I am very pleased with my services from the staff at 7 O’Clock Dental and Dr. Tripp. The office is very clean and I was welcomed by Crystal at the front desk that made me at ease. I had a tooth that needed to be removed and I was extremely nervous about the procedure, but Dr. Tripp assured me that I would be fine. He removed the tooth and I could not believe it when he told me he was done. It was painless and extremely quick. I would recommend 7 O’Clock Dental to anyone seeking dental treatment.
Spring can be a busy time, especially if you’re a parent! As the weather slowly begins to warm up and the days get longer, your little ones are anxious to get outside and enjoy it. Maybe you’re anxious, too, because all that rambunctious play can sometimes lead to injuries.
We know that minor scrapes and bruises are just part of being an active kid. But there are times when a harmless adventure on the swingset can turn into a dental emergency. No matter how vigilant we are when it comes to protecting our kids, these things happen.
Luckily, there’s a New Orleans dentist you can count on when they do! At 7 O’Clock Dental, you have a team of experienced professionals who understand that not every dental emergency is going to happen within standard business hours. That’s why we take walk-ins and offer extended hours throughout the week.
One of the most common dental emergencies is when a tooth has been knocked out. If your child still has all their baby teeth and one of them is knocked out, saving the tooth is not really an option. Still, you should have them evaluated by Dr. Tripp. Keep reading to find out why!
If your child is a little bit older and loses a permanent tooth, there are definitely things you can do to save that tooth. You can increase the chances of saving that tooth by following a few simple steps!
You can learn the basics of how to save a knocked out tooth on our website, but today, we’re going to go into a bit more depth if you ever find yourself in this situation!
It’s Just A Baby Tooth. Does That Matter?
Yes, it matters. If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely, there is no need to save the tooth in an emergency. Baby teeth can’t be replaced, so you shouldn’t waste time trying to find it after an accident.
Your goal in this situation should be more about comforting your child if they’re in pain and protecting them from oral infection. If your child loses a baby tooth, the first thing you should do is help them rinse out his or her mouth with cold water.
It’s also a good idea to see your dentist in this situation even though you can’t save the tooth. When a tooth is knocked out prematurely, the socket is left exposed and vulnerable to infection. If this happens, a dentist can prescribe antibiotics to help prevent an oral infection that could cause other health problems if left untreated.
A dentist can also evaluate your child to see if he or she needs a spacer. This allows a permanent tooth the room it needs to fit properly in the new gap left by the knocked out tooth.
If your child has lost a baby tooth and you’d like to have them evaluated by Dr. Tripp, give us a call right away at 504-266-0664 for an appointment!
What To Do If Your Child Loses A Permanent Tooth
If your child loses a permanent tooth, first try to locate the tooth before heading to the dentist.
Make sure you avoid handling the tooth by the root because you don’t want to damage any vital tissue.
Instead, pick up the tooth by the crown and rinse it very gently with water if it looks dirty. Don’t use soap or any other chemicals to try to clean off dirt and debris. You also shouldn’t scrub the tooth, again, because you could damage important tissue.
Next, try to put it back in its socket, holding it in place with a dry, clean washcloth or piece of gauze.
If the tooth won’t go back in its socket, you have two choices if you want to protect it from drying out:
-Soak the tooth in a cup of milk until you can be seen by the dentist.
-Place the tooth between the gum and the cheek to keep it moist.
You can also see about buying an emergency tooth preservation kit just to have on hand, especially if you have a child who’s active in sports and other physical activities.
Finally, make your way to 7 O’Clock Dental so Dr. Tripp can treat the injury safely and effectively. Give us a call at 504-266-0664 the next time you or someone in your family has a dental emergency!