Expert dental tips, news, and smile advice
Expert dental tips, news, and smile advice
You’re packing the car when you hear the thud. Your eight-year-old sprints in, hand over mouth, eyes glossy. There’s blood, a gap, and a tiny white shard in a tissue. Your mind flips through options—urgent care? ice? do we shove it back in? You want a straight answer, fast.
You’re not alone. At CrossRoads Pediatric Dentistry in Dallas, GA, we coach families through this exact moment every week. The right actions in the first 30 minutes can save a permanent tooth, minimize pain, and reduce future treatment. Below is the clear, parent-language guide we give our own friends and neighbors—no scare tactics, just what works.
Most dental choices hinge on this. A knocked-out baby tooth usually should not be replanted; a knocked-out permanent tooth often should—and time matters.
Fast guidance you can trust:
• Permanent tooth out? Pick it up by the crown (the white part), gently rinse with milk or saline, reinsert in the socket if your child will cooperate, and see a pediatric dentist within 30 minutes.
• Baby tooth out? Do not reinsert. Control bleeding with gauze, keep the area clean, and call us for an exam to protect the developing adult tooth.
For immediate steps and after-hours instructions, bookmark our page on what to do in a dental emergency.
When a fracture is deep or a baby molar is badly compromised, a durable restoration prevents ongoing pain. If you’ve heard crowns are only for adults, take a look at our overview of tooth-colored crowns for kids.
Teeth are living tissue. When a permanent tooth dries out, the ligament cells on the root die quickly; that reduces the chance of long-term survival even if we get it back in place. For baby teeth, the calculus changes: shoving a baby tooth back can damage the developing adult tooth bud. That’s why the advice differs—and why a quick call to a pediatric dentist is worth its weight in calm.
Did You Know?
For permanent teeth, 15–30 minutes is the golden window. For baby teeth, the goal is protection—not replantation.
You’ll arrive; we’ll greet your child by name and get them comfy. Then we’ll:
If a back baby tooth is lost early from trauma or extraction, we’ll discuss whether a space maintainer is needed so neighbors don’t drift into that spot. Learn more about space maintainers after early tooth loss.
And a small thing that matters: talk about the day without replaying the scare. Kids take emotional cues from you; a calm, “You did great and we have a plan,” helps healing too.
If you’re holding a tooth—or not sure what you’re looking at—call (770) 738-5437 and head our way. You could also book your visit online and we’ll create a personalized dental plan and mouthguard recommendations if needed.
Discover the best solution for your smile at Fortson Dentistry. Schedule your appointment now and let our expert team guide you to a confident, healthy smile.
Sometimes a chip is more than a chip. If a molar loses a big chunk or a crack threatens the nerve, a pediatric crown acts like a helmet—protecting what’s left so your child can chew without pain. We offer both stainless steel options for back teeth and esthetic, tooth-colored crowns when appearance matters. Well-placed crowns can preserve a baby molar until it’s naturally ready to exit, which helps avoid space loss and later crowding.
![Six-year old boy shows myofunctional trainer. Helps equalize the growing teeth and correct bite, develop mouth breathing habit. Corrects the position of the tongue Six-year old boy shows myofunctional trainer. Helps equalize the growing teeth and correct bite, develop mouth breathing habit. Corrects the position of the tongue. 9-year-old Child at a follow-up exam smiling with a custom mouthguard case; bright clinic, happy mood] stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67a0df4ddf534e78bba8058d/68c1b2a4d7aa70e7fe2d5046_six-year-old-boy-shows-myofunctional-trainer-helps-equalize-the-growing-teeth-and-correct.jpeg)
Liam, age nine, clipped the edge of a scooter ramp and arrived with a front permanent tooth in his mom’s hand—rinsed in milk, still moist. We replanted and splinted it within 25 minutes, confirmed position with digital imaging, and reviewed careful home care. Six months later, the tooth tested healthy, the smile looked great, and Liam went back to soccer—this time with a custom mouthguard he picked in neon blue. The difference? A calm parent, fast action, and a plan.
Despite best efforts, sometimes a tooth can’t be replanted or doesn’t survive. For baby teeth, we mainly protect the space and the gums while the adult tooth develops. For permanent teeth, modern dentistry offers ways to keep the smile natural looking during growth—temporary cosmetic bonding, retainer-style prosthetics for teens, and, later in life, options like implants once growth is complete. Our job is to sequence care so function, appearance, and growth all stay on track.
A dental emergency often exposes small vulnerabilities: a deep groove that needed a sealant, a mouthguard that would have helped, or a habit like mouth breathing that dries tissues. If this post finds you before a crisis, you’re ahead of the curve. Explore our resources on what to do in a dental emergency and keep our number handy.
Emergencies feel chaotic, but your plan doesn’t have to be. With a few smart steps—and a team that makes kids feel safe—you can protect your child’s smile today and set up healthier tomorrows. If you’re facing a crisis (or want a proactive sports-season plan), call (770) 738-5437 or request a visit now through our Appointment Request form. We’ll meet you with calm, clarity, and kid-sized care.
1) What should I do if my child knocks out a tooth at home?
At our practice in Dallas, we advise this sequence: verify baby vs. permanent tooth, gently rinse a permanent tooth in milk or saline, reinsert if possible, have your child bite on gauze, and come in within 30 minutes. For a baby tooth, don’t reinsert; control bleeding and call us. We’ll guide you on pain control and safe transport as you head over.
2) Is a chipped baby tooth an emergency?
Often it’s urgent, not emergent. We still want to see your child promptly to smooth sharp edges, rule out root injury, and lower the chance of decay. Small enamel chips may only need polishing; deeper fractures can require bonding or a protective restoration. We’ll also check the bite to make sure the tooth doesn’t keep striking and re-chipping.
3) How do you treat a knocked-out permanent tooth in kids?
We clean the area, replant if not already in place, and stabilize with a flexible splint. We’ll use targeted digital x-rays for kids to confirm position and monitor healing over months. Your child will follow a soft diet, keep the area clean, and return for scheduled checks to protect the tooth long-term.
4) Will my child need a crown after a big chip?
Sometimes. At CrossRoads Pediatric Dentistry in Dallas, GA, we preserve natural tooth structure first; bonding often works beautifully for front teeth. When a molar loses significant structure or the crack is deep, a pediatric crown acts like a helmet. Learn how we restore strength and appearance with tooth-colored crowns for kids.
5) My child lost a back baby tooth early—do we need a spacer?
We often recommend evaluating for a space maintainer when a baby molar is lost early. It holds the spot for the adult tooth and prevents crowding that can complicate future orthodontics. Read how they work on our page about space maintainers after early tooth loss.