Broken Teeth: What to Do, What Not to Do, and When to See a Dentist
- Dr. Sandhu
- Oct 24
- 4 min read
Every parent’s heart skips a beat when they hear that unmistakable crack followed by tears. Whether it happens on the playground, during sports, or at home, a broken or knocked-out tooth can feel like an emergency — and it usually is.
In simple terms: dental trauma in children means any injury to the teeth, gums, or supporting bone caused by a fall, hit, or accident. Prompt care can make the difference between saving or losing a tooth.
In this guide, Dr. Sandhu and the team at Tricity Smiles Dentistry, Chandigarh share exactly what parents should do (and avoid) when their child breaks or injures a tooth — plus how we help restore smiles safely and pain-free.
Why Children Are More Prone to Dental Injuries
Young children are naturally curious, fearless, and still developing coordination — a perfect recipe for slips, tumbles, and bumps. Add in school sports, playground games, and cycling, and dental trauma becomes one of the most common childhood emergencies.
The most frequent causes include:
Falls at home or school
Collisions during sports or play
Accidents involving bicycles or scooters
Using teeth to open bottles or bite hard objects
Unsupervised rough play with siblings or friends
🩹 What to Do Immediately — Parent’s Emergency Checklist
1️⃣ Stay calm — your child will mirror your reaction. Take a deep breath, comfort your child, and gently examine their mouth to see what’s injured.
2️⃣ Find the tooth or fragment. Pick it up by the crown (white part), not the root. If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly with clean water — do not scrub or touch the root.
3️⃣ Identify the type of tooth:
Baby tooth (primary): do not try to reinsert it — it may damage the developing permanent tooth.
Permanent tooth: if clean and your child is calm, gently place it back in the socket and have your child bite down softly on gauze or cloth.
4️⃣ If you can’t reinsert the tooth, store it properly: Place it in cold milk or your child’s saliva (inside their cheek or a small container). Do not wrap it in tissue or let it dry.
5️⃣ Visit your dentist immediately. Every minute counts — quick action can often save the tooth.
🕐 Tricity Smiles Dentistry offers same-day emergency appointments for children with dental injuries. Visit us as soon as possible.
🚫 What Not to Do
❌ Don’t use soap, disinfectant, or toothpaste to clean a knocked-out tooth.
❌ Don’t attempt to push a baby tooth back into place.
❌ Don’t delay thinking “it will be fine” — even small chips can expose nerves or affect alignment.
❌ Don’t ignore bleeding gums or loosened teeth; underlying bone or root damage may exist.
💡 Common Types of Tooth Injuries
🏥 How Tricity Smiles Treats Dental Trauma
At Tricity Smiles Dentistry, Chandigarh, our priority is to save and restore your child’s natural smile with minimal discomfort.
Our trauma-care approach includes:
Digital X-rays for quick and accurate diagnosis
Flexible splinting to stabilize displaced or replanted teeth
Pulpal therapy (pulpotomy/pulpectomy) to preserve tooth vitality
Aesthetic restorations to rebuild chipped or broken enamel
Regular follow-up visits to monitor healing and root development
We specialize in child-friendly emergency dentistry — ensuring every visit feels calm, safe, and reassuring.
💬 What Our Patients Say
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “My son fell and broke his front tooth while playing football. Dr. Sandhu treated him immediately — no pain, no fear, and the tooth looks perfect now!” — Nisha K., Mohali
We’re proud to be one of Chandigarh’s most trusted pediatric and family dental clinics, consistently rated 5 stars on Google.
👨⚕️ About Dr. Sandhu & Tricity Smiles Dentistry
Dr. Sandhu brings over 20 years of international dental experience, combining advanced training from USC and UCSF with compassionate pediatric care. As the founder of Tricity’s first 100% digital dental clinic, Dr. Sandhu and his team provide gentle, precise, and modern treatments for children and adults alike.
🦷 When to See a Dentist
See a dentist immediately if your child:
Has a knocked-out or loose permanent tooth
Experiences pain or bleeding that lasts over 10 minutes
Shows visible fracture lines or color change in a tooth
Has swelling of gums, lips, or face after an injury
Even mild chips should be checked — early care prevents infection and future complications.
Visit Tricity Smiles Dentistry, Chandigarh, for expert pediatric dental trauma management and long-term smile protection. 📍 Find us on Google Maps
FAQs
1. My child broke a baby tooth. Will the new tooth be affected? Usually not, but an X-ray helps ensure the underlying permanent tooth bud is safe.
2. Can a broken tooth grow back? Teeth don’t regrow, but they can often be repaired beautifully using bonding, crowns, or pulp therapy.
3. Should I take my child to the ER or a dentist for a broken tooth? Go directly to a pediatric dentist unless there’s heavy bleeding or facial injury needing stitches.
4. How can we prevent dental injuries? Encourage helmets for cycling, mouthguards for sports, and teach children not to use teeth as tools.
5. How soon should I visit the dentist after trauma? Within 30–60 minutes for avulsion and within 24 hours for chips or fractures.
Related Topics
Emergency Dental Care for Kids: What Every Parent Should Know
How to Protect Your Child’s Teeth During Sports
Chipped vs Cracked Tooth: What’s the Difference?
Why Early Dental Visits Matter for Lifelong Oral Health
References
IADT 2020 Guidelines for Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries
AAPD Reference Manual 2023–24: Dental Trauma Management in Children
WHO Oral Health Programme – Traumatic Dental Injuries in Children
Comments