14 answers

B.W. asks from Austin, TX on January 17, 2012

2 Year Old Falls on Payment, Entire Front Tooth Comes Out.

My little boy fell earlier today when we were getting out of the truck to go to the park, he fell on his front tooth/lip area and it has swollen up to enormous proportions. He has had a similar injury a year ago but his tooth was fine, and much less swelling. I wish I could post pictures so that you could fully understand my dilemma. I have called our Pediactric dentist who assured me that, other than doing an X-ray to make sure the entire tooth came out (it did) that there is nothing anyone can do. There isn't any cut, just huge huge swollen upper lip, roughed up skin, and a hole where his tooth should be. Does anyone know if there is something I'm missing that I should be doing? Have washed and cleaned the mouth, brushed teeth...even had him rinse with salt water and he is sleeping now. Anyone think a trip to the Dr is in order? What really could they do?

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So What Happened?™

Wow this was my first go using this site, and I was overwhelmed with the helpful and supportive answers I received. Thank you guys so much, its nice to sometimes be reassured when your mommy brain won't let the guilt go that there HAS to be more that you can do to help your child. His lip is much less swollen and we are finally catching glimpses of his now toothless grin which is still adorable of course. He feels great, lots of frozen fruit and popsicles, and other than that he is fine! I'll keep an eye on it the next few days, and yes we did make sure all day that he didn't suck on even his sippy cup because of the blog clot scare i had with wisdom teeth. Dry Socket is the worst so I knew already what to watch for there...so glad i got little reminders through the day. Thank you all again so much!

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M.M. answers from Detroit on January 17, 2012

Ouch! Poor little guy. As long as he didn't hit any other body parts and he's not complaining of unreasonable pain, I'd watch how he heals and take him to the pediatrician if the swelling doesn't go down or if you notice anything that could hint of an infection (fever, warmth of area, continued swelling).
You could freeze some wet washcloths in a ziplock bag to use as compresses for when he wakes up. Might feel less dramatic on his face than a regular icepack.
Good luck!

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M.T. answers from Memphis on January 17, 2012

This happened to me when I was that age. The dentist (not a MD) put a spacer in for a couple of years to make sure that there would be room for my permanent tooth to grow into place. As for the intial first aid stuff it sounds like you did everything.

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L._. answers from San Diego on January 17, 2012

Didn't the dentist tell you that you need to put a spacer in? What about a bridge or false tooth or something? It's going to be years until the big one comes in.

I'm so sorry that your little one is going through this, and you too.

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C.B. answers from Boston on January 17, 2012

Ooo, I am so sorry, that must have freaked you and him out. I still shudder when I think about my 5 year old walking up to me screaming and blood/drool covering her whole front red. My daughter ripped out her 2 front teeth on a moonwalk after she somehow bit the netting while jumping. I called 911 since I just did not know what to do, but they seemed only concerned with if she had passed out or hit her head, which she didn't. We went to the dentist who said that if the whole root was still there he could re-insert it (the root was already getting re-sorbed into the permanent tooth in the gum above it). However, with a 2 year old there might be a risk of choking if you were to insert a loose tooth. I would see the dentist to make sure nothing in the gums is damaged (we went to make sure the permanent teeth that were still in the gums were OK and they were). Apart from that, and the possible spacer to prevent other teeth from "tipping over" into the open space, there is not much to be done. My daughter had a nice gap-toothed smile for about 6 months when finally her permanent teeth started to come in. Yours will have a gap for a lot longer.

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C.P. answers from Columbia on January 17, 2012

It's a front tooth which means that it'll be among the first to be replaced naturally by a permanent tooth. I would get him to the dentist soon just to ensure that everything looks okay and make sure that he doesn't need anything there until the permament tooth comes in.

Poor baby! And poor momma! Hugs to you both.

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D.B. answers from Dallas on January 17, 2012

When my son knocked his tooth loose (it didn't fall out though), my friend who is a pediatric dentist told me the same thing. Definitely keep it clean like you're doing to avoid infection. It doesn't sound like you need to go to the Dr, but personally whenever I'm in doubt, I go. Maybe watch it for a day or two and see if your anxiety about it eases? If not, then take him in. So sorry for your little guy!

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M.M. answers from Detroit on January 17, 2012

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J.✰. answers from San Antonio on January 17, 2012

ice for swelling

no bleeding? So no stitches.

If there is an infection, you'll know it in the next couple days. But otherwise no, I don't think there's anything to do.

So sorry this happened. Sounds awful! (You could post one pic to your profile if you wanted, then change your profile pic in a few days).

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M.P. answers from Portland on January 17, 2012

You could call the advice nurse. But, I doubt that they'll need to see him. I doubt that there is anything that they can do.

Ice on it will help bring the swelling down.

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G.G. answers from Austin on January 18, 2012

Sounds like he is doing better already. If you suspect there is any pain, ibuprofen to reduce inflammation, of course. As for the tooth, I know someone who dealt with this and the dentist can replace the tooth (with a fake one) for somewhere between $300-$600. If it doesn't bother you too much, than don't even mess with it. Just so you know the option is there.

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J.T. answers from Victoria on January 18, 2012

His tooth will grow back but not for awhile. My son busted his lip at dc and we NEVER figured out what happened. It was nap time and all we could figure was when he was told to lay back down he smashed his face on the base board. Any way he still had his teeth but his lip was busted and skin was dangeling . He healed well but we should have had a stitch put in as his lip hangs slightly funny now. If it bothers him when he is an adult I would support him in having it fixed. But its really not noticable.

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J.T. answers from College Station on January 19, 2012

Just let the swelling go down and then take him into the dentist to have his mouth checked out. You are most likely NOT missing anything. Its not a perminent tooth, so it is not a big deal. The dentist may want to put in a fake tooth as a spacer to maker sure that his mouth growth appropriately to fit his adult teeth.

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G.B. answers from Oklahoma City on January 17, 2012

I don't know what a doc could do except give an antibiotic to prevent infection but really, he may not even need one.

Don't let him suck, it will pull out any blood clot that is in the hole. The clot is covering the nerve endings and will eventually turn into the gums that cover the hole.

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L.G. answers from McAllen on January 19, 2012

This happened to my daughter when she was three she had silver caps and feel right on her face and all four teeth broke off I did take her to a pediatric dentist to make sure their were no particles left inside that could damage her new teeth and they did check her and they ended up pulling the rest of the teeth out and she was fine. they sudated her and gave me some creme like ambesol and they offered cosmetic teeth so she wouldnt be without her missing teeth, but she is 7 now and she is fine her teeth came in on year early due to no obstruction and shes doing fine. I know how scary it can be but just keep his lip clean and wash with warm water you could have him suck on a popsicle or slushie that helps alot.

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K.R. answers from Houston on January 18, 2012

He will need a spacer (a fake tooth to match the real one, attached to back teeth with a wire hidden behind the other teeth) to keep the other teeth next to it from crowding into that spot and to prevent speech problems. My son rolled out of a toddler bed and knocked both of his front teeth out when he was three. The trauma caused a delay in the arrival of his adult teeth, so the spacer stayed in for four years, but we never had a problem with it, just an occassional re-cementing of the metal bands in the back to hold it in. It cost $250 about 10 years ago and should prevent him from being self-conscious about his smile so it really is priceless.

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