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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be quietly gutted for my beautiful DD

176 replies

namechange505 · 07/02/2019 07:21

DD had an accident at school a couple of years ago and fell into some concrete causing quite a bit of damage to her front teeth. This week she had felt one of the fillings that the dentist had used to cap and rebuild one of her teeth moving slightly. We made an appointment on Tues yesterday to check it out and then another one yesterday after school to replace the filling.

Unfortunately at yesterday's appointment it became apparent that her tooth had split quite badly and part of it had to be removed. The split went beneath the gum-line resulting in extensive work to try to cover the exposed nerve and rebuild some semblance of a tooth temporarily. (Apologies if anyone is squeamish…) She was in the chair for over 3 hours and is on strong painkillers and antibiotics. She was understandably very upset by the whole thing. Sad

She is going to need some serious dental work going forward, likely she will lose the tooth altogether but we will know more in a few days. Unfortunately there was very little tooth left to work with and the resulting temporary fix is very fragile. The dentist is speaking with colleagues tomorrow to see what the best course of action is but likely an extraction and false tooth on a plate followed by a bridge until she's 18 when they can start looking at an implant. Sad Sad

I ended up googling teens with broken teeth to see if there were any success stories (I know...) but all I could find were stories from people who "luckily didn't lose the tooth" or "luckily they were able to put a cap on it" but that's unlikely in my DD's case.

She's had lots of cuddles and is being very stoic about the whole thing. I keep telling her (and myself) that there are far worse problems to have and that nobody is seriously ill or dying. It's just a tooth and we'll get it sorted.

But AIBU to be quietly gutted for her that she's losing a tooth so young due to a stupid accident? Anyone have any positive stories about similar situations that might cheer her up?

OP posts:
mirialis · 07/02/2019 10:12

My friend lost her front two teeth within a year of them growing (so very young) due to an accident. I only knew this happened when someone else commented on how lovely her teeth were when we were in our twenties! And it's true, she does have a beautiful smile.

Flashinggreen · 07/02/2019 10:16

@namechange505 I’m a dentist.

We had a car accident 4 years ago and my then 6YO completely knocked out his adult front tooth. Thankfully his Daddy came and put it back in. It was my worst nightmare as a dentist, my children damaging their front teeth. He will probably need an implant at some point in adulthood, but currently it looks totally normal. It has a very poor root formation as was not fully formed when it was reimplanted.

There is a school of thought that talks about ‘banking the bone’. A dentist called Serpil Djemal who runs a trauma clinic at Kings does it. You cut off the remaining tooth at gum level and sew the gum over until they’re old enough to have an implant. She could in the meantime have a denture or possibly an adhesive bridge.

Your dentist sounds on top of it all though so I wish you both good luck and you’re definitely NBU.

Flashinggreen · 07/02/2019 10:17

Oh and check if your cover covers accidents...

TrueFriendsStabYouInTheFront · 07/02/2019 10:21

I went over the handlebars of my bike when I was 7 and knocked all my front teeth out. Luckily the only one that was an adult tooth was my right top front tooth. I had a tooth on a retainer until my mouth had settled, cant remember how long I had that in tbh! But I then had a bridge. I'm 29 now and it's been perfectly fine up until a few months ago when my 3yo head butted it out! Ouch! But the dentist just stuck it back in. All good!

I've never gotten round to having an implant as they cost a bomb and the bridge has caused me no problems whatsoever.

I know it's hard cause it's your baby, and I still remember how mortified my dad was when I did it. But honestly it's ok, she will still have lovely teeth I'm sure.

Original poster
namechange505 · 07/02/2019 10:36

@Flashinggreen that's really interesting. I'll talk to the dentist today about the idea of 'banking the bone'. I wonder does it make it harder to remove the tooth later if it's cut off at the gum level and sewn over?

He seemed to be concerned that if the tooth was too difficult to 'get at' then they might damage the bone/gum during the extraction.

Hers has split and the removed piece went to about 0.5cm under the gum so that seems to be the overriding problem and why any sort of capping/rebuilding has been ruled out.

Thank you again so much to everyone for all your replies, I have read them all with interest and am feeling much more confident about the future outcome having heard all these stories.

Our puppy dog decided to do a huge poo in the middle of the kitchen just before I went to bed last night! Very symbolic as to how I felt about the day in general!

OP posts:
Mummyto2munchkins · 07/02/2019 11:08

Hi OP at 13 my sister decided she wanted to play golf in the garden. A excited puppy running beneath my feet and one swing of the club later I realised I'd been smacked in the mouth! Split 2 of my teeth (not much to work with either, and the tooth that was knocked off went into my lip!) had to have my lip stitched back together (broken tooth still there now!) and saw a dentist.
I've had numerous root canals over the years 20+ on them 2 front teeth, no pain relief or anaesthetic either.
They made a composite veneer for me. Had another composite veneer made 4 years ago, was perfect for the first year although now it looks black and I hate it. Dentists won't fit a cap as it's "cosmetic" so would have to go private and I can't afford it. Althout I do hate it the fact its slightly black I do forget about it (partner brings up its getting worst - He should know better) but I'm going to plan to go to a private dentist to see if they can sort it permanently for me.
The treatment never bothered me, I got to lay listening to music whilst having the treatment, got whatever I wanted for dinner that night to make me feel better and also time off school so I wasn't complaining too much about it all!
Dentistry is amazing nowadays. I'm sure they'll fix her up brilliantly!

Flashinggreen · 07/02/2019 11:09

Due to my DS’s tooth problem I’m thinking of going to a dental trauma conference in London this year. It’s a tricky area because we see it so infrequently.

My DH was appalled at the thought of cutting the tooth off at gum level, but for your DD it may be a possibility if they can stabilise the remaining root...

Confusedbeetle · 07/02/2019 11:13

Has no one suggested a bridge?

SirVixofVixHall · 07/02/2019 11:50

Op as a pp said I would also look into the school’s insurance as that might cover it.

Enko · 07/02/2019 11:51

OP my DD2 fell whilst we were doing Hoop scotch when she was 8 and broke of a piece of her front tooth. She is 19 now and yes have had many dental appointments because of this. We are just about to book the one where they will add a porcelain fitting so it wont show any more.. I do however so understand how you feel. I have many times over the years looked at her tooth and felt my heart drop a bit over it.. I can remember the day so clearly and still wish I could have caught her.

Confusedbeetle · 07/02/2019 11:51

Sorry , just seen that is ruled out

Original poster
namechange505 · 07/02/2019 11:52

@Flashinggreen - just got back from the dentist and he said it's definitely a possibility for DD. He hasn't spoken to the surgeon as yet but said he will raise it as a possible treatment plan. He said cutting off the tooth in that way isn't something you would ever really do unless faced with a situation of exactly this sort. (Not enough tooth for cap/too young for implant) So thank you for the information!

@confusedbeetle - yes that's going to be what happens I think in the end. Until she's old enough to get an implant (assuming she wants one at that time).

@Mummyto2munchkins - yes she's sitting on the sofa at the moment with me bringing her scrambled eggs and drinks and periodically stroking her hair!

She's much more upbeat now than last night and earlier today. Strangely the idea of a removable false tooth on a plate (which will be the short short term solution) doesn't really bother her! I would have been horrified at her age but she's a trooper!

OP posts:
Original poster
namechange505 · 07/02/2019 11:55

Can I just say thank you again everyone, I was wobbling a bit this morning and I feel so reassured by everyone's stories. Although I'm obviously sorry for everyone who has had similar knocks!

OP posts:
WFTisgoingoninmyhead · 07/02/2019 11:57

My DD lost her front tooth at age 9 and she has had a crown fitted. Everyone comments on how beautiful her teeth are, so do not despair.

SilverBellsRing · 07/02/2019 12:11

My big DSIS lost a front tooth when she went over the handlebars of her bike at a similar age. No-one could tell her new tooth was false.
She never had any problems with it. In fact she loved hiding it under our pillows to frighten us Hmm Grin

Eliza9917 · 07/02/2019 12:35

I've got a bridge at the front. I can't have an implant unless I take bone from my thigh and implant it in my jaw to implant the implant into.

No one can tell or notice and it's very solid. I've had it for about 5-6 yrs now and no issues.

MummyLaura83 · 07/02/2019 13:14

@namechange505

I knocked out one tooth fully when I was 8 and smashed the other front tooth. I have an implant and a veneer. You honestly can’t tell.

My last veneer was put on 19 years ago and is still holding firm!

DS also smashed his two front teeth and again, you can’t tell. He’s also split his eyebrow which has left an interesting scar Hmm but he’s still a stunner!

user1468867871 · 07/02/2019 13:40

I went through an awful time similar to this with my 8 year old son. Luckily, we were living abroad and he received excellent care to preserve the tooth until the root matured. On returning to the UK, they advised me that when the tooth failed to go private and not to use the dental NHS. I found an excellent surgery who had a specialist endodontist who performed a miracle to save the tooth (there are limited numbers who have had his training). He is now 12 and the tooth is still there. Yes it cost a lot of money but worth it if you can. Happy to provide more info if you want it.

PrismGuile · 07/02/2019 13:40

That truly is shit. If it helps, I never broke any of my teeth and still ended up with 3 operations and 2 years of braces on them. At least she's at an age where lots of kids will begin having orthodontry so she can disguise it as that

bambooleaf · 07/02/2019 13:45

I lost half a front tooth in an accident as a child. I then lost quarter of the other one a few years later.
I don’t have a plate but I do have half a false tooth capped on them both and no one ever notices. If anything as I’ve aged they’re my nicest teeth! Sorry your dd has gone through all of this but eventually you don’t worry about it so much. (I actually forget I have it until someone talks about teeth!)

JayoftheRed · 07/02/2019 14:33

I lost one of my front top teeth when I was 7 and fell over in the playground. At least two thirds of it is fake but you can't see it (it was the whole tooth at the time, but being so young, it hadn't fully grown yet).

When I was 25 I slipped near a river and fell in, pausing only to smack my face on a metal pole on the way in. It knocked all but a sliver of my other front top tooth out. Sadly, this damaged the nerves and I had to have them removed and then a new tooth made, and then crowned. Due to the lack of nerve above, I have some discolouration around the gum where I presume there is a lack of blood flow, or something, but the tooth itself looks fine.

I did look like some slack jawed yokel for a bit while I was awaiting the works - every time I smiled with this sliver of tooth, I looked like the local village idiot, but as my dad said, no change there... Grin

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 08/02/2019 08:04

Make sure she knows to speak to you about any questions she might have about the false tooth, and maybe broach a few she might be embarrassed to mention. Will it affect kissing? (No). Does she have to take it out at night, eg sleepovers? (No, but she must keep it clean) Will it show up differently in certain lights? (No). Etc etc

Remind her many of her favourite celebrities will have had extensive work done. They pretty much all have veneers.

She’ll be ok if you reassure her.

WhiteStuffAllAround · 08/02/2019 17:34

It happened to me when I was 11. I blacked out and fell down some steps onto concrete, broke one tooth right off and made a mess of the other front ones. I had loads of work and it's been fragile all my life.

It's not the end of the world though. They looked ok once the work had been completed. I have my health and things could be a lot worse. Awful thing to happen and I can completely understand why you are so distressed, but if she's stoic now it looks like she will cope.

FenellaMaxwell · 08/02/2019 17:38

My sister has implanted canines and you’d never know. She had a bridge whilst the gums healed and you couldn’t tell them either!

IHaventStoppedCravingYet · 08/02/2019 17:39

I can imagine how traumatic it’s been. My DH has an implant as one of his front teeth had to be removed. It wasn’t cheap but it’s brilliant. Looks no different to a real tooth and gives him no bother at all. There is light at the end of the tunnel for her.