They may be called permanent teeth but that doesn’t mean they’re unbreakable or immovable.  In reality, children and even adults can lose one or more of their permanent teeth through rough play, sports, fights, and accidents.  Dental avulsion is the term for this forceful and traumatic displacement of the tooth.

 Just the other day, one of my mommy-friends was frantic.  The reason?  Her son had a bad fall in the playground, which resulted in a permanent tooth being knocked out. Would you know what to do if the same thing happened to your child?

 According to Joyce Arquiza-Añasco, D.M.D., of the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City, prompt first aid and dental care are essential for this predicament.  “When a child loses his/her tooth due to trauma, parents should bring the child to a dentist immediately together with the [dislodged] tooth.  The tooth should have been properly rinsed but not scrubbed to avoid damage to the periodontal fibers.  The avulsed tooth should be placed in a wet storage solution (preferably milk) and should be replanted and splinted by the dentist.”

Arquiza-Añasco, who is not only a seasoned dentist but also a mother of three, assures parents that there are treatments on hand to restore their child’s damaged or displaced tooth.  Of course, the sooner a child is seen and cared for by a dentist, the better, as a postponement could only worsen the condition.

 “A permanent tooth that has been knocked out should be replanted immediately by the dentist (within an hour after the accident) for best possible prognosis.  The procedure involves cleaning of the socket, gently rinsing of the avulsed permanent tooth without scrubbing the root surface, re-plantation of the tooth to its socket and then splinting it to its adjacent teeth.  If only part of the tooth has been damaged, check if it involves the pulp or nerve.  If only a small part has been chipped off (without pulp involvement), the dentist can restore it using dental light curing system,” she explains.

Will the reinstated tooth be good as new? Arquiza-Añasco says it depends on how soon the dental procedures are done.  “Prognosis of the avulsed tooth depends on the treatment management.  If replanted within 10 to 60 minutes, the tooth will remain vital. Failure to replant the affected tooth immediately will result in an unfavorable prognosis leading to a root canal therapy.”

To protect your child’s permanent teeth from being knocked out, Arquiza-Añasco recommends the use of mouth guards, especially for youngsters who are very active or play contact sports such as basketball and football.  Have one custom made for your child if the standard mouth guards are too big or do not fit well.  “Mouth guards/protectors are indicated for individuals who engage in sports or who are accident prone,” she observes. However, even with the use of these mouth guards, one is not guaranteed full protection from accidents. There is also danger of having your kid teased for using such protective gear.

 Thus, vigilance is a must. It is also important that parents teach their kids to exercise caution when playing and to avoid potentially harmful situations.

 Dr. Joyce Arquiza-Añasco is a dental consultant and a dentist/orthodontist at the Philippine Heart Center in QC. The Philippine Pediatric Dental Society (www.ppdsi.org) invites all interested dentists to attend the Annual Pediatric Dentistry Convention on February 26, 8am to 5 pm, at the Bayanihan Hall, Pioneer Street, Pasig City.  For inquiries, call 840-4267 or visit PPDSI’s FB page.