Docs / Dentists? My daughter's smashed a gnasher out.
Discussion
I'd guess a dentist is the answer, but to answer a few points:
If she had teeth and now she hasn't, and they're not anywhere to be seen, that seems the most likely answer. I think about 24 hours is the usual time-scale from top to bottom (literally); maybe quicker in children, I don't know. Knocked out teeth can be replaced in the socket if it's done quickly as the membrane around the root can re-embed itself - however after a trip through the gut I don't know if this will still be the case. She won't grow another set of milk teeth, but in due time her adult set will appear and ultimately things should get back to normal. Without the usual guidance, they may need orthodontic treatment to make sure they grow in the right place, but that's for later.
I'd get her to a good dentist asap as time could be important.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
If she had teeth and now she hasn't, and they're not anywhere to be seen, that seems the most likely answer. I think about 24 hours is the usual time-scale from top to bottom (literally); maybe quicker in children, I don't know. Knocked out teeth can be replaced in the socket if it's done quickly as the membrane around the root can re-embed itself - however after a trip through the gut I don't know if this will still be the case. She won't grow another set of milk teeth, but in due time her adult set will appear and ultimately things should get back to normal. Without the usual guidance, they may need orthodontic treatment to make sure they grow in the right place, but that's for later.
I'd get her to a good dentist asap as time could be important.
Trauma to baby teeth:
From what you've described, I suspect she's pushed the teeth into the sockets, but I would strongly recommend a visit to her dentist if she has one. If you can't find any fragments about, in rare cases they can be broken off and embedded in the soft tissues eg in the lip, and this needs to be checked.
If the teeth are indeed intruded into the sockets there are a couple of longer term consequences you need to be aware of.
The baby teeth will probably erupt back into the mouth, although this may take a couple of months.
The teeth may have had their blood supply damaged and may die. The teeth may discolour, anything from just a little bit opaque to almost black. Although not perhaps the most beautiful, this doesn't need treating unless they become infected and are causing resistant problems.
The most serious potential problem is that the tips of the roots of the baby teeth lie very close to where the permanent adult tooth is developing. If the baby tooth is pushed in, this can disturb the development of the permanent tooth, causing problem ranging from small white marks, to a displacement of the permanent crown causing a bend in the tooth.
Trauma to baby teeth is very common (they're toddlers!) and serious consequences are rare.
Calpol and soft diet for a couple of days, and a visit to the dentist is your best bet.
HTH
From what you've described, I suspect she's pushed the teeth into the sockets, but I would strongly recommend a visit to her dentist if she has one. If you can't find any fragments about, in rare cases they can be broken off and embedded in the soft tissues eg in the lip, and this needs to be checked.
If the teeth are indeed intruded into the sockets there are a couple of longer term consequences you need to be aware of.
The baby teeth will probably erupt back into the mouth, although this may take a couple of months.
The teeth may have had their blood supply damaged and may die. The teeth may discolour, anything from just a little bit opaque to almost black. Although not perhaps the most beautiful, this doesn't need treating unless they become infected and are causing resistant problems.
The most serious potential problem is that the tips of the roots of the baby teeth lie very close to where the permanent adult tooth is developing. If the baby tooth is pushed in, this can disturb the development of the permanent tooth, causing problem ranging from small white marks, to a displacement of the permanent crown causing a bend in the tooth.
Trauma to baby teeth is very common (they're toddlers!) and serious consequences are rare.
Calpol and soft diet for a couple of days, and a visit to the dentist is your best bet.
HTH
My daughter did something similar at about 18 months, she decided to climb on a cabinet with a dummy in her mouth, promptly fell off and the impact knocked one front tooth out and 'moved' the other. (It started leaning into the mouth)
She had to wait for the damaged one to finally come out, and was left with a gap where the other one had been till the adult tooth grew. We did get her to a dentist and he was reluctant the take the moved one out.
One thing we did find was that she had trouble eating and drinking for a couple of days, keep her on liquids (baby milk should help) and we found that putting it in a turkey baster and directing it to the sides of the mouth and thereby avoiding the sore front helped a great deal. As did administering child paracetamol with a medicine syringe...ask at your local chemist for one
She had to wait for the damaged one to finally come out, and was left with a gap where the other one had been till the adult tooth grew. We did get her to a dentist and he was reluctant the take the moved one out.
One thing we did find was that she had trouble eating and drinking for a couple of days, keep her on liquids (baby milk should help) and we found that putting it in a turkey baster and directing it to the sides of the mouth and thereby avoiding the sore front helped a great deal. As did administering child paracetamol with a medicine syringe...ask at your local chemist for one
Spot on reply Wendyg.
I am actually a qualified dentist and a doctor and spent quite some time as an oral surgeon. What you describe happens fairly regularly to toddlers. Only time will tell if the teeth will "erupt" again. If they have been pushed back up into the gum and don't come down again and start causing problems then they may need removing.
As has been stated, an early appointment with the dentist will let you know what has happened, if the teeth have been pushed in then they will show up on x-ray.
I am actually a qualified dentist and a doctor and spent quite some time as an oral surgeon. What you describe happens fairly regularly to toddlers. Only time will tell if the teeth will "erupt" again. If they have been pushed back up into the gum and don't come down again and start causing problems then they may need removing.
As has been stated, an early appointment with the dentist will let you know what has happened, if the teeth have been pushed in then they will show up on x-ray.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
All dental surgeries should have dental x-ray equipment. One potential problem with "missing teeth" is that if you can't find them in the lip or gum then there is a slight risk that they may have been inhaled (ie ended up in the lung), now this is not an emergency unless breathing problems arise. So to answer your question, yes she probably could wait until tomorrow, but if they can see her today then that would probably be a better option. All in my opinion of course.
Chim450 said:
All dental surgeries should have dental x-ray equipment. One potential problem with "missing teeth" is that if you can't find them in the lip or gum then there is a slight risk that they may have been inhaled (ie ended up in the lung), now this is not an emergency unless breathing problems arise. So to answer your question, yes she probably could wait until tomorrow, but if they can see her today then that would probably be a better option. All in my opinion of course.
As a matter of interest, what would then happen if the tooth did indeed end up in the lung?
ApexClipper said:
As a matter of interest, what would then happen if the tooth did indeed end up in the lung?
It would need to be removed. This is done with something known as a bronchoscope, basically a flexible or rigid camera device which is put down into the lung via the mouth. I have seen lots of missing teeth, VERY rarely do the end up in the lung though. Much more common for children especially to inhale pen lids etc... (thats why bic pen lids have a hole in the end, so if a child inhales one then they should still be able to breath)
As an aside, me Julie is PA to a consultant maxillofacial surgeon. She tells me some of the horror stories, such as the family of chavs who are booked in to have complete dental clearances (ie all teeth removed) due to sh!te diet and p155-poor hygiene. Not one of them is over 12 years old...
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