Popular media has made tooth loss seem like an exciting experience for kids, highlighted by whimsical encounters with the Tooth Fairy. But, what happens if a permanent tooth is lost due to trauma? Unlike the fictional existence of the coveted fairy, nothing is magical about premature tooth loss.

The Case of the Premature Tooth Loss in Children

There are two possible kinds of tooth loss during childhood: one that involves the loss of a baby tooth, and one that involves the loss of a permanent tooth.

On average, baby teeth begin to erupt from your child’s gums at age six months, though the actual age of eruption does vary. As the child grows and develops, a baby tooth naturally sheds and is replaced by a permanent tooth.

The loss of a baby tooth is often dismissed as an insignificant event, under the opinion that a permanent one will come in and replace it anyway. However, protecting baby teeth is important as it maintains the spacing for permanent teeth and increases the likelihood of permanent teeth coming out straight.

The problem is most parents, and caretakers do not know what to do with a trauma-induced tooth loss, and thus cannot properly respond to the injury. Without proper treatment, premature tooth loss can affect their child’s oral health permanently.

One other misconception is that a permanent tooth, lost due to trauma can always be replanted. Specific actions must be taken for this to work, such as storing the tooth properly and taking the patient to the dentist immediately. The success of replanting depends on the amount of trauma and the length of time that the tooth has been gone from the mouth.

Proper Management of Tooth Loss Following a Trauma

Children are prone to losing permanent teeth prematurely because their gums and tooth roots are still developing. The more active your child becomes, the higher the chances of dental trauma. We highlight some important pointers to help you deal with cases of trauma:

• Stay calm.
• Carefully assess the injury.
• Clean the lost tooth by rinsing it off with milk and replant in its socket immediately.
• Try to control the bleeding.
• Seek professional help. The sooner, the better.
• Hold the tooth in place en-route to your dentist’s practice.

While many treatments are available to ease the effects of tooth loss, such as aligners and dental implants, preserving the natural tooth is always the best option. For reversible cases, we offer a range of advanced treatments that restore your teeth’s function and appearance.

In cases where tooth loss is an effect of advanced decay or injury, rehabilitation is possible with dental implants. Dental implants are pure titanium tooth roots that are placed into the bone and designed to function as natural tooth roots. They preserve bone and arrest bone resorption and deterioration, which occur following a tooth loss. They also reduce the load on remaining teeth by providing independent support and retention to crowns, overdentures or bridgework.

To find out if dental implants in Knowle Solihull are right for you, consult us today for an initial assessment.