Is a Knocked-Out Baby Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Accidents happen, and kids are easy targets. One moment, they’re playing happily; the next, they’ve knocked out a tooth. 

As a parent, the sight of a bloody, gaping hole in your child’s mouth can seem like a crisis. But is a knocked-out baby tooth a dental emergency? 

At Rifkin Dental in Carmel and Yorktown Heights, New York, our expert pediatric dentists understand your concerns. Here, we walk you through what to do when your child knocks out a baby tooth, when to worry, and how to keep their dental health on track.

Why baby teeth matter

Baby teeth, or primary teeth, play a big role in your child’s development. They help with chewing, speaking, and maintaining space for their adult teeth to come in later. Although temporary, baby teeth need as much care and attention as permanent teeth.

Most kids begin to lose their baby teeth around age 6 and continue until about age 12. During this period, adult teeth gradually replace baby teeth.

What to do when your child knocks out a baby tooth 

When your child knocks out a baby tooth, there’s likely a little blood and a lot of tears — don’t panic. Most knocked-out teeth aren’t dental emergencies. Here’s what to do:

Keep your child calm

First and foremost, keep your child — and yourself — calm. A knocked-out tooth can be scary, but a little reassurance from mom or dad will help them feel more secure.

Assess the damage

Look for other injuries. Check for bleeding, swelling, or signs of trauma to your child’s lips, gums, or face.

Control the bleeding

Mouth injuries tend to bleed a lot. Use a clean cloth or gauze to apply gentle pressure to the area, and the bleeding should subside within a few minutes.

Is it a dental emergency?

Deciding whether a knocked-out baby tooth is a dental emergency depends on several factors. Our pediatric dental experts recommend following these guidelines. 

It’s a dental emergency when:

There’s excessive bleeding

If the bleeding doesn’t stop within 10 minutes of applying pressure, call us or go to an urgent care facility.

Your child is experiencing severe pain

If your child is experiencing significant pain, it’s best to consult a dentist.

There are other injuries

If your child has additional injuries to their mouth, face, or head, seek medical care immediately.

It’s not a dental emergency when:

• The bleeding stops within a few minutes of direct pressure
• The pain is mild to moderate
• There are no other injuries involved

In most cases, a knocked-out baby tooth isn’t a dental emergency. However, scheduling an appointment at Rifkin Dental is still important to ensure everything is okay.

Potential complications of a knocked-out baby tooth

While losing a baby tooth before it’s ready to fall out naturally might seem like no big deal, there are a few potential complications.

Lost baby teeth can impact permanent teeth

A knocked-out baby tooth could affect the alignment and spacing of future adult teeth. Without the baby tooth to guide them, permanent teeth might come in crooked or crowded.

Risk of infection

The injury site is vulnerable to infection, so keep it clean and watch for redness, swelling, pain, and pus. 

Speech and eating problems

Losing a tooth prematurely can impact your child’s ability to speak clearly and chew food properly.

Space maintainers to the rescue

If your child loses a baby tooth too early, we may recommend a space maintainer, a dental device that keeps the gap open where your child’s baby tooth was lost to ensure enough room for their permanent tooth to come in correctly.

There are two main types of space maintainers: fixed space maintainers cemented to the adjacent teeth and removable space maintainers that pop out for easy cleaning.

Whether it's an emergency or not, a knocked-out tooth needs our professional care and assessment to prevent future problems. For top-notch pediatric dental care and some much-needed peace of mind, you can schedule an appointment online or over the phone today at our Rifkin Dental location closest to you.