Should I Be Worried If My Child Chips a Baby Tooth?
Your toddler stumbles at the park, bumps their mouth on a coffee table, or takes a tumble off the couch, and suddenly there is a little chip in one of their front teeth. Your first reaction is probably a mix of panic and guilt. Take a breath. A chipped baby tooth almost always looks worse than it is, but in some instances it is still important to have the injury evaluated.
At Silicon Beach Pediatric Dental, we see this exact scenario play out all the time, and most families walk away relieved once they know what is actually going on. We offer thorough pediatric dental care and you have somewhere to turn the moment something like this happens.
Chipped Teeth Are More Common Than You Think
Chipped teeth are a lot more common in young kids than most parents expect. Research on dental injuries in young children shows trauma to baby teeth affects nearly one in four children, mostly because toddlers are still figuring out how to crawl, walk, and run. Front teeth take the brunt of it almost every time.
What To Look For
Once you’ve been able to make sure your child is okay, take a look at the tooth. Maybe you just spot a rough edge, or a small chip in the outer layer of the tooth. Or do you see a small discolored spot that might look like bleeding with a larger piece missing from the tooth?
When It Is Time To Call Us
A small chip may not require an emergency trip to the dentist, but here are a few things worth a call to us sooner rather than later. Here is what we would want to know about
- A sharp edge is cutting the lip or tongue
- Your child has pain or sensitivity
- The tooth is loose or appears to be pushed into the gums
- A pink or red spot is visible in the center of the broken tooth
- The tooth begins turning gray or dark after the injury
If any of these sound familiar, give us a call, and we will get your child in to take a look.
What Happens At The Appointment
The actual visit tends to be much less dramatic than parents picture in their heads. We take a look, and if needed, we may take a digital x-rays to evaluate the root, the surrounding bone and the developing permanent tooth underneath. Most of the time, a chipped baby tooth can be left alone and your toddler is back to normal before you know it. Larger fractures may require additional treatment depending on how much of the tooth is involved and whether the pulp has been affected. Even when no treatment is needed right away, we may recommend monitoring the tooth because changes such as discoloration, swelling, pain, or a gum bump can develop later.
Trust Silicon Beach Pediatric Dental With Your Child’s Smile
A chipped tooth can feel like a crisis at the moment, but many injuries to baby teeth are minor and can be managed simply with the right evaluation and follow-up. Dr. Ray and Dr. Hayley have seen just about every version of this scenario, and they know how to keep both kids and parents at ease, no matter how your family tends to handle these bumps in the road.
We are in-network with most PPO plans, so getting your child seen is usually simpler than people expect. If your toddler has chipped a tooth, or you just want a dentist in your corner for whatever comes next, you can reach out through our contact form, and we will take it from there.
Medically Reviewed
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Ray Klein, DDS, a board-certified pediatric dentist who completed specialized training at USC and Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. Dr. Ray focuses on prevention-based care and helping families establish healthy dental habits from their child’s first visit. The information provided reflects current evidence-based practices in pediatric dentistry.
