Fractured tooth

[margobambino]

Hello,
I am feeling very sad and in tears at the moment. 3 hours ago my 18 months old DS banged his head to the table when a glass bowl on it and fractured one of his front tooth. We contacted a dentist and he said if it is not loose or bleeding, it is not very very urgent. It was a bit relieve but I am feeling sad, guilty, tearful and anxious at the moment and don't know what to do?
It hurts a bit during breastfeeding because of the sharp end of the tooth. For me at the moment his look is also important. He looks a bit funny with a chipped tooth and I don't want him to be look like this. I really want to see a dentist and trying to arrange a private one now ASAP. I don't know what they would do. Will they fill it with composite or anything?
Any experinces, advises or ideas will be appreciated. Anybody know a private good pediatric dentist for example?
Thank you.
Margo

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This happened to my son when he was 2; see a private dentist if it will make you feel less stressed, but the tooth isn't loose then it probably isn't going to get worse by Monday. I totally understand all your feelings; I felt the same, but it will be alright and it is not your fault!

My son sheared the back of his baby tooth off and this left a point at the front. My dentist wanted to remove both top front teeth because she felt that if a baby tooth was damaged it could stop the adult one growing in straight, as the baby tooth guides in the adult tooth's position. I did not want the teeth taking out so I phoned another dentist.

The second dentist said that the teeth should be left alone; we left the tooth alone and the adult teeth came in straight.

The fall had killed off the tooth at the root though, so the tooth did go grey over time, but it did not decay; the nerve had just died. There was no opportunity for composite because the whole back was sheared off and a composite would not have worked. It may be possible in your case, but I am not a dentist so can't advise.

I would advise: if you are not happy with the first opinion see another dentist.

I know it looks bad and I was initially distraught; however baby teeth are not going to get bigger and your child is, so the visibility of the front tooth in his mouth will reduce over time. Most people will not notice the tooth as your son gets bigger.

I hope this has not worried you more; it seems awful when it happens but it is a baby tooth and so will go eventually. But I cried loads when it happened to my son, so I totally sympathise.

Thank you very much Milly. Your post has been very helpful.
I've had another look at the tooth when he's asleep. It seem he lost a small piece at the corner tip. I think if it was a permanent tooth they would do a composite. I know because my husband has a similar crack and he was offered one. However, I am not sure whether it can be done to a milk tooth.
Did the mention about it to you? By the way, how did they know that the root was damaged at the beginning? Was your DS's fracture horizontal?

All of the enamel at the back of the tooth fell off due to the force of the impact; it jut sheared away, although my ds feel on a patio, so there was more of a distance and probably more more force on the tooth than your ds has had, if you see what I mean. The corner of the front came off as a diagonal. The dentist felt that a composite wouldn't adhere properly to a front milk tooth. Perhaps they will do a composite on yours if the chip is very small.

I did not know at first that the nerve in the root had died, but the dentist warned me this might be the case; the tooth went grey very, very slowly and never looked really bad.

Hi, the same thing happened to my dd when she was 16 m old. at first nothing happened, however 6 months later she developed a massive mouth infection (gums and lips swollen, couldn't drink or eat, v obvious). we took her to a (private) dentist who told us the nerve had died and caused infection, and removed the tooth.

i was thoroughly heartbroken, my perfect little girl with such an obvious gap in her lovely mouth! now i am used to it though, it adds to her tomboyish charm (though it is slightly tedious to have to tell the story every time someone asks...)

the dentist (specialised in children and very very knowledgeable) told us that any aesthetic work would be traumatic for dd (need for anaesthetics etc), of not great results and essentially pointless.

try not to be too upset, watch out for infection etc, you will get used to it! i know how you feel though... it will get better and you will get used to it.