeth that abscess.  Abscess of lower left primary tooth.  NOTE the tissue swelling on the tooth. Radiograph of abscess on middle tooth.  Note the dark outline of the short root. Dental abscesses often start out as large cavities on the teeth. Once the cavity invades the pulp of the tooth the infection spreads to the bone. At that point the tooth is no longer salvageable. A dental abscess is a swelling of the tissue around an infected tooth. The following symptoms may result from a dental abscess.  Children can often present with facial swelling, fever,  altered eating habits, poor concentration, poor sleep patterns, breathing problems, and general malaise. The treatment that is always recommended is antibiotics and extraction. 
Read more

A gap between the teeth

Image
When your baby’s teeth first begin to come in and you notice that gap between their teeth when they smile, the family may coo that it’s cute. "However, it is very important that if your child has a gap in their teeth due to a maxillary frenum, or another reason, that it be corrected," says pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller. Your child’s education, speech and self-confidence is dependent upon it being corrected at an early age.             As your child gets older they are working on saying certain sounds. Children who are younger than five should be developing the ability to say all of the sounds. After five if these sounds are not solidified it will make it much more difficult for them to learn to correctly speak. “And by age seven if the sounds are not correct they run the risk of never being able to say them correctly,” says Dr. Cameron Fuller . By age five and six your child should be able to say th...
Read more

Baby teeth: What you should know.

The importance of oral health for a child is paramount.  So many aspects of a child's development depend on a healthy oral environment. At pediatric dentistry of Redlands we specialize in children's oral health, especially prevention. Here is a quick read from CNN on " Baby's teeth: What you should Know ."  
Read more