Last night my 18-month old son slipped in the bathtub, fell forward, and chipped his front top tooth on the edge of the tub. It's not a bad chip but the tooth is a little rough now. It doesn't appear to bother him, no blood etc. I called our dentist this morning to see what, if anything should be done. I was just wondering if any other moms have had similar experiences and what the outcome was. Did they try and smooth or repair the tooth? Or do they generally just let it go, assuming no major damage?
Thanks for your responses everyone! I talked to a pediatric dentist in town and she said what a lot of you said - since it didn't seem too bad, wasn't discolored, and didn't bother him, we can just keep an eye on it for a few weeks and that it was probably fine. She also mentioned that since he was approaching the age when he might have a first dentist visit, we can always come in in a few weeks and they can check it when they do a first visit. I'm feeling much better about the whole thing now :)
Im sorry....poor baby.......
I work at a dental office, but its an adult only office, but i can ref you to a pedio that we ref patients to and this is also the dentis that i take my boys to.....She is amazing the office is so kid friendly....
Dr. Mary Tierney
4700 N Western
60625
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You can also call and see what they sug you do..
Yeah, my poor clumsey little boy at 15 months kept landing on his face and as a result he has a chipped tooth (and a scar from stiches but that's another story).... If you end up smoothing it out it makes the tooth smaller and really, if it isn't sharpe or a large chip, its just cosmetic and at this age kinda silly in my opinion. We did nothing. Funny thing is I chipped my front tooth at maybe 8 yrs old and never had it fixed until my 20's. Don't worry so much : )
I would recommend taking him just to make sure there isn't additional damage. My girlfriend's daughter fell and loosened several of her teeth. She told me they took her in and the emergency dentist wanted to do X-rays to make sure there wasn't damage beyond the chipped tooth.
I'm a fan of better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to something like teeth. Good luck, hope everything is okay!!
Hey K.,
My 5 year old chiped her front tooth at about the same age. She has an overbite so it seems like everytime she would fall she would hit her teeth. All I had to do was watch for discoloring of her teeth. Over the years they have gotten yellow on one and grey on the other she has gone to 4 different dentist and most of them said it would be fine the 3rd one said he wanted to pull it that it was no big deal just the tooth was dead I did not want it pulled its a front tooth and she has 2 to 3 more years before the adult tooth would come in so I took her to a true childrens dentist and he refused to pull it because the baby teeth are important to guide the baby teeth in, so he basically did a root canal it took about an hour and she had no problems he tooth is now white and beautiful. The chip is nothing to worry about just the color change if any. Now he might not be able to bite into an apple or corn on the cob but thats no biggy We have to cut all that stuff for our daughter. So i would say just watch it and make sure it doesn't change color. My daughters didn't change right away it happened over the years. And moreso in the back of the tooth than the front. Hope this helps.
mine did the same on a wooden step. It took a good corner off the inside of the front tooth. The dentist (a pediatric dentist) looked at it and been watching it to make sure there would be no color change of the tooth or swelling in the gumline. His was a bit sharp so she added a little bonding to the tooth----not for cosmetic reasons, but just to make sure if/when he falls again that the tooth would not cut or go into his lip. that was a bit traumatic for a 16 month old. I had to hold him laying down in my lap and across to her lap and really hold him down to keep him still. Not fun! But he was fine and it did help. It never hurts to just have it checked out to make sure there is not more trauma than we know.
I had a similar experience with my daughter who chipped a front tooth on a table leg at daycare. I took her to the dentist at the time and he said it was fine. Unfortunately, the tooth died (she killed the root in her fall) so it turned a bit discolored. Several years later, we moved and I joined a new dental practice who took x-rays of the tooth, said infection was forming and could damage the permanent tooth and it had to be removed. That was about a year ago and everything is fine. I guess the net of the story is, make sure they take x-rays. They may not want to remove it now, but it may need to be done later to not damage his permanent teeth.
Hi,
Take him to the dentist. They can possibly smooth it out and bond it to prevent further damange.
k
Hi K.,
This happend to my daughter last summer in the pool. Hers was a permanent tooth so they did of course repair it. They just sealed it with a resin type of material and made it look good. They don't do crowns on children. I see your son is 18 months though. They will probably still do the same thing so it looks good! Our insurance covered most of it. If you don't have dental insurance it still won't be that expensive.
Hope this helps and good luck!
My son did the exact same thing at this age. He has a very small chip on his first tooth. I talked to my dentist and she said that as long as the gum doesn't become red, swollen, or discolored and if the tooth doesn't become discolored than everything is fine. She didn't recommend coming in to smooth the tooth out yet because of his age. She said she didn't want to scare him to going to the dentist at such a young age. She said after he comes to the office for a few trial visits and then has his first check up, at around 2, then she would look at smoothing the tooth out. I thought her advice made a lot of sense and he hasn't had any issues. Of course if the tooth is super sharp or becomes discolored then go in. Otherwise no worries!!
My daughter chipped her tooth as well. They just let it go since it was a baby tooth. Eventually as they use it more, it gets to be less rough. It looks funny, but really there is no problem with it. If it becomes loose and comes out prematurely, then you probably should get to a dentist. If the adult tooth isn't ready to come in, it could cause some crowding!
Hope this helps!
I would bring him in to the dentist. The dentist can check the tooth and make sure there is no nerve damage and maybe smooth it out. The bathtub is such a scary place. I just found a bathmat that I hope works (our tubs don't accept suction cups). I have read from other moms that there may be nothing they can do and it may over a little time be discolored.
I did with my oldest, mind you this was 13yrs ago though. Her's was kinda bad that they had to put her under and place a cap on it. They don't really like to remove baby teeth as they will shift and leave no room for the adult teeth. Doc may just wait and see if it discolors before he does anything. If they do need to work on it; most likely he will have to be put out or sedated! My second had to just be sedated to work on her chipped tooth. That was actually funny... she was halucinating and seeing Barney jump out of the TV. ok, perhaps I have a weird sense of humor! You have to have it with kids though! I am sure he'll be fine in what ever the doc has to do though. Good luck! been there twice!!
H.
mom to four great kids!!
Hello! I would just keep an eye on it. My son did this to both top front teeth within weeks of each other. Only minor chipping done on the metal bars at the park. Over a year later no discoloration and the roughness wears off quickly. If this is the worst thing that could happen to your toddler be thankful. Don't worry, he will be fine! Good luck with the new baby on the way! :)
It depends on the damage to the tooth. If it is just a tiny chip they may just leave it or smooth it out, which shouldn't hurt. You have the enamel, then the dentin (which is softer) and then the canal for the nerve. The closer you get to the nerve the more sensitive it is. If he has broken it close to the nerve then it will twinge whenever hot or cold hits it and it will leave more suseptible to tooth decay. He probably is fine if he isn't complaining about pain and it isn't loose or cutting him. He is going to have that tooth for at least 4 more years, it is worthwhile to have it checked out. IMO. =)
Hi K.,
I work in a dental office and typically the doctor does want to see the patient to ensure no major damage. It sounds like you did the right thing getting your son in. I'd keep an eye on it to make sure nothing changes with it (i.e. discoloration, etc.) He'll have his front teeth until he's about 5 or 6yrs old.
Thanks!
