Chipped, Cracked, or Broken Teeth
Seeing your child’s vulnerable mouth with chipped, cracked, or broken teeth can make any parent stressed. The team at Kid Grins in Edina, MN, is ready to help in any pediatric dental emergency to stop any pain and correct acute dental problems, whether a baby tooth or permanent tooth are affected.
Why Broken Baby Teeth Are a Dental Emergency
It’s easy to assume that chipped, cracked, or broken teeth in kids aren’t a big deal, especially if they affect a baby tooth that will be lost anyway, but every tooth has a role to play.
- Whether front teeth or molars, baby teeth serve as placeholders for permanent teeth. It’s important to keep them in place for as long as possible.
- Dental restorations for chipped, cracked, or broken teeth ensure that your child has strong, healthy teeth that function properly, are free of pain, and look nice.
- A baby tooth extraction might seem like the easiest choice for a problem tooth, but your pediatric dentist may suggest restorative dentistry options to address dental emergencies and protect alignment.
Pediatric Restorative Dentistry for Damaged Teeth
The location of a damaged tooth, the severity of the damage, and whether a baby or adult tooth is affected are taken into consideration when it comes to pediatric restorative dentistry. Never assume a baby tooth will fall out eventually and doesn’t need dental care. Here’s why:
- You can’t see the depths and layers of any tooth, but dental x-rays make it clear what’s happening under the gumline.
- Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth leave enamel susceptible to bacteria and food particles, which can lead to even more severe and painful dental problems.
- It’s essential to treat any chipped, cracked, or broken teeth as dental emergencies and get necessary repairs so the rest of your child’s oral health isn’t negatively affected.
Kids may bite down wrong when eating, grind their teeth, eat a hard food, or get hit in the mouth. Any amount of dental damage no matter how small is problematic. If your child complains of any level of tooth pain, call your pediatric dentist immediately.
Emergency Dental Care for Chipped, Cracked, or Broken Teeth
A damaged tooth is a dental emergency and your pediatric dentist will want to know what caused your child’s current problem before proceeding with a recommended restoration such as:
- Dental crown. This popular, reliable dental option delivers a cap for a damaged tooth that blends into your child’s smile in shape, size, and color. A crown conceals a problem tooth and protects it from further destruction.
- Tooth-colored filling. When a tooth is not severely compromised, a tooth-colored filling can be coated onto a tooth until it’s built back to original shape and size.
- Tooth extraction. Though a last resort, extraction is only recommended if a baby tooth is damaged badly. Your dentist will do all he can to prevent neighboring teeth from moving into its place.
Get Emergency Pediatric Dentistry for Chipped, Cracked, or Broken Teeth in Edina
While it can be scary to see your child’s tooth in poor condition, jagged or broken, try not to panic. Call your dentist right away and get emergency dental help. Try not to wait too long to call or visit your dentist to avoid additional complications. Even if your child doesn’t complain of pain, that doesn’t mean the problem is gone. True dental emergencies cannot correct themselves.
If your child has chipped, cracked, or broken teeth, contact Dr. Mitchell Loeb and his team in Edina, MN. Our gentle pediatric dental team is prepared to help your child through any dental emergency so they feel confident about getting a restoration and repairing their smile.
