If you are a senior considering dental implants, you may have to worry about issues other dental patients don't have to think about. For example, you may need more time to recover after receiving your implants. My name is Jodi, and I've been working with seniors for years. I decided to create this blog to help the seniors I can't meet in person. In this space, I'm going to post entries on everything related to dental implants and seniors. From tips on flossing implants after arthritis has claimed some of your dexterity, to guiding you through the implants-vs-dentures debate, this blog is designed for you. Thanks for reading. I hope you find what you need!
When we're busy juggling our day-to-day responsibilities, it's easy to push aside those regular dental ch
A chipped or broken tooth can be both alarming and painful. Whether due to an injury, a blow to the face
A beautiful and confident smile plays an important role in your life. Cosmetic dentistry offers the oppor
Taking your child to the dentist can be a daunting task for any parent. The experience can be especially
Cracking a tooth can be a painful and distressing experience. If you find yourself in this unfortunate si
If an adult has an accident and knocks out a tooth, dental advice typically recommends putting the tooth straight back in its socket. With subsequent help from a dentist, teeth may be saved and re-positioned permanently. However, dentists do not recommend that you reinsert a baby tooth after it has been knocked out accidentally, as you may do more harm than good.
Why Shouldn't You Reinsert Baby Teeth?
Your child's baby teeth sit under adult teeth. According to the Better Health Channel, you shouldn't try to put a baby tooth back in place, because you may cause some damage. For example, if the tooth reconnects to the socket, it may not fall out correctly when the adult tooth is ready to come through. You may also damage the permanent tooth under the baby tooth.
What Should You Do With a Knocked Out Baby Tooth?
Although you may think that you can ignore a knocked out baby tooth, because the tooth would have fallen out at some point anyway, it's best to talk to your dentist to see if your child needs to be checked out.
For example, your dentist may want to check that all of the tooth came out. If parts of it are left in the jaw, they may affect the permanent teeth. Also, according to the South Australia Children and Youth Health website, there is a possibility that a bad injury may affect the bone, as well as knocking out the tooth.
Tip: If you still have the tooth, bag it up in case your dentist wants to see it. Once your dentist has looked at the tooth, it can go to the Tooth Fairy!
If the tooth that was knocked out was wobbly or close to the end of its natural life, your dentist may not need to do anything else, leaving the gap to fill naturally with its permanent tooth. However, if your child knocks out a baby tooth too early, your dentist may recommend a space maintainer.
Space maintainers prevent the teeth around the gap from moving to fill the space, making it easier for permanent teeth to erupt in the right position. Certain teeth, such as some top front teeth, typically don't need spacing help; others may, especially if your child's teeth are already crowded. If your child is very young, your dentist may recommend a fixed maintainer; older children may get a temporary device.
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