K.Y. asks from Wexford, PA on December 06, 2007
2 Yr Old Chipped Front Tooth?!?
My 26 month old son just chipped the corner off his top right front tooth. We have an appointment to take him to a pediatric dentist for an X-ray tomorrow. Has anyone ever been through this? And what will they do? It doesn't appear to have damaged the nerve, but cosmetically it looks horrible...(in my eyes! DH says otherwise!) I just hate to have him look like this for 4 more years until his tooth falls out!
Thanks for any advice! =)
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P.E. answers from Panama City on December 07, 2007
Does the chipped tooth bother the child or just Mom? If the dentist says it is okay, just the looks are off, leave it alone, Do not bring up the subject to the child to make him selfconscience. Make up a pretend story.. While I was chasing king kong, he dropped me and my tooth chipped, but we're still buddies. It's so far fetched that it isn't a lie but a make believe story.
Mom you have the problem not the child, get over it! And hopr that is the worse thing that ever happens to him.
C.B. answers from Orlando on December 07, 2007
I had this happen. Every child/situation is different. My six yr old has had his two front teeth missing since he was 2...he slammed them out on the pavement....now his bottom two teeth finally fell out on their own...so he is a cute toothless kid! No big deal...its charming...the dentist will offer numerous scenarious..you pick and choose. They are the baby teeth...so they'll fall out eventually...anyway. ENJOY the photos! Priceless!
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B.D. answers from Tampa on December 07, 2007
well with my sonwhen he chipped his tooth they did nothing as it was his baby tooth and it wasnt decaying.
with my daughter they fixed hers because it was a permanant tooth even though there wasnot decaying.
Its hard to say but usually if it is not causing a problem and its a baby tooth they wont bother with it.
B.H. answers from Tampa on December 06, 2007
My two year old chipped her front tooth as well. I don't even know when or how she did it because she never told me about it, and she wasn't in any pain. I took her to the dentist as well, and he said that as long as she wasn't in any pain, not to worry about it. It may be more cosmetic and won't bother him!
J.S. answers from Orlando on December 07, 2007
If it's not bothering him, then don't worry about it. My beautiful daughter did the exact same thing exept it was a bottom tooth and it didn't hurt the nerve, so we did nothing b/c it didn't bother her. the only thing a dentist will do is file it down to a smooth edge so he doesn't cut his tounge on the jagged tooth. Good luck
F.R. answers from Pensacola on December 07, 2007
They can put some filling on it and shape it to look like it normally does if you want them to. It'd really be your decision since it is considered cosmetic. Since he's so young, I would personally do the filling. He has a while to go before it would fall out on his own.
K.S. answers from Tampa on December 07, 2007
Hi- I am a dental hygienist who used to work in a Pedo ofc in Palm Harbor. They'll take an xray to determine the extent of the damage & then they can schedule an appt to repair it, probably by bonding it. If the fracture isn't into pulp chamber, then they most likely won't need to even numb him up to do the repair. Don't despair, it's not uncommon...we saw chipped teeth on a daily basis!
Another note, you should have an xray & then another in about a year for follow-up & so on...there is always the possibility that the trauma can cause damage to the underlying permanent tooth, ie discoloration, but you won't know that until it comes in, around 6-8 yrs. The primary tooth may also turn colors eventually, but sometimes it doesn't show until later. A reputable pedo dentist should inform you about what all to look out for over time.
S.S. answers from Sarasota on December 07, 2007
I had a corner put on my son's permanent tooth and it was fine. The Dr. just said if he bites on a piece of pizza and pulls then it would come off. Pizza is junk so he hardly ever ate it. "What else would you have to be careful of ?" is a good question to ask the Dr. I think that the tooth needs to stay there for spacing of the others and if the dr says no to that I could be wrong or you may need another opinion. Or it may be good to know that before you go in. As for a new corner if it comes off when he eats then he might swallow it. You might get used to how it looks.
good luck
S.
T.R. answers from Orlando on December 07, 2007
My son chipped his tooth at around 2 as well. I took him to a dentist but because of health concerns no one wanted to touch him. Now it is almost a year later and his tooth is in VERY bad shape. Now I am almost afraid what they will do next year. When I took him to the doctor to ask advice about dentists she said to leave it alone, it was a baby tooth and he would loose them early because he got them early. Now the poor thing has this nasty brown tooth right in the front. If I could go back I would ask them to do something instead of waiting. But I know at this young age there are few options. Either you have to hold him in your lap and basically hold him down, or I have seen where they use this straight jacket looking thing to hold them. Scarey. Good luck, I know this is so hard.
L.O. answers from Jacksonville on December 07, 2007
This also happened to a son of a friend of mine. She took him to the dentist and since there was no nerve damage they told her that it could just stay as it was. If it really bothers you, they would probably file it down but then it won't match with the other front tooth. My friend decided that it added to her sons "rugged good looks" and is just leaving it alone until is falls out.
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